World Wide Commerce - Poking fun at myself

[peter halle]

I guess I never really realized the breadth of world wide commerce.  I am not knocking it at all - just kinda surprised at times by its breadth.

At the orange big box store it isn't unusual to find softwood lumber from overseas.  OK.  I have cut firewood since I was a teenager and for many years heated my home with wood.  My current home was designed for a wood stove 22 years ago with a large hearth and nothing flammable within the safety zone of the stove.  About seven years ago I pulled the wood stove out and occasionally will use the masonry fireplace.  This year I was unable to cut wood and my supply was used up.

So... with a rare snowstorm coming my wife asked if we could have a fire or two.  Begrudgingly I picked up some bundles of wood from the almost local orange store and looked at the bark.  What is this?  Sycamore?  I didn't have time to mess around and quite a few bundles came home.

After starting my first fire I looked at the label.  The wood was from Latvia.  Somehow I wonder how it is possible to import firewood and it be more profitable than buying it somewhere in the US or Canada. Oh well.  Going to make sure the Stihl chainsaws are ready to rip for next year.

Love my German tools!

Peter

 

[Stephen B]

[size=14pt]
Got to love those Stihl chainsaws Peter.

Re international trade -

Case 1. At the TY 2 years ago we were selling imported framing timber, the origin of which was Swedish Pine, milled in Poland, and costing us less than from a mill two kilometres away. We stopped selling it once Australian mills proved import dumping.

Case 2. We have a hepatitis A scare with Frozen berries from China, because the importer whose factory is in the middle a large berry farm region imports them frozen and cheaper from China for re packaging and distribution. Lesson here is national recall, scheduled class action and massive loss in reputation.

Sales of fresh local berries this Summer are up.  [smile]

 

[WastedP]

I am generally in favor of the free movement of people and goods around the globe.  But I really have to wonder what accounting sleight of hand makes it economical to move fuel wood six weeks across the ocean.  I also have to wonder what kind of hitchhikers are going to stow away inside that wood from other lands.  There's a billboard campaign here in Montana to discourage people from importing firewood from outside the region.

 

[semenza]

I am generally in favor of the free movement of people and goods around the globe.  But I really have to wonder what accounting sleight of hand makes it economical to move fuel wood six weeks across the ocean.  I also have to wonder what kind of hitchhikers are going to stow away inside that wood from other lands.  There's a billboard campaign here in Montana to discourage people from importing firewood from outside the region.

Due to emerald ash borer concerns we not really supposed to move wood in NYS more than a few miles.

Seth

 

[peter halle]

The firewood is kiln dried and subjected to the necessary temperatures to kill ay insects.  Even pallets from overseas need to be treated to prevent hitch hikers which does protect our ecosystem but does increase the costs.

That is why many - including Festool - uses pallets made from wood fiber or chips.

Peter