Building My Scrap Wood Pile — Why I’m Doing It Myself
Out on the right side of my property, tucked between two medium-sized trees, there’s a pile slowly growing — not of junk, but of possibility. I’ve been collecting scrap wood and leftover building supplies, stacking it up and letting it season while I figure out what projects I want to start. For now, it’s just a pile, but in my eyes it’s the start of fences, sheds, garden beds, or maybe even a little outdoor sitting area. Around here, scraps aren’t trash — they’re opportunity.
Why I’m Building My Own Wood Stash
The local lumber yards burn piles of leftover wood every morning. If you show up early enough, they’ll give it away for free before the flames touch it. That’s the sweet spot I’m after — free supplies I can turn into something useful.
The only hitch? I don’t have my GMC Envoy running just yet, so I had to pay the neighbor $20 in gas money to haul a load from Bruceton, TN for me. Well, she went late both times, and by the time she got there, most of the good wood was already burned. What she brought back wasn’t much to brag on — a little stack that cost me $40 in gas when all was said and done.
And you better believe I’m not doing that again. That pile isn’t enough to do squat with, and I don’t like wasting time or money.
If You Want It Done Right…
This is why I’ve got my hands under the hood of that GMC right now. Once it’s running, I’ll be able to head out early myself, snag the good loads before they’re gone, and stack them up high at home. I’ve already got fencing panels, one pallet, and some bent wood pieces in the stash, but that’s just a start.
Like I always tell people — if you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself. Nobody is going to care about your projects or your homestead the way you do. You can pay people, beg people, or wait on people, but at the end of the day, if it’s important to you, then you’d better roll up your sleeves and make it happen.
Looking Ahead
Right now, that pile between the two trees might look small to anyone else, but to me it’s the seed of something bigger. Once the Envoy’s ready, I’ll be rolling out to the lumber yards early in the mornings, hauling back proper loads, and watching my pile grow into something worth building with.
And when the time comes to put hammer to nail, I’ll know I earned every single board in that stack.
