Work Done In 2020

[kennyp2339]

Called for 20 yards of topsoil since I have a lot of clay just under the surface of the grass, finished grading the back yard after (2) large stumps and an impressive boulder, top dressed and seeded, fixed my pathway I took when I pushed the one stump and rolled the boulder through, plus since I have R4 tires, I made a few ruts in the wet ground. Restarted expanding the back corner, the box blade was my savior, I had to make at 8" cut into settled ground to get the right pitch / level, going for flat but pitched towards the woods for drainage, still a work in progress but I did all the main stuff before todays rain, got about 11 hours of solid work outside yesterday, felt great.

 

[heavy hammer]

I finally got all my wood off the ground. I was just hoping to spend the day in the woods cleaning and having the dogs in the pond but my younger lab cut his big pad on his right paw an hour into the day. So I tore into the side of the hill where the previous home owners had thrown nothing but old garbage, mowers, metal barrels, glass etc. In the one pic the metal bucket you see with all the stuff I pulled out of the woods that is filled with glass. His cut was not bad enough for stitches but I was not happy. That is the second time in just a few months he has opened his paw up. But I was able to get everything cleaned, I cleaned the ravine area out the best I could and I raked the side of the hill and burned all the brush and sticks and fallen trees. I finished cutting and stacking the pile of cedar poles and ash I had and cut up some of the long splits I had for easier burning. My next project is to move a lot of this wood closer to the house for the coming winter and replace it with the piles of logs I have farther in the woods that need processed. Other than my pup cutting his paw it was a good day I got it all done before the rain came in about 9 last night.

 

[SpaceBus]

I finally got all my wood off the ground. I was just hoping to spend the day in the woods cleaning and having the dogs in the pond but my younger lab cut his big pad on his right paw an hour into the day. So I tore into the side of the hill where the previous home owners had thrown nothing but old garbage, mowers, metal barrels, glass etc. In the one pic the metal bucket you see with all the stuff I pulled out of the woods that is filled with glass. His cut was not bad enough for stitches but I was not happy. That is the second time in just a few months he has opened his paw up. But I was able to get everything cleaned, I cleaned the ravine area out the best I could and I raked the side of the hill and burned all the brush and sticks and fallen trees. I finished cutting and stacking the pile of cedar poles and ash I had and cut up some of the long splits I had for easier burning. My next project is to move a lot of this wood closer to the house for the coming winter and replace it with the piles of logs I have farther in the woods that need processed. Other than my pup cutting his paw it was a good day I got it all done before the rain came in about 9 last night.
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Wow, that's a lot of trash. I have found some old lamps, an electrolux vacuum, an antique cast iron (I saved it) frying pan, and loads of rusty metal and glass. Good to see nothing serious, my dog accidentally stepped on a protruding stick and it broke off in his toe webbing. The wound closed almost immediately and there was even some balsam sap around the hole.

 

[EODMSgt]

Got some work done yesterday to take advantage of the last nice weather we'll have for a while. Supposed to get up to a foot of snow (latest forecast) between this evening and Tuesday with rain on Thursday and Friday. Just when things were finally drying out.

Went from the mess in the first pic to the cleaner yard in the second. Split and stacked a cord of beech and ash (the stack closest to the shed on the right) so that gives me 5 cord CSS and seasoning outside the firewood shed. I also moved all my oak rounds (about a cord) to the back. Not sure where I'm going to stack those once split so they can sit there for now. I'll keep the oak separate since it needs so long to season. Once I get the snowblower moved, I'll have some room to work again.

 

[heavy hammer]

SpaceBus I couldn't believe all the trash I pulled out plus there is still a riding mower in the woods that I'm going to pull out with the tractor. I was more mad at the fact that my younger lab sliced his pad open again. After looking at it and re wrapping it this evening it looks like it will heal nicely without stitches. Hopefully he will be good to go by the weekend. It was rough crating him yesterday while I was outside. I could hear him barking inside while in the woods, a tough day to be stuck inside.

 

[SpaceBus]

SpaceBus I couldn't believe all the trash I pulled out plus there is still a riding mower in the woods that I'm going to pull out with the tractor. I was more mad at the fact that my younger lab sliced his pad open again. After looking at it and re wrapping it this evening it looks like it will heal nicely without stitches. Hopefully he will be good to go by the weekend. It was rough crating him yesterday while I was outside. I could hear him barking inside while in the woods, a tough day to be stuck inside.

Dogs heal quick, usually. We are all struck inside today due to high winds and rain.

A whole riding mower? That's wild, sounds like some rednecks owned the place before you!

 

[thewoodlands]

This beech should've been stacked days ago so today I got off my lazy arse and stacked four loads. With what is left in the woods, I'm thinking we'll get our two face cord if not more.

Before I started on the beech I checked the fluid levels on the 4540 and all were good. I used the tractor to move some chips that were used to level off an area that will hold two face cord of ash once I get it split.

 

[Diabel]

I am super envious of all the boy toys you guys have! It sure makes firewood processing jobs easier.

 

[thewoodlands]

I finished the two face cord stack of Beech today with more spits still in the woods, I'm thinking about felling three more Beech before everything gets green.

We have a bunch of damaged American Hophornbeam (Ironwood) not far from the Beech so I took three damaged trees with more rounds in the woods.

 

[EODMSgt]

I finished the two face cord stack of Beech today with more spits still in the woods, I'm thinking about felling three more Beech before everything gets green.

Woodlands, as usual you put us to shame. Since the weatherman lied and we didn't get any snow, I went out and got a few trees bucked. I decided to have some fun so I brought the tractor and skidding cone out to drag a couple dead red oak out of the woods. I'm always amazed how people pass by the dead red oak. I'll take all I can find. Went back out later and took down a dying ash (looking at it from the top in the pic). Not a whole lot today but at least a weeks worth of firewood once its all split. Every little bit adds to the final tally.

 

[thewoodlands]

Woodlands, as usual you put us to shame. Since the weatherman lied and we didn't get any snow, I went out and got a few trees bucked. I decided to have some fun so I brought the tractor and skidding cone out to drag a couple dead red oak out of the woods. I'm always amazed how people pass by the dead red oak. I'll take all I can find. Went back out later and took down a dying ash (looking at it from the top in the pic). Not a whole lot today but at least a weeks worth of firewood once its all split. Every little bit adds to the final tally.

Nice work @EODMSgt , I planted some Red Oak years back since our lot didn't have any Oak at all.

I don't bring out much per trip but it all adds up, thanks for your comment but I should have more done but I got lazy.

 

[thewoodlands]

I felled two more Beech today, one hit the ground and the second Beech had to be dragged out of a small Basswood I thought it would miss.

I'm not sure what type of fighter jets fly out of Fort Drum but it looked like a Raptor F-22 that gave me a little wing flap while going over while I was pondering how to get the Beech down, glad it was ours.

Picture 0271 is the first Beech on the ground, in picture 0273 you can see the fresh dirt from where I dragged it out of the small Basswood. Both are bucked up ready for splitting once the rain and wind pushes through.

 

[kennyp2339]

@SpaceBus how do you like the log cone? I think that might be a simple solution for me.
I took the atv out yesterday, did a oil change, new sparkplug and air filter then then went for a ride, really just poked around on the 8 acres behind the house, saw many different dead fall tree's and had a light bulb moment of what I want to do, the only thing is, I don't want to mark up the woods to much with tracks or drag marks, I also don't want to cut then load my atv trailer and do a million loads either, I just want to do a few cuts then drag out with the tractor closer to my log landing.

 

[SpaceBus]

@SpaceBus how do you like the log cone? I think that might be a simple solution for me.
I took the atv out yesterday, did a oil change, new sparkplug and air filter then then went for a ride, really just poked around on the 8 acres behind the house, saw many different dead fall tree's and had a light bulb moment of what I want to do, the only thing is, I don't want to mark up the woods to much with tracks or drag marks, I also don't want to cut then load my atv trailer and do a million loads either, I just want to do a few cuts then drag out with the tractor closer to my log landing.

No log come, I have a Fransgard skidding winch. I'd like to get a cone since I'm down to no skidding since the ground is soft again. I only drag logs when it's frozen. Currently I move them in 18' lengths, if they are under 20" diameter, with the grapple and lots of ballast. A log arch to hold up the other end of the logs would be great.

 

[thewoodlands]

I had a few things earlier this morning we did but I was able to clear the back gully (first 2 pics) so the wife can use it for walking and I can get the splitter in there to split some ash.

After the above was done, I went up top where I had felled some Ironwood the other day and grabbed the rest.

 

[thewoodlands]

I hauled the splitter up the hills today and split all the rounds I had bucked up. I also have some left from the first four trees I felled and split & stacked but I don't think there's enought for another two face.

Attached are some pictures from today, it rained some when I was splitting the second tree today but it didn't last long.

 

[thewoodlands]

I did some cleanup in this spot where I stacked a face cord of Beech from the last two trees, there's still more up top from the last two trees and even more left from the first five Beech I c/s.

I'll get the Birch rounds out of the area to the left of the Beech I stacked today and stack what is left of the Beech and if I have to, mix some American Hophornbeam in with it to make a full face cord.

After I get this done I'll either be s/s the Ash off the backhill or before that fell another three or four up top so I have more work ready once everything leafs out.

 

[thewoodlands]

I picked up the splits that were left from the last two Beech I felled (0294) and then went over to the splits left from the first five Beech I felled (0295) and filled the trailer (0296) and stacked it.

I used some Ironwood that I brought off the hill to finish this stack.

 

[thewoodlands]

It was a day off today from any firewood related work since my upper back was tightening up so I made some spaghetti sauce for some stuffed bell peppers the boss will cook tomorrow.

Hopefully tomorrow I can get back up top so I can fell another three or four Ash which will give me some work once things start leafing out. I've had this up here before so hopefully this will happen but the back will need to loosen up some.

 

[Gearhead660]

Started last fall with what I thought was enough for the season(first year burning as main heat source). Ended up burning it all and then some. Been working little by little all year so far and as of this weekend I can say I am now set for the next 3 seasons. 5.5 cord elm, 2 cord pine, 6 cord locust and hickory, 5.5 cord oak/ash/maple/walnut mix. Now to start on 2023-24...

 

[SpaceBus]

We are slowly working through the logs we cut a few months ago. I'm hoping the mill comes in soon, seems like I ordered it a month ago.

 

[thewoodlands]

Started last fall with what I thought was enough for the season(first year burning as main heat source). Ended up burning it all and then some. Been working little by little all year so far and as of this weekend I can say I am now set for the next 3 seasons. 5.5 cord elm, 2 cord pine, 6 cord locust and hickory, 5.5 cord oak/ash/maple/walnut mix. Now to start on 2023-24...

Nice work @Gearhead660 , I remember many years ago when I finally put up enough wood that we were three years ahead, it was a good feeling.

Congrats on your hard work.

 

[thewoodlands]

I felled three Ash today and bucked up two of them.

Picture 0302 is the first Ash, 0307 is the second, 0308 is after I cleaned up the area, 0311 is the third Ash and 0312 is what I'll have to buck up of the third Ash.

It's time I start splitting and stacking the Ash off the backhill first and then the Ash from today.

 

[Gearhead660]

I felled three Ash today and bucked up two of them.

Picture 0302 is the first Ash, 0307 is the second, 0308 is after I cleaned up the area, 0311 is the third Ash and 0312 is what I'll have to buck up of the third Ash.

It's time I start splitting and stacking the Ash off the backhill first and then the Ash from today.

I live in "yard tree" country and am always jealous of you folks with your telephone pole straight trees. One of these days I will get a nice big chunk of woods to call my own.

 

[Diabel]

Nice work @Gearhead660 , I remember many years ago when I finally put up enough wood that we were three years ahead, it was a good feeling.

Congrats on your hard work.

Yes, that is an awesome feeling! But firewood work/exercise never stops