Winter Work?

Anonymity

Anonymity

Participating member
Location
Ontario, Canada
Hello...

I hope this post helps multiple people...what are some creative, ingenuitive and resourceful ways some of you are paying the bills during the slower winter months? Here's a couple of ideas to demonstrate what I mean:

Firewood production
Snow removal

Again, I hope this helps others, but to be honest and share my own experience. I'm finding the lack of work difficult at this time...and so i'm trying to think outside the box a little and would appreciate any good tips from others.

Thanks,
Ken
 
I build the majority of my equipment trailers, attachments grapples log splitter log truck ect ect so it costs me money in the winter but I save a lot over buying the stuff so in a since I’m kind making money because I didn’t have to spend as much during the year buying so much stuff, ill admit its also a hobby or maybe even an addiction ha-ha but if you get in with some builders clearing lots and such its pretty hit and miss but there’s always a few lots that need worked on in the winter, for me any how, also I do some ditch maintenance of my county which I’m is always winter work, some clearing out along there right of way, some of its clearing out log jams ect I also plow which is some income a lot of times not worth the hassle if your just out buy your trucks I have a hand full of people that plow under me which is nice so I am making a little off each of them for keeping track of billing and such
 
Took me a long time to realize that with proper planning I could be more profitable in the winter without doing a single job in the winter.

Since it is a slow time no matter how we slice it I do my best to find winter opportunities for temp work for my crew. Then I set aside the winter for all my strategic planning, marketing planning, personal development and other stuff that I just don't have time for during the "Season"

It is also a good time to expand my networking among potential client groups by visiting with organizations that could be sources of new work in the future.

I have no cash flow but since I've already paid the winter bills it is no problem.
 
I learned to backlog pruning jobs. PHC has kept me pretty busy during the growing season, so its easier to put off more pruning for the winter. I'm still way slow in the winter, but looks like I have 1-2 pruning jobs/week in the books through mid Jan. After that????? march is not too far off.

Also, backlogging planting jobs has been nice too. Planting in Nov and then again in late Feb /early March usually gives me 1-2 weeks of work each fall & spring. Planting can be a pain if the trees die, but with good nursery stock and watering its not too bad. Planting can be profitable! (most tree guys laugh at the idea)
 
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Planting can be a pain if the trees die, but with good nursery stock and watering its not too bad. Planting can be profitable! (most tree guys laugh at the idea)

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You may be right to a degree (in regard to 'tree guys' laughing at the idea of planting), but I'd just like to say I feel like planting two trees for every one cut down. Somewhere...somehow...
I've come to suggest this when estimating removal work. I've found that people often spring towards the idea of a replacement. Though as you mentioned, coming across good nursery stock can be difficult. I have dreams of creating a small production, quality oriented nursery. It would be great to carry around the catalog as a reference for people that may be immediately ready for a replacement plant.
I'm truly thankful for a backlog until March which includes a good deal of pruning and PHC.
 
Speaking engagments have helped me a great deal. When I'm not delivering course material or getting people engaged, I'm networking like crazy. Often when speaking, I'm given a pass to take other classes or maybe a meal ticket. It's small stuff to some people but if I can do or say something to make a conference better for someone else...it really keeps the blood flowing and it's the most rewarding part of attending.
I know you're looking for cash flow ideas so back to it. Hanging and taking down Holiday lights is big business for some. You'll need to set this stuff up well in advance though.
One year I took a job washing dishes at night.
 
The first year I dealt with a layoff I shoveled horsetihs in a stable for eight bucks an hour, it sucked. We're gonna try to go thru the winter this year, here's hoping. I like the sound of speaking engagements though whiz. Sounds warm and dry, and rewarding. You sure make it look like fun.

derail, boreality where'd you find that avatar? killer street art
 
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We do tree work. Crazy right?

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I think he's looking for work to do when the season slows down, try to keep up Jeff.
 
We plow snow
db788449.jpg
 
My avatar came from an Italian arborist's facebook friend's friend trip down the facebook rabbithole. Then I googled "eating trees shitting houses" and it came right up on an image search. In between I learned about the man eating trees of Madagascar. Guess what I do in winter.
 
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We do tree work. Crazy right?

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I think he's looking for work to do when the season slows down, try to keep up Jeff.

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Backlog work, and we go to 4 days instead of 5 to spread out the work we have. I was entirely serious. Well do training days at the shop to kill time too, ISA stuff for the new guys, ctsp credits, ehap cert, first aid/CPR refresher, etc.
 
One of the things I tell my customers is that we are fighting against the perception that we don't work in winter. So many times customers call me and say "I'd like to get the work done before winter," because they think we shut it down.

-Tom
 
I try to book crane work for the winter time. Crane company is slower, so I can keep them busy for a spell at least. Roads are less busy, so I have less to worry about with traffic and pedestrians. Even if there is snow on the ground it's not that bad because as long as I can get the crane in, odds are the pieces are going to be set down on the road anyway.
 
Lots of variety I see, that's great to see. Mostly what I have taken from the comments is to just do more of what I'm doing. Thanks for all the comments guys. Here's a question that's a little off topic...but if someone see's it and wants to respond that would be great. Has anyone had any success advertising in the classified section of the local news paper?

Ken
 
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