Matthew Romans wrote:I have about 12+ acres of mixed woodlot in mid-Michigan; oak, black cherry, maple, boxelder, etc. I'd love to begin converting the woods into a more productive space, and I've been taken by the idea of coppicing for some time now, though I have a lot to learn about the practice. Anyone have some good suggestions around what the most profitable enterprises are around coppicing? (e.g. selling coppiced woodcrafts, firewood, other, etc.?
Hi Matthew
This is a tough one. There really isn't a definitive
answer to this question. My products/economics chapter in the book explores this question in greater detail. Keep in mind that coppicing really relies on you cutting
trees in a location where they get more or less full sun to regrow. You probably can't reliably cut individual trees within the interior of your woods and get good regrowth unless you clear a large
enough patch all at once. If you've got healthy, well formed, valuable trees already in your woods, your best approach might be to do some intentional, well informed, selective thinning to remove materials for various purposes.
As far as the most profitable enterprises go, you can approach this from several angles. What species do you have and what are they good for? What demands do you see out there and can you meet them? What skills and interests do you have and how does that match market demand and your species available? Firewood will not be a lucrative enterprise because unless you invest in a lot of equipment you'll be hard pressed to compete with the pricing that
local firewood dealers and woodcutters can provide. It's all about adding value and making use of the specific resources you have. I know basketweavers and floral products growers who make a healthy living off of small acreage. But they have honed their craft and have taken the time necessary to cultivate market demand.
I wish I could say more - the
books says a lot more on this but it's really a design problem unique to each individual.
2
