Thema: Wow, I am sorry but this is just really really really lame!

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but honestly... learn to crafting alt. You do not take crafting alt characters into zones far far beyond their capabilities to harvest things with that character. You park your crafting alt in a convenient location (get a ride to Galtrev with a hunter), and then you mail your crafting alt mats gained on a higher level character. That's how crafting alts work.

What you're doing is making a new character, picking up crafting, then expecting that character to be able to have the full benefits of crafting in the game at level 24. I don't understand why you are confused that you have to work extra if you want to solo an MMO. It wasn't designed for it.

I know wood can be hard to come by on the AH, but this is because most of the people who do serious high level crafting have a high level explorer to funnel mats to everyone else.