Owning your own tree source for pens?

[jenamison]

Hope this is ok putting in this forum, it does deal with penturning, eventually.
Has anyone ever heard of purchasing your own trees to grow on a plantation? Apparently, you can do this and after 25 years you can have the tree or sell it or use it for an IRA, putting your kids through college, etc...

I am wondering if any of our penturners on this site do this to produce there own turning material, etc... The site I read about this on is www.tropicaltreefarms.com.

 

[DCBluesman]

An interesting concept, but too late for me. I'll be dead in 25 years.

 

[Dario]

I don't think I have the patience to wait that long...and like Lou, I may not be here 25 years from now (but hoping to be [])

I just bought a chainsaw and started collecting from sidewalks and construction sites. So much easier and faster too. The big bonus is the thrill of the hunt []

 

[JimGo]

Interesting idea Mike! I was actually thinking of trying to import some BOW cut-off limbs that I could re-grow here for my own pen turning use.

 

[J. Fred Muggs]

If you don't expect to be here 25 years from now do a google for "paulownia". It's a very fast growing wood. There are plantations out there growing it who claim to have a harvestable tree in 8 years.

 

[Ron in Drums PA]

Just doesn't smell right.

http://www.tropicaltreefarms.com./htm/tree_order_forms/tree_order_form_p1.htm

 

[ilikewood]

This sounds kind of fishy...you can buy about 10 acres of land down there for those prices and go down and plant your own.

 

[Old Griz]

Those guys are betting you die before the trees are harvested and your heirs don't remember you were ever that stupid to invest in a South American tree farm... [][]

 

[penhead]

Imagine putting that in your will: one tree at latitude x longitude y in country z...not to be cut untill 20?? []

Originally posted by Old Griz
<br />Those guys are betting you die before the trees are harvested and your heirs don't remember you were ever that stupid to invest in a South American tree farm... [][]

 

[jdavis]

Nice idea but I'm too late and already have my garden in for this year.

 

[Ron in Drums PA]

Read the fine print:

"100 seedlings" not saplings, not trees at $2,500 to $4,500 per hundred

"Harvest: Well will periodically thin your trees to make room for your remaining trees."

FWIW, Last November I purchased 200, 3 year old Blue Spruce saplings at a cost of $75.00.

 

[MDWine]

Lately, just a walk down the sidewalk seems to produce enought Plum for me! I got 4 new logs last night, and a few spalted stumps!!! Planting??? ...Nah...

 

[jenamison]

Well I'm glad I stepped in a pile of sh-- and got so much positive feedback today. I guess I read my calendar wrong today, I thought it would be a good day. Sorry, forget I mentioned it. Thought it was pretty neat.

 

[Dario]

Originally posted by jenamison
<br />Well I'm glad I stepped in a pile of sh-- and got so much positive feedback today. I guess I read my calendar wrong today, I thought it would be a good day. Sorry, forget I mentioned it. Thought it was pretty neat.

Don't be sorry...your intention was good. We just have other views that's all. Makes for good conversation...that by itself is good reason enough. []

 

[Ron in Drums PA]

Originally posted by Dario
<br />

Originally posted by jenamison
<br />Well I'm glad I stepped in a pile of sh-- and got so much positive feedback today. I guess I read my calendar wrong today, I thought it would be a good day. Sorry, forget I mentioned it. Thought it was pretty neat.

Don't be sorry...your intention was good. We just have other views that's all. Makes for good conversation...that by itself is good reason enough. []

Agreed, it was interesting to look at. Not your fault these guys are a bit shady.

 

[Ken Massingale]

Originally posted by J. Fred Muggs
<br />If you don't expect to be here 25 years from now do a google for "paulownia". It's a very fast growing wood. There are plantations out there growing it who claim to have a harvestable tree in 8 years.

Definitely worth looking into. I just did a lot of research on fast growing trees. (need 2 for quick shape in front of the shop)
The paulownia (aka empress tree, princess tree) typically grows to harvestable lumber in 8-10 years in the South. The lumber is very light but very strong, won't warp and won't shrink during drying.
This info didn't come from suppliers selling plantings, it is from several universities.
I planted 2 little 1 foot tall sprouts last week. Each had new leaves just starting to come out of the trunkette. Today, each has little 'limbs' 6 inches above the top of the trunk.
Time will tell.
ken

 

[Dario]

I have a neighbor before who planted a Paulonia sapling and it was taller than his house 2 years later (if memory serves me right). I'll try to pass by that area and report back how big it is now...if it is still there. It should be 5-6 years old now.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I heard an investment expert once say that if you want to leave a fortune for your grandchildren, buy land and plant walnut trees.

 

[ilikewood]

Mike, it IS an interesting idea and neat to look at...it is the company doing the advert that is sounds kinda shady.

I would suggest for an investment, go buy that much worth in lumber of Cocobolo or other rare wood and just safely store it for the next 20 years. Probably would be worth a fortune in that time. In the last 2 years, several of these woods have nearly doubled in price.

 

[GregD]

I've got 22ac of harvestable lumber. I'm just in no shape to do the harvesting.

 

[jenamison]

Greg I'm sure someone with a logging business would oblige you. My uncle own his own logging business but its near Panama City Florida.