Truck loads of free good lumber.

Nowou can buy a piece of property back in the country and build a new house with all that wasted lumber.

We’re getting ready to build a cabin on a piece of property we’ve had for nearly 25 years. We had the forest thinned a couple years ago, so we won’t have to remove many trees, but we will need to grade, dig a well, do a septic system and pull in electricity from a transformer across the road. A few years ago, we could have done the whole 600 square ft for around 90 grand. Now we’re almost afraid to find out how much it will cost. The good news is that after rebuilding Hamlet and a derelict house, we can do all the interior if someone can give us a mostly finished exterior. I will be scouting architectural salvage places for lumber (and other stuff), I guess!

We also love to explore, so Hamlet will be well-used until we no longer drive. But our once quiet town is rapidly turning into a haven for the rich who are cutting down forests to build their starter castles with absolutely no regard to how the finished product fits in with the community. We have a view at home, but we need to get away from the increasing noise, light and traffic. Our little cabin, if the price of lumber doesn’t keep us from building, will sit in a forever forest at the end of a dirt road. It is quiet and dark enough to see the Milky Way on a clear night and is only 90 minutes from home.  Hamlet will still be there to take on trips and for an extra “bedroom” for guests.

We are looking into what’s expected to happen with lumber prices.  Unfortunately for anyone working on a trailer or anything else that needs wood, it doesn’t look as though prices will be decreasing any time soon.  :-(