Even though we have not turned on the furnace yet this year, it is time to start focusing on collecting the firewood. And stack the wood by the central wood boiler for when its time to turn it on. We have also been stacking more firewood in the barn as we collect it, but now it is time to start producing a constant supply of it to keep the homes and workshop warm.
The leaves are changing and about to fall off most trees, the mornings are getting chilly but have barely got below freezing yet. So it is too early to turn on the wood furnace, with day time temperatures expected to be in the 70-80s I will wait awhile. I think last year we had the furnace already going by this time, so it seems we are having a warm autumn.
I bought a new chainsaw, broke my old one. I messed up and was not adding enough oil to the gas, I thought I was reading the instructions correctly but was not. But now with the new chainsaw I will make sure its better taken care.. it was a costly mistake. My foreman helps me cut up logs, and I load them up in the UTV and haul them over to the wood boiler and the storage area.
We have another giant tree to cut up that fell a few years ago. It was an Oak tree and should be good if we ever need to cut into it. But for now my foreman likes climbing on it so we will leave it...lol priorities.
Two oak trees were felled before my workshop was built, they were leaning over and at risk of falling on the building. So we cut them down and use them for firewood. One of the trunks can be seen above.
Cannot make those cuts with the sawzall, got to break out the 20" chainsaw.
The chainsaw worked great, this was its first day on the farm with us.
Had to refuel it a few times and went through bar oil pretty quick.
We are trying to avoid those 6x6 posts, wanting to keep those for building material. They are pressure treated so should hold up outside for a bit. Should probably store them in the workshop long term though.
Just moving this huge log took both of us.
While driving back and forth moving firewood, I really enjoyed seeing all the changing colors around me.
Soon all the leaves will fall though, and the trees will be bare.
Getting through that big log, still another to cut up though.
Load after load of firewood, I think I moved about 4 or 5 of them.
Lastly we cut up the remaining log into small pieces, any bigger and I cannot pick them up. Around that size I think they are well over 50 pounds, so you got to know how big of a log you can handle. A few he cut I had to ask him to cut them in half again as I could barely move them. I guess oak is really heavy.
So we will keep stacking more wood, even if the central wood boiler is not active yet. As once it is, we fly through wood. So stacking as much as we can now will give us a month or so head start. But by end of season I expect to be completely out of cut firewood. Probably that is the best, if I let those logs lay around too long the ants and such eat them away. Rather go to use in the fire, so best to cut for one season at a time it would seem.
Being my second year collecting firewood, this is pretty new to me. But I am enjoying the process, and it keeps me busy in the winter time.
