Wood (Lots)

I spent yesterday at a friends small scale logging operation, getting some dry pine for Sweat Lodge fires.

Here is a link to some representative pictures of Sweat Lodges.

The sweat wood is fairly long, about three feet, fairly heavy when a foot around. The wood needs to be the right size. Too short and the fire doesn't hold the heat, too long and the logs don't form the required tee-pee. After a couple of trailer loads cut up, loaded, and packed three to a wheel barrow, a hundred feet to the sweat lodge pile, my muscles felt like they had a work out.

I am going back today to get another load. I only go to the site on the weekends to avoid the logging trucks. This load will be firewood for our place. The weather has been really nice and I want to take the opportunity to re-stock the woodpile. We won't need it this year, hopefully, but it stores well under cover. Make firewood while the sun shines. And the wood is available.

Inevitably logging operations make for a lot of wood that isn't wanted by the mills. Too twisted, not long enough, not big enough. With the economic downturn and a whole province of bug killed pine up for the taking the mills can be really picky about what they take. Which means lot's of left over wood for the taking. It really is sad to see the piles of wood that will just be burnt out in the logging operations. And it costs the loggers money also. They are assessed on how much waste they have left over.

I don't know what the answer is. But I do have some suggestions and just don't believe we wouldn't do it. We need to develop on site chippers to convert the waste to wood chips, or even firewood, instead of just burning it up. But when the only tool we have is a hammer ( or a board mill) all our problems seem like ... well you get the drift.

Now If I wanted to get real serious about making firewood here's an attachement I am dreaming about for the skidsteer:


In the mean time I will do my part in making sure the waste is utilized. I know that some locals do make a meager living from cutting and delivering fire wood. But it doesn't even make a dent in the problem.

Hope your having a restful Sunday.

Comments

Viki said…
That gizmo is amazing!
Art, your blog pictures are so wonderful and always make me miss the Black Hills of SD where I spent a decade of my life. Stay warm and enjoy your fire
Art said…
Thanks Donna, Weirdly enough, I have always wanted to go to the Black Hills, being a rock hound..but I have neveer been their. It's on the bucket list tho..
Art said…
One of the other things is would like to do is spell check my posts... that's on the list too!
Ard, spelin ez overaytitd. Itz da thawts thet cawnt

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