In search of a lumberjack...

After our recent experience with dropping branches, I'd like to get about 10 trees cut down, of which 9 are Douglas fir, and 1 is a big redwood. I assume that the redwood tree is worth something, but I have no idea how much. It's even in a pretty accessible location, about 30 yards from our drive, on the uphill side. The neighbors had one redwood taken down and processed, but it wasn't nearly as big, and they kept most of the lumber to build their deck.

Anyways, if anybody knows anything about this sort of thing, let me know.

At the city where I work we had large redwood fall. One of our local furniture/bench makers got a hold of someone with a portable mill to cut up the tree, and mill it into planks. The miller traded the cutting, and milling for half of the planks.

Unfortunately the furniture maker left his planks on the side of the road for to long, and someone took them all. I will try to find the name of the person with the mill, and get you their contact information. I believe the person with the mill is from Northern California so I’m not sure how far they will travel.

For the other trees that need cutting just get at least three estimates from local companies. You can save a lot if you keep big pieces, and smaller chipped branches onsite to decompose.

Also, I don’t believe your issues will result in you having to deal with the county regarding planning/zoning/permitting. But if something comes up that you would like to discuss let me know it’s what I do.

In CA, it is illegal to sell wood from trees on your property without a permit.

You may use to wood yourself, have it milled on site or processed into rounds for firewood.

If you want to sell the trees, contact a forester, he will survey the property including soil analysis, submit the harvest plan to state and federal agencies.

I had some trees cut down near HWY 88 between Jackson and Kirkwood.  I called wood mizer in Sacramento area to ask about mobile millers. They pointed me to website that had contact info for millers. Got in touch with a local guy who slabbed some pine, cedar, and made dimensional lumber from the fir. (I later got the fir graded and am building a permitted shop with the fir.)
I had a neighbor with a tractor that helped me skid and deck the logs, but the miller had a log fetch he could use between his truck and a winch if needed.
I am pretty sure you can find a local faller, especially if you live in the timber.  I see lots of posts on sites like Nextdoor. Just make sure they are insured!!!
Not sure where you live, but hopefully this gives you some ideas.

Just watch a couple YouTube videos and rent a chainsaw, you got this!

Like the guy who drops a huge tree along a chosen fall line right between buildings. DIY tree falling certainly can accelerate the heartbeat. I've dropped a few but never near structures and even then always was on edge. One reason for falling branches was the clearcutting that used to take place in the past. With no competition for light, young trees would grow lower branches outward into space and eventually become excessively heavy and later snap in the wind. I see this all the time in my own redwoods well below my home. In a virgin forest a seedling uses most of it's energy to grow straight up to get to sunlight, not spread branches into the shadows of big trees around it. Most of Northern California has been clear cut multiple times and the patterns of tree growth show it and many trees carry excessive weight in lower outspread branches.

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Like the guy who drops a huge tree along a chosen fall line right between buildings. DIY tree falling certainly can accelerate the heartbeat. I've dropped a few but never near structures and even then always was on edge. One reason for falling branches was the clearcutting that used to take place in the past. With no competition for light, young trees would grow lower branches outward into space and eventually become excessively heavy and later snap in the wind. I see this all the time in my own redwoods well below my home. In a virgin forest a seedling uses most of it's energy to grow straight up to get to sunlight, not spread branches into the shadows of big trees around it. Most of Northern California has been clear cut multiple times and the patterns of tree growth show it and many trees carry excessive weight in lower outspread branches.

I fell a large apple next to my house 2 weekends ago. On my face cut I discovered that the tree had rotted out completely and only half my hinge was viable. After a little cursing I rigged up a tackle to keep some weight off and set up an anchor and puppy to direct the fall. I missed my spot by about 20° which I’ll take considering the alternative was a pirouette into the house.

Falling trees near houses is always a pucker for me and I should just take it down in pieces. My buddy who does this for a living nicked himself up good with his chainsaw falling my cherry tree, leaving me to deal with the apple and finish the cherry. 

Trees are just dangerous and unpredictable. I don’t really like doing it. Did a bunch in my younger days though. I’m currently in the middle of pulling the cherry stump.  Can’t grind it and There is a PGE gas line under it so can’t but it out either. Sigh.

I do love the tree falling fail videos on YouTube though.

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The past 2 days, I’ve spent a bunch of time with my little 16” electric chainsaw chopping up branches that fell on my roof and 1/4 mile of road to get to a main(ish) road. It’s amazing how heavy that stuff is, even when cut in fairly small pieces.

Anyway, I could not get this song out of my head the whole time…

In CA, it is illegal to sell wood from trees on your property without a permit.

You may use to wood yourself, have it milled on site or processed into rounds for firewood.

If you want to sell the trees, contact a forester, he will survey the property including soil analysis, submit the harvest plan to state and federal agencies.

Thanks, that’s great info.

Also, I don’t believe your issues will result in you having to deal with the county regarding planning/zoning/permitting. But if something comes up that you would like to discuss let me know it’s what I do.

I hope I don’t have to deal with the county, as they seems to treat people in this neighborhood like we’re the enemy. I do my best to keep them off my property…

Just watch a couple YouTube videos and rent a chainsaw, you got this!

I’ve cut down quite a few tanoaks, as they grow tall, die, and fall unpredictably. But about 12” diameter is my limit, and even then it makes me nervous.

Travis Tree Service over here in Boulder Creek does milling in addition to felling.  You might want to call them up and explore the options since they'd know the ins and outs of the process.

I just learned some more on this from some locals.  You should be looking for a licensed "Timber Operator."  They'll be able to file the necessary paperwork on your behalf in order to allow you to sell the lumber to a mill.  I'm told that Big Creek usually buys logs from these Timber Operators, so there's a solid market for them.  Hope that helps!

I don’t know how it works in your area. In coastal Mendocino County, you would need to file a Timber Harvest Plan with the county planning and development department. That gets sent to a ton of agencies for review, including local government if any, tribal authorities, CDFW, etc. I’m on the Gualala Municipal Advisory Council, and we get them, but have no regulatory authority, only advisory. Here, the California Coastal Commission is on the list; hopefully you are far enough inland that they don’t affect you. If they do, get the local fire authorities on your side and let them duke it out with the CCC. Safety trumps conservation. Good luck! BTW, we camped at Redcrest in Sept, and we love your area.