Thanks for the tip, but everything I've seen there, is here too. The worst is the multiflora rose, that stuff is horrid. I keep it under control in my woods, because I hate it so much. It's like bumping into a rose bush every time you turn around and when that stuff grabs you, it doesn't let go. The thorn tips always break off in your skin and don't come out until they get infected or you dig them out. Rained all day today so it'll be to wet to go up there tomorrow, back at it Thursday though. Tonight, wife was saying it would be great if we could get 10 cords. I don't know if I'll be able to get that much but I'll try like hell. I have enough room to put that much under roof.
Started cutting at 9AM and the rain ran me off and only got half a load on the first run. Went back after the weather cleared and got a full load. I'd like to get 2 like this one tomorrow, depends on the weather.
Took this one today. It's ready to burn. I was being watched. I ain't even going to think about taking this one.
Cut down 4 trees today. This is the second trailer load and I'm done for the day. Got up to 75 today and that took some of the fun out of it. There are still some big 14-16 inch trunks that I will get in the morning. I'm right at 4 cords of rounds right now, so I'm going to only cut in the mornings for the rest of this hot week. Having the wife help today was a huge help. I can't believe there aren't more people up there cutting. He had 2 firewood signs on 2 different roads. I've only seen 1 other person there cutting, on my first day.
Went to cut up 2 trunks from yesterday's trees today. Hadn't planned on cutting any more than that, but the farmer came over on his kubota. He had me cut a hinge in one and then pushed it down with his bucket. Next thing I know, he's knocking down trees and pushing them over to where I am. He told me nobody else has called him about cutting, so I guess I'm not going to have to drop any trees for a while. I may have to start hunting for pallets soon.
Well, I've had a dry spell on free wood for quite a while now and was getting ready to cut on my own trees when this came up. I had barely enough wood to make it through a normal winter and by the end of the week, I should have enough for this and 3 more winters. I never ever thought I'd run into this much free wood, this close to home. I told the wife that I'm like a kid in a candy store and all the candy's free. She said yeah and your pockets ain't big enough, so you have to keep going back for more. Day off tomorrow, this kinda work is beating this old guy up.
You don't have to use pallets. In fact, I really do not like them for many reasons. I simply cut some saplings or limbs. Lay 2 of them down and stack on them. Easier to stack on and not the mess when you take the wood off. Even a soft maple sapling (soft maple usually goes punky really fast if left on the ground) will last many, many years. I've also used cherry, oak, and elm. Maybe even a birch or two. I'm not fussy what I use but usually we have so many small soft maple and they grow thick so I cut them at 8 or 9' and use them. Most are 3-5" maximum diameter. Some smaller. Here is a picture of a couple piles. I had just finished stacking when these picture were taken. They are still there and the saplings that are under them are in their second use. Previously they were under wood stacks that were stacked for 4 years.
That's good to hear. Laying down logs was my first choice, but I was concerned about them rotting, Mainly because this wood is already dead and I don't want it to decay further. I'd like to store at least 2 years worth top covered with plastic. I could process 1 yrs worth in the spring and I'm sure it would be fine, but I'm not sure the second year's ash would still be good by the time I got to it. It will be stored in the round.
Got to the farm at 9AM today and was out of there by 11. The ground was dry enough that I could get up to the flat area where the farmer piled all the trees for me. It was easy pickin's and really nice to not need to drop any trees.
Top covering with plastic can work but works best if you can put something solid under that plastic. That way the plastic won't rip from rubbing on the wood and you can keep the valleys out of the covering and have it flat. Just be sure that either the top is higher than the ends or else have the pile slope toward one end so the water runs off. We've never had worry about those logs rotting. They will after a time but then they are easily replaced. In fact, I'll have to replace some next year. Not sure about the second year's ash? You will find that ash is one of the best keeping woods there is. We and others have kept it 10 years or more with no problem. Also, I've occasionally forgotten some wood that I've cut and maybe had a full load but some left on the ground. We've even had some sit in water off and on for 2 years or more and the wood is still fine! Of course, that wood had not been split and most of it was small, like perhaps 5" to 8" diameter. Another thing about ash is that we've been cutting dead ash for about 12 years now. Keeps just fine! Burns excellently.
Cant beat a score like that close to home! Nice had the same deal until they decided to turn 20 acres into mulch
This is all good to know. A few years ago, I stacked a half cord of unsplit wood uncovered, near the woods. It was mostly rotted by the time I went to split it in the fall, especially the oak. I think the main reason it rotted was because it was under some catalpa trees and got no sun. That incident made me a little paranoid about stacking wood in the open, even though I knew it was the shade that killed the wood. This wood will be stacked in full sun and it's reassuring to hear from someone that's been storing ash for a long time that it will be preserved if I do it right. And yes, ash does burn excellently. It's not the hardest, but it's still a favorite. I'm very content knowing that it's pretty much the only thing I'll be burning for years to come. Beechwood fires are bright and clear If the logs are kept a year Chestnut only good they say If for long it's laid away Make a fire of elder tree Death within your house will be But ash new or ash old Is fit for a Queen with a crown of gold Birch and Fir logs burn too fast Blaze up bright and do not last It is by the Irish said Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread Elmwood burns like churchyard mould Even the very flames are cold But ash green or ash brown Is fit for a Queen with a golden crown Poplar gives a bitter smoke Fills your eyes and makes you choke Apple wood will scent your room With an incense-like perfume Oaken logs, if dry and old Keep away the winters cold But ash wet or ash dry A king shall warm his slippers by.
Great day at the wood farm today. The cows were all up in the area that we wanted to cut and weren't in any hurry to leave. He calls this one Miss curiosity and I can see why, she's always staring at me when she's near. This big guy was scratching his back on the tree I wanted to cut up and wouldn't budge, even when I started the chainsaw. Burning the tops. My weekend helper. First load Second and last load of the day. Started cutting at 9am, finished at 2:30.
