2 oaks right where I wanted them

They shared a trunk and didn’t have many healthy branches left. I layed them on the marsh which is a very nice flat surface to work on these days.

So flat that we made quick work of picking up a sled full of oak shavings for the compost pile.

Oak

Many people told me that oak was by far the best wood to burn for heat. In 6 years of heating with wood, we never had that luxury. This is about to change as a massive oak on our land came down of its own volition. I finally went after it this week end. It’s pretty hard to go through given it’s odd position but the rapid yield makes up for the hard work. Now I have to say I never carried such heavy logs, likely a sign of the wood’s density. I had to split it on the spot to get pieces I could move. Besides its density, it splits relatively easy and makes an unusual very dry almost gun-like sound upon impact. I’m a fan already.

We meet again

Good spot to spend an afternoon in spite of the crappy weather. I had to make a path so I could turn the ATV around further.

I can’t wait several months of seasoning to try oak, so I brought a piece inside for a quick dry. We’ll throw it in the fire box for a special occasion :).

 

If a tree falls in the forest…

I was out in the woods a week ago, out of nowhere a giant tree came down not a hundred feet from where I was. Not a gust of wind, not any movement of any kind; just a tree coming down at the exact moment I happen to be around.

I got closer to it to see what nature had chosen for my next firewood batch, it turns out it’s one of 2 enormous oaks, some of the biggest on our land. I always had them in the back of my mind for when I’ll want an lifetime supply of nice oak boards for projects. But the timing is bad for my current lack of equipment might just leave firewood as the only option. I can’t move this bear in 8′ chunks.