I could buy a container full of wood. I have contacted Tatf and the hardwood division several times about doing so. I get a polite initial response some of the time and then get none of the promised follow up when I indicate real interest and ask specific questions about getting samples or what dimensions they have readily available. I have a cabinet shop and know wholesalers and retailers and other woodworkers who I could share the volume of a full container. I think there is a market here on the East coast for the young teak in the $4-5+ / bd. ft. The young, interior use teak could be another cabinet and probably flooring wood. Since it is teak, just softer and younger, would immediately command a high price. The designers and woodworkers I deal with are used to paying $15-25/ bd ft. for teak. Young teak is a bargain.
I have trees at Tatf and I am sure that from the sounds of things on this board, that other investors that have thinned or needed to be thinned trees, would be happy to send their wood to me if it was available.
TATF please call me to work out how I can help market wood. I don't want to damage TATF or compete with them, just promote use of wood to increase the value of my trees.
I have hope that my investment is sound, but share mattyo's view that tatf operating in what seems to be secrecy, (I can only assume due to limited response to my inquiries), is a bad situation.
Being a business owner, I can see how focusing so long on planting, planting , planting... has left an overwhelming task of now maintaining such a large number of trees. I once tried to write the numbers from 1 to one million as a child. After 8 hrs of writing, I was less than 100k and gave up. Not an excuse for tatf's poor planning and management, but I am willing to wait a little more to see results of what I saw as a change of focus this year in the mission described earlier in the year.