I was driving down the road about a quarter mile from my house when I spotted a pile of short logs (1-3 feet) that looked interesting. I stopped on my way home and took a closer look. When I smelled the wood it was unmistakeable - black walnut.
I just don't need/want/have time for any more black walnut (or exotics for that matter). I probably have more wood than I will be able to use before I die. What a shame. It is quite a pile.
I'm going to stop by and let the guy know what he has and give him the url to the local turning club. Hopefully he'll contact them and someone that can use it. It's a sin to waste it.
On my way back from the cabin last weekend, I was near the location of one of Arkansas's champion trees, the Catalpa. When I drove up, it was in a pile. I drove back to the business at the head of the road in Prattsville to inquire, they gave me permission to get some, but it was raining, so I went on.
There were some burls on it, although they looked more like just big swirls than full of bud-knots. He said they plan to burn it pretty soon, so if any of you Arkies want any, you should get on over there this weekend.
I think the name of the business was Allen's something. It'll probably show up on a maps app, and might be worth a call before driving very far.
Here is a pic of me in it about 10 years ago. It really looked larger in real life than this. Catalpa smells like creosote when your working it, and it has great resistance to insects and decay, so will last a long time outside.
I have lots of horror stories. Here are a few. Went to lunch one day and saw a huge ambrosia maple log. about 30" in diameter and 15 feet long plus lots more limbs and such. About the best Ambrosia I have seen. Had to go back to work and figured I'd stop in and talk to the people when I got off in 4 hours. Yep, it was gone.
A friend and I saw a very large walnut tree being loaded into a truck by the city. We inquired as to where it was going. They said the Mulch site. So we went there after work and there was the log. Nope, would not let us even go inside the fence. It was turned into mulch.
We had very large holly trees all over campus but had been planted too close to the buildings. I heard they were going to remove them soon so I gave them my card and talked to the head of maintenance who was a friend and he said they would call. Yea right. Not a single phone call. Went to the landfill to see if I could find them but couldn't.
There are probably 40 logs on the ground down the hill from me, a variety of species - the power company cleared a wide area on the side of the road to install 3-phase power. One 10' high pile was in bowl blank lengths - they are hauling it off to the landfill a load at a time. I told the Knoxville club but no one was interested.
The problem might be some people have trouble loading and hauling.
I would love to find some more big holly. I got some from Gary Evans years ago, 18-24" diameter I think. Most of the blanks are good and dry now.
