One of the busy bee activities going on around here is the harvesting of firewood from the hills on the farm. I’ve started up this mission a bit late, really, so we’re targeting dead trees. Last night, I was up on the far upper pasture with my hired men.
Dogs were up there helping, you know.
After each dead tree was brought down, it was dragged by the tractor to a clearing where there is a gas well.
Then cut up.
Loaded in the bed of Ross’s old F150.
That there is a lot of wood!
I loved seeing the pickup fill with firewood for this winter.
Then the wood came back down closer to the house.
I didn’t help much more than the dogs. Okay, I helped exactly as much as the dogs.
All the wood was unloaded from the pickup, off to the side where it can be handy to take for the next step–splitting.
There are already several more trees cut, waiting to be hauled down. I don’t heat with wood all the time. It’s a backup source. But I found last year, when my furnace went out twice, that I needed more wood than I had planned. This year, I’m going to make sure I have what I will need in case of the sort of repeat heat emergencies I had last year. I’m also going to be installing a second gas heater in the house that will run without electricity at all, which is another backup to the furnace.
It’s hard to believe it’s already September and I don’t even want to think about winter, but after last year’s bad winter, whether I want to think about winter yet or not, it’s past time and I’m thinking about it!
bonita says:
Uncle who lived 6 miles down a dirt road in AR, used to really load up on wood. Claimed there was none better for a nasty winter but a good wood pile. Even better when it’s free wood! Congrats on storing up…
On September 4, 2014 at 4:25 pm
GrammieEarth says:
Does someone have a splitter, or will it be done by ax and sweat? I am much happier to rent a splitter, than to take task with the ax!!
Glad you have re-surfaced :snoopy: :happyflower:
Pam
On September 4, 2014 at 4:53 pm
yvonnem says:
Glad to see you got Ross’s old truck running…now you can start driving a stick again!
On September 4, 2014 at 5:19 pm
dee58m says:
We are already dreading the thought of winter as well. Last winter was rough no matter what part of the country you lived in. Always good to stock up on more wood then you think you’ll need. We are a bit late in getting our wood. This is our main heat source. Last winter we went through 20 truck loads.
Good that you will be installing a second gas heater.
On September 5, 2014 at 2:47 am
Cousin Mark says:
Tip from Cousin over the hill, firewood rounds dry faster if busted into pieces as wood with bark does not dry fast.Also wood splitting lessons available for baked goods.
On September 5, 2014 at 8:12 pm
Joell says:
:happyflower: :happyflower:
Cute title, saw that is a movie once……….
It is comforting to start getting ready for the winter, from what the weatherman is tell us, it will be as bad as last winter, we are preparing early as well.Lots of firewood, pantry and freezer will be filled and—-dont forget the tinfoil 😉
On September 6, 2014 at 12:14 pm
steakandeggs says:
HaHa Your Cousin Mark’s comments always make me laugh. I noticed he want to trade lessons for baked goods. NOW that’s a man that know how to make a deal.
On September 7, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Claudia W says:
I am going to pay very close attention to the weather in north west US this winter. Next year I am going to be moving there to my very own tiny farm (5 – 10 acres) I would go now, but I have learned from you and I think my best lesson is to be informed and prepared. So I will go when the weather is better and stock up on everything I need, get a small garden going, plan out my animals and then hunker down for the winter. I’m so excited…I have wanted to do this since I was five! Thanks for all your lessons, I’m going to be following you ever closer now…
On September 8, 2014 at 8:09 pm
Della says:
:wave:
We live in the mountains of Co at 8,400 ft all we use is wood for heat. I love it.
On September 14, 2014 at 2:21 pm