Site Discussions

I don’t have first-hand experience coppicing beech specifically for firewood, Michael, but in my forestry endeavors over the years I’ve noticed that beech is a prolific stump sprouter. The wood is also high-quality BTU wise. This leads me to believe it would be an excellent species to coppice.

Is Beech a good species to coppice?  How fast is the regrowth to get more firewood? I have quite a bit of Beech on our property.

So beautiful!

I don’t have any hard data on chunk wood at hand, Marion. And it’s hard to quantify because there are so many variables. A modern, high-efficiency woodstove burns more cleanly than an older model. But how dry your wood is also has a big effect. The other thing to take into account is where the fuel comes from. If you’re cutting trees in the backyard, splitting them, and burning them, there’s that much less of a carbon footprint than if you buy your wood.

If it’s a choice of one or the other, i’d pick whichever you’re more comfortable burning and then maximize the quality of your fuel, thus minimizing your GHG emissions. With pellets, this means buy the most efficient unit you can afford and buy premium pellets—if they’re regionally produced, even better. If it means chunk wood, buy or cut quality wood, dry it properly (age it, split, for at least a year in full sun with good air flow), and then burn it hot. If you can afford a new, high-efficiency stove, get one. (Some states have trade-in programs.) If not, just proceed with dry wood and hot fires. In the big picture, any type of wood burning is better than fossil fuel burning, so whichever route you take, you’re already heading in the right direction.

Linda, sorry to hear about your fish! I can’t be sure from your description, but my first guess is that your visitor was a mink. However, yes, long-tailed and short-tailed weasels can swim, although they’re not really known for it. All of these are members of the mustelidae (Lat. weasel) family, not closely related to rodents.

If only the politicians could think so sensibly.

The first mailed subscribed copy was wonderful. I agree with letter to keep stands of any new plants Black gum, spice bush, bitternut hickory, florida dogwood that are started by blue Jay Stork birds need to be protected and protected from nibbling rabbits and deer. They provide needed food for the new turkeys on the block(forest/field).

As a former teacher and wood burner, cutter and splitter for almost 40 years your opening comments brought to mind the wood harvesting poetry of David Budbill who recently passed away. Reading his work warms you once again.

Since oaks are monoecious, I’m wondering what Alice in NJ means by “male” and “female” oaks.

Your writing has relieved my fears of the unknown…meaning I wasn’t sure where wood burning falls in it’s contribution to greenhouse gases relative to other fuels. What I am unsure of now is how wood pellets vs. chunks of fire wood in a woodstove compare on their emissions. Any knowledge or thoughts on this comparison?

The day after Thanksgiving I saw a cute little rodent by my lily pond which is man made and next to my patio. I thought it was a weasel. It was brown. It was eating something. Duh.. it did not sink in. Next day I checked on my pond. Every single adult fantail was gone. Do weasels swim? Was it a weasel? What else could it be?

I had blisters that were itchy and weeping the day after my husband cut and worked with holly putting it around our door for a Christmas decoration. Every where he touched me I broke out. I thought it was poison ivy but don’t have any in the yard. Has anyone ever gotten a dermal reaction like this with holly?

The falls are quite wonderful and are worth the trip.

I brought my tadpoles in as their habitat started to freeze solid. They thawed out of dormancy and are now swimming around in their tub. Couldn’t stand the possibility of them dying after watching them for 6 months.

Thank you for your article. It is a good summary of info to then further study particularly with the associated beetle. I am currently using the hoof fungus to mould and then cast for a series of bronze bells. I would like to incorporate the beetle as well.

After I allowed 3 wikd willows to take root in my garden,  we had Mourning cloak butterflies.  8 pupas appeared & hatched.  Most flew away but 2 stayed.  They were friendly,  sat on my head or shoulder as I tended the garden.  Drank from hummer. feeder & the bird bath.  They were with us for years.  I thought it was the same ones like Monarchs live a long time.

The tire and wire are excellent ideas!!!  I have a BAD back, and splitting the kindling is typically much harder on it due to the additional amount of leaning forward and bending down to pick up. So having it trapped all up top would be great!  Otherwise simply splitting nice dry wood is actually healthy for your back. Can’t do it as continuously as pre injury, but can still do it.  I’m one who swings the axe when splitting rounds in almost a 360 with speed/momentum and let the axe do the work. Really helps to loosen even a bad back up if I can get away with an axe vs a maul. The Fiskars seem the best to me. Great article.

The word merchant delivered several cord of product there in the few seconds between question and answer.

Hi Cory,
Thanks for your interest in the article—the long lead time between planting and harvest (and income) is definitely a challenge in the industry. The best resource for additional information would be your state Christmas tree growers association (for you that would be http://www.indianachristmastree.com)—go to a meeting and talk to other growers, I bet you’ll find them willing to help answer any questions you might have. One other resource is this book (http://www.storey.com/books/growing-christmas-trees/), which offers more technical growing information than this article (full disclosure, I helped to author the book, but have no financial incentive in its sale). Hope that helps.

The short answer is no, Todd. I usually trim up any meat on the hams that was exposed to the body cavity and has globs of fat or clotted blood or anything else that looks unappealing to eat on it. But otherwise i don’t worry about the exterior. As you cut the meat the darker exterior portion will be relegated to the outer edge of your finished cuts, and so will be exposed to direct heat as you cook it. Any surface funk will be killed in the cooking process.