Once the kids are grown and you have that "empty nest," this could still be the best years of your life!! Now start courting that bride like you used to and enjoy it.
A lot of good stuff in all these posts. I think the key lesson here is any time of life can be the some of the best years of your life if you’re willing to make them so. And don’t begrudge the things you can’t get to, but cherish the moments of life, big and small, that are happening right now.
I have a 27 ton champion splitter. And a stihl farm boss. Honestly I’d like a smaller saw and a bigger one as well. But for now the Boss does the trick. Jack of all trades type of saw.
I consider heating with wood my "hobby". Some folks find time to go to the gym, an hour here and there... I like being outside and so spent the "gym" time processing firewood. My three kids never had an interest in firewood and I never pushed my "hobby" on them. They are all grown and settled and I have more time to devote to my "hobby". Instead, the kids enjoyed the time we spent camping together and they all still go camping. Balancing work, wife, kids, hobbies... means you have a full life.
Got some wood in the shed today… my middle boy was with me the whole time. My older son helped as well but when we were done he wasn’t sticking around for pictures. He was outta there.
I learned with dad, some times chores gotta get done before play time. And that meant sometimes, play time didn’t get to happen.
You have to make it a regular thing. A fast splitter really really helps. A ported saw helps too. I have a 4 way splitter and it is just fast enough. With 8-12" rounds, the wood pours out like a processor. A little time every day will do a lot. I can easily do a face cord in 20 minutes by myself. A helper speeds it up. For me, 20 minutes a day adds up to about 2 cord a week. I'm not saying I do that.....just that it adds up, but I should do it. I have piles of wood to cut and split. I also have wood sheds to build...... I am trying to hit the 3 year plan, and I'm real close....just have to get it split and stacked. Stacking is the hardest part.......
I found if I referred to working on firewood, as to playing at the woodpile. My grandkids will help more if I make it like a game. 2 of my granddaughters live in the city and are always asking to come over and play in the woodpile.
I got my kids gloves to help with firewooding. It protects their hands of course, but I also think it helps them feel like they’re a part of the crew. I tried to make it a bit of an honor — “do you think you’re ready for gloves?” — but I think they saw right through me.
I use vacation days, holidays, some nights ill just stay out there till dark, some people think splitting wood is the least important task around the house…getting that 3 year supply is hard but once you got that you can ease up and start splitting enough for one season every year
Old Nate I get where you're coming from. I was in a similar spot. Kids, work, work, kids, wife, kids. Im on call every other day and work everyother weekend. It Felt overwhelming to get to 3 year plan. I did what many have suggested and did things in stages. Piled up a bunch of rounds and split/ stacked most of it when I had a little time. Even if it was 20 minutes. Most got put up in the dead of winter. I got to a point where I decided to buy a few cords already split. That was a HUGE help. Now that Im ahead, Im able to scrounge, cut, split, stack, here and there and whenever I feel like it. So much easier to maintain 3 year plan than to get there. Stay the course and it can be done without missing the precious time and activities you have with your kids.
My trick to getting wood is grab what ever I can when I can even if it a arms full. and if it needs to be split I start a pile next to my splitting block can not afford a hydro splitter yet. I keep the wheel barrow and maul close buy and when I am doing stuff like grilling or other yard work every time I walk buy I split a piece. When the stack of rounds gets to big and looks bad the boss tells me to make it disappear and adds it to my honey do list. I normally get time in April and October. so those are the moths I try to spend all my time doing wood. been blessed been able to build a good stock pile some people near me have taken down trees so wood was close and easy to get keep an eye on FB marketplace got at lest 6 cord from that. also in vest the money in a good work light many of a night I send outside after kids go to bed splitting. I have seen it here some were before you can eat an elephant one bite at a time.
