Well, I have figured out one of the reasons why I have been putting so many home projects of: none of them are simple! For example, near the top of my list is to get my barn cleaned out. It has pretty much just become a junk collection. But, what do I do with all of the junk? Much of it is plastic, and there isn't any place that will accept it around here. I think my best option is going to be to add it to the junk pile that was already in our little wooded area when we moved in. Apparently, a house burned some time in the past, and everything was just bulldozed into several big piles. Among the mess is a giant metal bin, and I think that will be where I put all of the plastic. That should keep it contained so it doesn't contaminate the soil as it breaks down.
"But, what does this have to do with cover image?", you may be asking.
The thing is, in order to get all of junk from the junk pile in the barn to the junk pile in the woods, I am going to have to clear a path for the tractor to get back and forth. There are several trees that have fallen over that are blocking the way, so I'm going to have to cut them up and dispose of them. But, I haven't had a chainsaw to do it with... until this Christmas!
Today, I decided to get the process started. It turns out that a lot of the trees that I'm going to need to clear out are red cedar, and I really like red cedar lumber. I think it looks awesome, and I love the smell!
The heartwood is such a cool red color! It makes for some very unique looking lumber.
I hate to see this stuff go to waste, and I have a couple of ideas for how I can use it, so I decided to cut it up into small planks that I think I'll be able to utilize for some future projects.
This one will probable end up a waste piece, because the other side is the bark that I was trying to cut off.
Beautiful Waste
These, on the other hand, I think I will be able to use!
Red Cedar Planks
They are very rough cut! I was just using a chainsaw without any sort of guide, but I think I will be able to refine them down into something that works for what I have in mind.
So far, here is my 'usable' pile. These all came from one tree that had fallen over, and I still have several more to go.
It was actually a lot of fun getting outside and playing with a chainsaw. I'm looking forward to doing some more!