Shiloh

Probably one of the biggest challenges we will face in this project is that we don’t have a truly effective method of moving our logs around. Each log is between 35 and 45 feet long and is between 14 and 20+ inches in diameter at the base of the log. While I can’t exactly drop one a scale, there are websites that allow you to estimate the weight of various lengths/species of timber. Our logs are between about 2500 and 3000 pounds each. While I could drag one with a truck over fairly even ground, that is about it. As our stacks of logs are very close together, there simply isn’t room for a truck to maneuver in the close quarters.

When the logs were dropped onto our property the loggers used a crane attached to the back of a flatbed to unload them from the log trucks, but there was only room to stack them in piles four to six logs high. In order to treat them for insects and fungus the logs have to be spread out in a single layer with enough room between the logs to rotate them for treating both sides of the logs (and later peeling). The logs are laid on what we call “sacrificial logs”. They are called this because they are laying on the dirt and will very likely have to destroyed because of decay and bugs when the other logs are removed.

I tried to use a winch to move them around initially. In retrospect, this was actually pretty laughable. My great neighbor Wayne helped with his Jeep mounted winch and we were able to pull the logs down off one stack in a few hours, but it wasn’t going to work for the majority of the logs. While I appreciated his help (a lot!!), I needed another solution. We also needed a solution fast as we discovered shortly after this attempt that the logs were attracting local members of the insect population. I haven’t looked up yet what it is, but here is a picture showing one of the beetles along with some of its eggs. Sorry, it’s not a good picture, but I don’t have a macro lens.

I couldn’t spray the logs with a pesticide/fungicide until the logs were arranged so that each could be rotated for a treatment of both sides of the log. The damage done by the beetles is not as bad as it looks. The beetle bores into what is called  the cambium layer of the log and not what you would consider the actual wood. Once you peel the cambium off as part of the debarking process it removes the majority of the damage. A little sanding will remove anything else.

The following shows Rachel and Jenna working on a log. OK, Rachel is working on the log.

The only effective option, other than renting a telescoping forklift, was to hire a tractor for a few hours of work. I called around and Chris, who lives about 2.5 miles from our property, agreed to help me a couple of weeks ago. I thought it would take about four – eight hours of work. After looking at the logs, he thought about ten hours of work would be required and wanted to do it for a fixed rate. We agreed on an hourly rate and if it took ten hours it would amount to his quoted amount. Guess who was closer? It wasn’t me. He was off by 30 minutes. It took 10.5 hours over a Saturday and Sunday. I hauled the 20+ pounds of chain around and hooked it up to the log first and then the bucket scoop on the front of the tractor while he operated the tractor. There were three 45′ logs that we had to use a car jack to raise them enough to slide the log onto the sacrificial log. Chris had a 40 horsepower New Holland tractor and it did the overall job like a champ, but just wasn’t quite up to the task of lifting the ends of the largest logs. Suppose I need to buy a 50 horsepower tractor when it comes time . . .

Here you can see Chris pulling a log up into place onto the sacrificial log.

And in the following picture you can see a row of logs arranged and ready for pesticide treatment and peeling along with a stack behind them that had not been pulled apart yet.

Once all the logs were arranged so we could work with them, the  peeling could begin in earnest. I will save that for the next post.

Everyone needs a mailbox. Especially when you live about 13 miles from the nearest post office. So, we asked a dear friend of ours to use some of her artistic talent to paint a little scene on our mailbox. Recently she finished it and this weekend I made a trip to Lowes to pick up some supplies including a cedar mailbox post. A little more expensive than I wanted, but it will last practically forever and we intend on keeping this mailbox until it rusts into a pile of dust.

Saturday afternoon Rachel and I  carefully checked the county regulations on mailboxes and dug the hole and dropped the post in place. We attached a small piece of wood to the “arm” of the post and then nailed the mailbox onto the anchor wood. So here is the mailbox. Later we are going to hang a piece of wood below the mailbox with stenciled or woodburned numbers on both sides. That way, down the road, when we move we can take the mailbox and change the numbers easily. Check out the donkey in the back – it is our neighbor’s donkey who brays every morning, afternoon and evening. I believe it’s his or her feeding time. He (or she) also brays whenever I manage to make to make enough noise to disturb him. Which happens frequently. What can I say – I’m a noisy cuss.

Thanks June . . you’re the best!