wood

self sustainability, wood ben January 06, 2016

First night in the house at -20°C

I slept next to the stove to keep feeding it through the night; woke up 3 times, the sky was amazing. The house isn’t insulated optimally yet. I don’t like that we don’t have an alternative to the one stove for heating. It’s low tech and has a low chance of breaking down but I will be reassured when we have another one in the addition we’ll build.

Looks like we’ll be able to spend Winters with 100% renewable fuel sourced within 2000′. Improvements will be quite welcome if we go through something like last Winter.

self sustainability, wood ben November 16, 2015

A small ash

I’ve been sick but trying to keep a good discipline of bringing wood in every week end. This small ash is perfect to get some fresh air and light exercise, not big and close to a path. I felled it right where I wanted it, I was worried it was going to hit that apple tree.

self sustainability, wood ben November 04, 2015

We’re actually already burning a lot more wood than anticipated; it’s not too cold and the house heats up fast, but we now rely on the stove for cooking & hot water. Thus we tend to have a fire going anytime we are home. I beefed up the reserves with some emergency ash or we’ll be in trouble.

life in the U.S., self sustainability, wood ben May 22, 2015

Ash trees, last ones to leaf out

wood ben February 28, 2015

Having fun

self sustainability, wood ben January 17, 2015

Wood pile on the land

Nothing crazy I’ve been lazy. I’m still hoping to have most of the wood done before we being construction. Some of these logs are bears to handle.

self sustainability, wood ben January 15, 2015

Hypnotic

self sustainability, wood ben January 05, 2015

Frozen marsh = easy access to dead trees

I’ll gladly help nature reclaim them.

self sustainability, wood ben October 19, 2014

Protected: Wood this year

self sustainability, wood ben February 02, 2014

Sexy!

It still needs a bit of work.

self sustainability, wood ben September 29, 2013

Wooden bridge to more wood part 2

This Subaru has hauled anything from motorcycles, compost & chicken coops; it’s only suiting to give it another job.

This 90° turn was a huge bitch.

Almost there.

I’m not sure what I’ll do for boards yet, probably more hemlock cuts. I can’t wait to have it ready to use!

self sustainability, wood ben September 28, 2013

Wooden bridge to more wood part 1

A stream prevents us from taking the motorized wheelbarrow to 90% of the land where good fire wood is. It’s a herculean task to carry it all back across the stream and I’m no Hercules. My landlord tells me that hemlocks take water pretty well and we just dropped 2 huge ones for a clearing. It’s time to make a bridge.

Using a come-along inch by inch; thankfully it was hauled by a car for half of the trip