Log Sources In Southern Illinois

[deepfacets]

I just ran across the site & org last night . . . and am quite IMPRESSED. I was up past midnight reading and will continue to do so as the amount of info here is awesome.

As a newbie, I'll just get to the point of finding sources for logs in my area. I realize that the course (sometime in the future) will tell me much more about getting logs for cheap. Until then, can someone suggest sources for buying logs (think time vs. money) in the Southern Illinois (Marion, Carbondale, Mount Vernon).

Ideally, I'd like to buy land and use the advice of hiring a professional logger to fell the trees, peel them ourselves, etc. However, knowing my wife's patience level vs. my work speed, it might be best for my marriage to buy logs :wink:

She loves the idea of a log home, but our budget would never allow for those $200K+ kits (by the time you finish). Fortunately for me, her style preference is for the "butt & pass" . . . I just learned that term from some well informed people here . . . more so than the "shiny kits".

I haven't mentioned this to her yet, because she'll see it beyond our realm of capabilities. So . . . I figure I can build myself a workshop (and move out of the garage) first. Even that will be worth the price of the course . . . and it should prove to her the viability of getting her to her dream of a log home. Plus, the practice can't hurt.

I can see selling our current house in a year and using the proceeds to actually pay for the cost of her new log home.

Thanks in advance . . . BTW . . . I already ordered the book "Your Low-Tax Dream Home" by Steve Carlson as recommended in the other post.

[hawkiye]

Welcome to the board. Warning once you are hooked there is no going back. :) As for log sources loggers are a good place to start or folks with wooded property ask around.

One thing the class does for most is to give them the confidence that they can do this even if they have never done anything like it before. Keep reading and keep dreaming and eventually you may decide to make your dreams a reality.

Blayne

[deepfacets]

I have found a listing of Timber Buyers from Illinois Dept. of Natural Rescources (DNR). Does anyone know how "Timber Buyers" could fit into the the picture . . . or how they differ from "loggers" . . . or are they the same?

[kyle]

Before you get too "involved" in sourcing or buying things for construction I would take the class. Once you've done so your thinking on what you'll need will definitely change so it might not be in your best interest to waste too much time before hand. And it will prolly save you a lot of $ in the long run.

[deepfacets]

Thanks Kyle . . . I do plan on waiting till I take the class to DO anything . . . but to research SOME of my options just gives me some additional perspective for when I learn the BEST information from the class.

I figure the more I know about what's available . . . the better I'll be able to determine how to best use the info from the class to go with what resources I have to work with. We've got a lot of corn stalks around here, but not a lot of tall straight trees . . . just wondering if anybody knew of some good sources for logs or loggers that weren't as far away as Oregon, Washington, Georgia, etc. . . . gas & shipping costs, etc.

Kent

[rreidnauer]

Welcome to LHBA Kent.

Blayne and Kyle have given some great advice. I'd like to add though, that to pursue this goal, it requires a unanimous decision from the family. Even if you were to buy your logs, there's still very much work to be done. Buying logs vs. having the property logged is really only a small part of the time scale. Prepping, peeling, chinking, and finishing take up the major portion of time. You must also consider what sacrifices you may need to make along the way, and if you'll have family backing for such things. This is definitely a "sit down discussion" as it will be a MAJOR turning point in your life if you choose to continue. Depending on what kind of money you have to spend or are willing to save, we've had members here live in motorhomes homes, trailers, even garden sheds and tipi's while they build. No doubt, it can be trying on a family, so it need to be discussed beforehand. But depending on how your family responds to the idea, it can be anything from an adventure to a nightmare.

But for most of us here, a 30 year mortgage is the biggest nightmare we strive to avoid. :wink:

I also strongly recommend that your wife takes the class with you. Even if she isn't mechanically savy, it definitely provides an excellent connection to the project. Otherwise, she will be looking in from the outside wondering what's next or how much more, instead of being an integral part of the process with a complete understanding. If she's open to the idea of this, I'll bet you a batch of Skip's famous cookies, that she'll take a lot more info from the class than you'd expect. The class is that good. :P