There are already 25 firewood cords of wood in our shed, with another 10 to go to fill it. We burn hard maple, some soft maple, and yellow birch, seldom do we have access to oak. The cedar and hemlock is used for kindling to get the fire started or for more intense heat on those minus 40 degrees winter days. The only time we let the fire go out in the cold months, is if we need to give the stovepipe a good cleaning or if the fire gets too hot and cracks the firebrick that lines the woodstove. If properly built and maintained, and using only dry wood, this should never happen. There has been a time or two, tho, when someone's hubby has gotten over zealous with his boyscout training.
In the loggers world, a cord of wood is 4x4x8,-that's 4 ft. high x 4 ft. long x 8 ft. wide., thus a Loggers Cord.
In the loggers world, a cord of wood is 4x4x8,-that's 4 ft. high x 4 ft. long x 8 ft. wide., thus a Loggers Cord.In the average Joe's world, a cord of wood is 4x8x16,-that's 4 ft. high x 8 ft. long x 16 inches deep., thus a firewood cord.
When we make our firewood, we clean up the woods of blowdowns, like this hemlock that got twisted in a windstorm, and by cutting dead wood out. We are fortunate to have enough land and firewood to last us a lifetime. We bought most of our property from a logger who already had logged most of the marketable trees out. We were fortunate again, to talk him into leaving one of the 40's partly alone. That's the piece that the cabin is built on.
We have many trails throughout the woods that make it fairly easy to get at the trees that need culling. I took a walk through this small hemlock grove and was reminded how the temperature drops at least 10-15 degrees because of the canopy above me. It sure is pretty and the smell of the woods after a little rain that makes me want to stay.
Today, we made 3 trips, hauling 5 1/2 firewood cords total. I drove the 4-wheeler pulling the little trailer, and Bill on the tractor with the bucket full, pulled the big trailer that holds twice the firewood.
Split, load, haul, unload and pile, coffee break, move equipment, split, load, haul,
When we make our firewood, we clean up the woods of blowdowns, like this hemlock that got twisted in a windstorm, and by cutting dead wood out. We are fortunate to have enough land and firewood to last us a lifetime. We bought most of our property from a logger who already had logged most of the marketable trees out. We were fortunate again, to talk him into leaving one of the 40's partly alone. That's the piece that the cabin is built on. 
We have many trails throughout the woods that make it fairly easy to get at the trees that need culling. I took a walk through this small hemlock grove and was reminded how the temperature drops at least 10-15 degrees because of the canopy above me. It sure is pretty and the smell of the woods after a little rain that makes me want to stay.
Today, we made 3 trips, hauling 5 1/2 firewood cords total. I drove the 4-wheeler pulling the little trailer, and Bill on the tractor with the bucket full, pulled the big trailer that holds twice the firewood.
Split, load, haul, unload and pile, coffee break, move equipment, split, load, haul,unload and pile, company, lunch, one game of golf cards (9 hands), move equipment, cut, load, unload and pile, QUITTIN' TIME, collapse 1/2 hour . Bill went to the warehouse to help my son lift a wall for the archery range while I quick do this. It's been a long day. Time to make breakfast for supper. Ham and Eggs, Hotcakes with Pure Maple Syrup, Hot Coffee and another shower before bed.
We are totally exhausted but it feels So Good!
BlessYa'll from Up North WI.
10 comments:
Oh, this looks like so much work! We had five cords of wood for the winter and thought that was a lot, but we supplement with propane. At least you have hard wood to burn, we burn pine!
Wow---that is hard work, but doesn't it feel good to get it done??? We use about 4 cords of firewood each winter down here --but it's not nearly as cold and we only have a fireplace. We use oak...
I'd love to see your land/property and cabin... OH---I'd give anything to have land like you all have.. How fortunate you are! Please show us more of your cabin sometime.
Hemlocks are one of my favorites. Have you heard about the 'bug' eating the hemlocks in the Smokies? It's so sad. They have lost so many of their hemlocks... SAD!
We found out a little bit ago that we are under a frost advisory tonight. They just recently changed the temp from 39 down into the mid-30's... SO--we brought all of the potted plants into the garage a little bit ago. Hopefully, since we are high (and they are saying low-lying areas), we won't have any damage here.
Hope you enjoyed that supper/breakfast... I'd love some of your pure maple syrup on a pancake!!!! YUM...
Hugs,
Betsy
Now I'll feeel guilty turning up the thermostat this winter....I didn't chop or haul anything ...
Question...do you not leave any old wood for woodpeckers and such?
Oh ...and you're twenty something..arent you?
tell me you are..cause now I'm feeling real guilty
wow that wood looks really neat. I remember growing up Daddy bought a cord of wood for the wood stove every so often but you know it isn't so cold here. It was stacked by an ally and he always thought this woman who walked by was stealing a stick of wood every night. lol
I love the schedule you guys have. MIxing a little fun in with all the work. It sounds great but very tiring. I KNOW that is true. I worked a short while cutting and loading stave bolts for barrels in Missouri.
Awwwwww! I love breakfast for supper, and your breakfast sounded GRRRRREat!!!
Love from NC
Re: Suz, OK, I'm 20-something, if you want me to be. YOU are a friend for LIFE.
Dar: You did a great job in cleaning the area, beautiful woods.
Wow. Nothing like a day where you know you have accomplished much and got a great work out too.
I got tired just reading that post! Ugh, you must be really fit to be doing all that in ONE day. You are my hero!
I made your dump cake and it was HEAVEN! Everyone just loved it! Thanks for the great recipe!
Lordy gal, it makes my back ache just remembering the days when we used to heat with wood. I confess, I did enjoy the woodlands and the wood cutting though. There's nothing like it... ahhh feel the warmth. :)
Wishing you a warm and wonderful week!
:)
I saw in Cher's blog there's another Dee on the blogging circuit so I'm signing 'Dee-cs' now. cs for countrysass. I hope it'll help to keep down any confusion for the readers about who is who. ;)
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