Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Wood Pile Stacking

I just bucked, split, and stacked a new pile of wood for next winter. More likely, I'll have it for winter 2012/2013, but having more in supply than I typically use lends me a quiet mind, at least temporarily. I've never placed a piece of green wood in my stove, never will.

I can heat my home without electricity.

Of course, I've read others who say, "What if the grid falls, supply chain disrupts, how will you buck your wood without your Stihl?" I think aloud, wondering why our comfortable lives have placed us into such short-sighted comfort. Bucking a felled tree with a crosscut saw isn't a physical exercise, it's about preparation and discipline. I sharpen each tooth of my one-man and two-man saw after every use, no exceptions. Cutting through a green tree with a sharp saw, couple wedges, and proper technique is like cutting through butter.

At least for someone who's done the reps... and continues to every season. I may not make the cut at an 1880's logging camp right now, but I wouldn't be sent home the first week.