This has not been a good Fall for cutting wood. Nor was it a very good morning either. I am now so far behind on wood cutting I am going to be scrambling big time this entire week just to catch up and I am going to have to dip into some of my backup supply as well.
As I have explained many times the Small-Hold is not blessed with a large number of trees. Ya I know having 25 acres in Missouri that isn't covered in trees is about as easy as finding an Islamic cook book that doesn't begin with "Steal two chickens". Most of my tree-less-ness is because of those evil tree eating horses but also because when my Father retired he sold his 200 acre farm.
Now the guy that bought it actually wanted me to continue cutting off the place. He lives off in New York or some where and rarely comes around. Apparently the farm is for his retirement. For all intents and purposes I still have full access and he likes having someone keeping an eye on the place.
This arrangement worked well until he rented the old house out this year to some young couple who apparently are into hunting. WITH ALL THEIR FRIENDS!!
This morning at 10:00 am I pull up next to a good sized old White oak that died over a year ago and was perfect for cutting. I been waiting for months to bring her down as there is easily 2 months worth of wood in that beast. I get out of the truck and some guy is standing in the tree next to it on his hunting stand. Apparently bow season started this weekend.
He wasn't too pleased. I apologized but couldn't help thinking that if hadn't seen anything by 10 AM he was probably in the wrong place anyway.
There must have been 12 trucks parked up at the old house I noticed on my way out. Those guys must be falling all over themselves out there.
OK not to be skunked I headed down the road to another old oak that had died and the owner asked me two weeks ago to cut it down. Easy access and clear ground around it, I was going to save that tree for a rainy day or something. I went and checked it out last week. When I pull up there this morning the tree is gone. Apparently it disappeared this week sometime. The owner swore he thought I had already come and cut it down and hauled it away.
Somebody stole my damned tree!!!
Alright I have several old trunks and the like I need to pull out of the brush in my own little sad woodlot. I go home and jump on the tractor, hit the start button and NOTHING. Deader than Nancy Pelosie's love life.
Great.
I charge the battery up remembering this time that it is still a positive ground 6 volt battery as opposed to the converted 12 volt I had been used to as a boy. This is an important fact to remember. After an hour or so I have maybe a load of stuff pulled out and ready to cut up which is now on tap for tomorrow. I had to go feed the bees this afternoon so I took the time to check out my super backup wood lot and take a few Fall color pictures.
As you can see the Maples are coloring up nicely. I figure I have another load or two down by my North Bee Yard I can get to.
I guess the time has come to begin switching from cutting standing deadwood to actually cutting live stuff to cure a year or so in advance.
I have about a cord and half stacked and left over from last year. I should have cut some this Summer but I just can't stand fighting the brush. Wood cutting is so much more pleasant when it is cool and/or cold.
Looks like this next week is going to be constant cutting to get ahead of things. It is nice and dry now but you just never know when it can turn so wet I am unable to get out and get the firewood I need.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!
I have several vehicles that don't get used regular. I started getting 12 VDC charging solar panels w/overcharge circuits built in. They are all of 1.8W but work real well in keeping these vehicles, including a Diesel pickup going. Not sure how it would work on 6 VDC, or if you can rig something up, but even the 4 wheeler that that is inside the garage with only 1 small window, and a couple of opaque sky lights.
ReplyDeleteJP - I haven't had a lick of a problem with the tractor goign dead before this incident. I usually use it for something every couple of weeks so not sure what happened this time. I may have left the key turned on but the points were not burned out so if I did I was lucky.
DeleteI been thinking about a couple of those chargers though.
You were lucky, when I lived in town, I came home from work and two guys were throwing my split wood in a truck and getting ready to drive off, They said that they didn't think that I wanted it. They promptly unloaded it of course.
ReplyDeleteI try to cut most of my wood in late winter just because it is cool and the undergrowth is down by then.
SF - I agree. I hate cutting wood in the Summer. Yet I can run into supply problems if we get too much snow or rain so I try getting some done all Summer. Just there isn't as much to get these days.
DeleteFive years ago I had people begging me to haul off wood these days it is gone before it hits the ground.
Didn't you know that trees are the new copper?? Someone cut down that tree and made money off of it. You know those folks in Missouri, a funny bunch of folks. bahahahah
ReplyDeleteRob - They may have in fact sold it as firewood. The oaks go really fast because the snobs who buy wood always expect oak. Myself I prefer Locust for burning.
DeletePP,
ReplyDeleteIt does sounds like you're going to be pretty busy with getting your wood before others cut it down out from under you.
We have wood thieves here too!!!
Sandy - I would bet it's worse out your way. Not as many trees and not as many that need clearing. What chaps my butt is when I see em bulldoze good firewood over and not let anyone come in and cut it up.
DeleteTree stealing is a problem here, too. They come on your land and cut down your silver maples and poplar to sell at the lumber yard across the state line.
ReplyDeleteHarry - Yes I hear about someone having their trees stolen here alot. Usually it's Walnut up here though.
DeleteI don't know if it is still common, but they used to do wildcat coal digs in West Virginia. People would go around a turn in the road and find a small chunk of the roadside (not the road) was dug out. I always thought that was pretty wild.
ReplyDelete