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32 Comments
Holly Shi— wow can you do something slightly different? To not have to use up so many trees.
Chip drop is free
I called the local utility company and got a bunch for free.
Sounds like your research wasn’t quite what it should have been, business 101!
Have you thought of contacting a sawmill or pulp mill?
Good luck solving this problem.
$50 delivery is a bargain in our market.
You don't need to mulch the strips between each tree, you just need a circle around the tree. Think polka dots, not lines.
Don't forget about cover crops.
I agree with several of the commenters, my first thought was that it would be cheaper to buy a wood chipper and find a source for wood. You could probably hire someone part time to chip and still balance your budget. I live next to the national forest so I know you can get a permit to use downed wood and it's free. A local mill will grind corn cobs left over from shelling corn for chicken feed and deer corn. A couple of local communities give away fall leaves and brush and the Road Commission might have some extra chips. Maybe a mix of materials will help. I try to never rely on a single source, use everything available. Good luck!
I do Chip Drop. This Summer they tried bringing me 2 loads in 1 day. I have just a small vegetable garden
Maybe it's time to get some wood chippers & hire some arbotists. Start a company. Cheaper in the long run. You make $ & use your own biproduct to make more product.
You should think about how far the future goes with your company. Maybe it pays to have branches (like a tree service-pun unintended 🙂 That creates a cycle like nature that feeds itself. You may want to think about….Circular Economy…..
Im jealous of your employees btw. I'd love to be with a company like this & help it grow. I expect much bigger things in the future. You're ready.
Should call Kamps Pallets in Grand Rapids. They shred pallets. Deliver semi truck loads
Is it possible to work out a deal (contract) with a company where you you purchase a certain amount every year during their slow season. They may want to take the extra steps or expenses on if they know they have a guaranteed sale during their slow time.
Also farmers dont use woodchips right?
Maybe think more food forest & design your planting different in the future with the though in mind I'll need " this much shade here but not here".
Or are there a system of complimentary plants that can cover the soil. Once the plants reach a certain size they shade their own roots.
Just a bunch of ideas to help ya battle the mulch shortage. Hopefully something sparked some ideas.
Thank You!
Is there any lumber mills near you??? They could have cheap saw dust in bulk.
What about a sawmill? They have sawdust chips in abundance.
how do the other similar farms usually deal with this problem?
Have you talked to others that have commercial orchards to ask what they do?
Couldn't you plant a cover crop to enhance the soil and suppress weeds?
Kind of sounds like you need to plan to stockpile chips early in the season.
I am not expert but what about asking other orchard business what they do, they might have some ideas for you! Good luck!
May need to grow a couple acres of tall grass to harvest yearly to support your mulch habit.
Have you tried Chip Drop?
Ask your local farmers. We need wood chips by the semi load, too. We get loads from the state contractors that clean public lands. Plus, they will have chips in the winter from winter fell trees, ice storms, etc. Also, wood chips are not helpful for weed suppression. We use plant based weed suppression such as comphrey, rhubarb, pumpkins, etc., at the base of trees. Also, wood chips attract undesirable insects that will also eat your tree roots, bark, etc. Worth considering.
Haven’t finished this video yet; wanted to share some ideas. The city street department where I live picks up and shreds wood debris from October 20 to November 10. It may be that a county street department does the same thing. I know tree surgeons would rather give it to somebody nearby than have to haul it to the landfill. Landfills might also be a source of mulch.
Electric company. I've gotten 4 of the big white trucks dumped. Not enough for you but I would be on a constant drop list. If they have a load not dibbed or cutting near your farm they come drop in your pile
Use cardboard. It suppresses weeds and grass well. Just wet it down to keep it from blowing away.I bet you could get bunch from big box stores unloading merchandise. Many of them band tons of cardboard. I put it in my garden and it lasts a couple of years and keeps moisture in and breaks down on its own.
I have to lol at you complaining at $20/yard plus $50/delivery. The cheapest woodchips I can get up here in Canada without waiting in a semi load is $4500 for 120 yards. Small loads (30 yards) are up to $50/yard plus $200 delivery.
Luke you might need to look into growing your own woodchips haha
CARDBOARD. CARDBOARD.
Enjoyed!
Leaves! People leave bags of them at the curb for free every year. It makes beautiful mulch. Good luck!
I think shifting to grass mulch of some sort may be a lot cheaper or leaves that could be collected in bulk . Many cities have bulk pick up in the fall. Perhaps you could find out where it all goes.