Possible use for orchard prunings

[appletwigs]

Just like to begin by saying how informative I've found this forum. Certainly provided me with lots of information and ideas to think about.

 

 

We run a very small commercial cider orchard, and as a result we prune out a good few tonnes of wood every year. For the most part the branches range from 0.5 to 3 inches in diameter and about 3-4 ft long.

 

We burn some in our woodburner but we have more than enough ash/oak for that. Due to its small size we only really use it for kindling really.so I'm trying to think of some sideline to make use of the prunings.

 

Its great on the BBQ in the summer though, but I have no idea if there would be a market for selling it on that basis. I also thought of perhaps turning it into chips for smoking but I have no idea what this would entail or if it would be worth it.

I'd love to hear any comments or ideas for what I could use this nessesary waste product for as it seems a shame to stack and burn it.

[Paul Jenks]

Either hire in a chipper once or twice a year and bag it and sell it or stockpile the chips for use about the place, or buy an old one, (Chipper) and do the same.

[garth mc garth]

throw it in the middle of the rows and run it over with a pulveriser / mulcher on the tractor, save on buying fert and less handling.

[log supplier]

if youve got the time bundle it up, sell it as faggots..

 

kindling the old fashioned way:thumbup1:

[Luke Quenby]

Just like to begin by saying how informative I've found this forum. Certainly provided me with lots of information and ideas to think about.

 

 

We run a very small commercial cider orchard, and as a result we prune out a good few tonnes of wood every year. For the most part the branches range from 0.5 to 3 inches in diameter and about 3-4 ft long.

 

Where are you based?

[renewablejohn]

Have a look on the pellet production thread for "smoking" pellets. I would be interested in turning apple wood into wood pellets as a niche market so long as there is a demand for "smoking" pellets at a sustainable market price.

[Billy68]

Remove all the leaves, dry it, then shred it finely and it will be suitable for use in a smoker. I get a lot of waste oak and beech dust / shavings when I make furniture. I barter a few bags of this in exchange for a big bag of sausages, bacon, roasting joints etc from the local farm that produces free range pork and smokes all their own meat. A good start would be to see if there's anyone local interested that would trial it for you, and if they are, just hire a small shredder and go from there.

[appletwigs]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to see if there is much of a market in North Devon.