This is a family blog, so you’ll have to use your imagination on the title.
With all the goings-on at the farm, it’s a bit hard to document it all. Being the absolute blogging horse that I am (this is #2… ever) I couldn’t resist the opportunity to brag on the lumber we milled this weekend from real trees. I personally find trees the best source for lumber of pretty much all kinds, so that’s where we focused this weekend. Trees.
As part of clearing the land in preparation for the new structures, pond, etc. we ended up with lots of um… trees… that are just in the way. When I say lots, it doesn’t really do it justice. For those board feet enthusiasts out there (you know who you are) we literally have thousands lying around, stacked up in places all over the farm. By my calculations (I consulted NASA) we have cleared a total of 13 acres of mostly oak, pine, and cedar. There was lots of other stuff in there too, like blackjack, willow, and other basically useless trees, but there are also pecan (pronounced pee-can, not pa-khan when you come to Eddy Farms) walnut, and some other highly valuable exotic trees. All in all, we have a really productive woodlot.
So, I decided some time ago to invest in a sawmill to convert the downed trees into usable lumber. Able to cut a 32″ diameter log, 17′ long, and leap tall buildings in a single bound, I give you Blade 3.
Sorry, let’s try again.
I call her Blade 3 because I ruined the first 2 blades in the first 20 minutes because I am a giant ignoramus. Couple quick tips to those just starting out: make sure the log is anchored down (duhhh, you’ll bend the blade when the log comes flying out with the blade still in it) and try not to hit the metal parts of the saw with the WOOD-cutting blade.
With those unpleasantries aside, let’s see what this thing will do!
First was oak…
then cedar…
Then cornstalks. I won’t post those pics, not pretty. I am pretty sure we will stick to trees for all our lumber needs going forward. I guess I thought that “wood grain” was named after plants like wheat. Not so much as it turns out.
After we got done with the sawmill, we ran a few pieces thru the planer and jointer. The results earned oooohs and ahhhs. Of course I took all the credit for the sheer beauty nature is capable of, right after I buried the first 2 blades where the evidence will never be found.
We really love the idea of building our house from the surroundings. In a previous life, I spent a lot of time woodworking. The first house Teri and I owned had a garage large enough to park 4 vehicles in, but our 2 little cars never saw shelter because my tools and projects were in the way. Now I get to convert raw materials into cabinets, flooring, cedar-lined closets, a wooden fireplace, the sky is not even a limit here when you can make an airplane out of oak planks. Way cool.
What doesn’t get converted into lumber gets a meeting with Mr. Pushy. He gets a hydraulic feed from the tractor, which converts biodiesel into split logs for the fireplace. 10 gallons of biodiesel is enough to split a year’s worth of firewood.
And yes, it’s carbon neutral. All that and a bag of wood chips. Wait, did I mention we use the chipper to produce mulch of all the leftover branches and stuff for the garden/compost? Ok, now this post is getting downright long.
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T and R. Way cool mill. My brother rented one once to mill some trees on his property and I was very jealous. Hope you make some cool tree houses out of some of that wood. There is a great book with lots of cool tree houses. I will send you a link.
We are in AWE! (Michael says you, Roger, you are the kind of guy he’d love to hang around with! lol.). Talk about making the most of your resources! You’ve got a plan for every bit of wood. Impressive (and appreciated!). So, is the plan to build a house, and bring the boys and City Girl to live on the farm someday? : )
This is where you may get a hint of how strange I am, but just reading this post, and looking at these awesome photos, I swear I smell the raw wood! It’s a beautiful scent.
Yes, we could all get along just fine. We even say [pee-cans]. If you have enough lumber left over, maybe you could build us a small cozy shelter, and we’ll move out there and be your farm-hands! Many hands make light work, you know. And there’s 6 of us!!
FWIW Roger, you really are an awesome blogger!! #2 post or not. Some just ‘got it going on from the get-go’. BLOG ON! We’ll be eating it up!
Wow..Roger and Teri..you really are truly amazing. What a great use of the land and what an investment in the saw mill. Great work..great stuff…thanks for posting.
Scott, Thanks for the links. You could literally live in some of those tree houses.
Laura, I smell the wood too. I guess we are both weird. I doubt the city girl will ever move, but who knows? Constant, gentle pressure… Maybe if it weren’t for all the bugs. We’ll see if the baby doll sheep, pygmy goats, and a custom built house can do the trick. It’ll take years tho.
I might surprise you, Roger.
It’s a matter of getting the house just so… Plus if Laura and Michael are moving down…
As long as I can shop online and UPS, FedEx, and Terminix know where I live… oh and fast internet… it may be easier than you think.
TL,
Draw me up a sketch of the house and I will build it this weekend.
Better make this one gold plated, I tend to be resourceful on these odd requests as you learned last week. Better be specific too, or it might end up being a tree house.
ROFL!!! Yahooooo! We’re going to be one big happy family!!
Ok, best get focused here:
Roger, you whip up that big house, and send the address to all package deliverers in the area.
Michael will build a tree house for us, no problem.
I’ll order the baby doll sheep and pygmy goats, get some high-speed hook-up, and bring the bug spray!
We’re packing it up tonight. See you at the farm!! This is going to be GREAT!
No exactly gentle pressure, but that could work too coming from you…
You guys are awesome.