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Stuart Summerell (@northofnowherefarm) wasn’t setting out to become a sawmiller. He was doing what most farmers do when expanding — planning outbuildings as part of a wider diversification project.
Like anyone would, he went to price up the materials. The timber alone came back at £150,000. Not the full build. Not labour. Just the timber.
This is where most people accept the number and move on. Because that’s “just the cost.” But Stuart stopped and asked a different question:
What am I actually paying for here?
Not just timber — but processing, transport, margins, handling… Layer after layer of cost added after the tree leaves the ground.
Instead of accepting the quote, Stuart looked at the alternative: Produce the timber himself.
Using a Peterson Sawmill, he was able to convert his own logs into usable structural material — on-site, and on his terms.
Original timber quote:
£150,000
Total project value:
£1,000,000
Timber:
Produced on-site using a
Peterson Sawmill
This wasn’t a small saving. It fundamentally changed the economics of the entire build.
This isn’t about “cheap timber.” It’s about control. Control over:
Because once you can convert your own timber, you’re no longer buying into a system — you’re operating outside of it.
Stuart’s project isn’t unique. It’s just one of the few where someone questioned the system before committing to it.
Across the UK, the same situation exists:
A Peterson sawmill closes that gap.
Most people will price the timber… Shake their head… And pay it anyway.
A few will stop and ask:
“What if I just produced it myself?”
This didn’t happen in isolation.
What would have been a cost became a resource already within reach.
Ready to take control of your timber supply? Find the right sawmill for your farm.