The Pickard Farm

I was a bit late ordering firewood this year and my regular supplier was out, so I had to call around to find someone else who had wood available for delivery in early December. I called Pickard Farm and was told they could deliver half a cord of firewood, seasoned for 20 months, that same afternoon. The price seemed very high compared to what we usually pay and what other dealers were quoting (as much as 50% higher than other places) but since it was late in the season and I was having trouble finding someone who still had wood available, I agreed to it. On the plus side, they delivered the wood right on schedule the same afternoon. On the minus side, the quality of the wood nothing like advertised. It arrived wet, dirty, and mixed with chunks of ice and snow, plus two full yard waste bags worth of dirt and loose bark scraps too small even to use as kindling. It burns poorly when it burns at all, with a lot of smoldering, hissing, and smoking. Many pieces won't light or stay lit. Suspecting that something wasn't right, I went out and got a moisture meter to test the wood. Most of the logs test between 30 and 40% moisture level, where property seasoned wood should measure closer to 20%. I've set some of the logs on end and found water on the ground below them after a couple of days. In short, the wood that was delivered is all but unusable this year, and I'm pretty skeptical that it was really seasoned for 20 months. I will not be buying wood from Pickard Farms again, and in the future I'll use my new moisture meter to test wood samples from anyone else before accepting delivery.

My well pump had surged during hurricane Sandy causing a breach at the outflow fitting about 5 feet below ground level. I needed an excavator to clear the area so repairs could be made. Pickard Farm had the small backhoe required for the job. The operator returned my call promptly, explained the minimum rate charge, and arrived on time the following business day. The work was completed in less than 4 hours. I would definitely call Pickard Farm again.

I called ahead for firewood pricing, interested in their 24 month seasoned wood. Decided on picking up 1/4 cord to try them out. Price was $125 which seemed to be inline with area suppliers. It was loaded in my pickup with a front end loader. When I got home I noticed the wood was dirty, some of it wet. I stacked it and don't think I got a full 1/4 cord. And the wood does not seem seasoned at all. It was hard to light and hissed steam once going.

Second year that I have bought firewood from Pickard Farm. Great service, I would use them again.