Site Discussions
I would really suggest using a electric chainsaw for close-to-house use. Much quicker, no hassle with fuel or carburetor issues after long storage. Just plug in and you’re all set to go. It is really good for firewood. I was quite skeptical, but these small chainsaws proved worthy. I personally own one. Just buy a good brand, don’t go cheap.
From "Tricks of the Trade: Basic Chainsaw Maintenance" »
So can you heat the tea once you’ve steeped it or do you have to drink it cold?
From "Tasty Teas (and More) from Trees: Black and Yellow Birch" »
I was sitting on my porch talking with my friend (Drake) and I saw a PANTHER go mock 10 across my lawn and LEAP over the fence that leads into the horse pasture. My bffs (Hillary and Lidia) saw two mountain lions chilling on their porch. They have a picture of it.
From "Waiting for Wolves" »
I’m watching a skunk burrow his winter den under a storage container right now. I wanted to know what all the rustling outside was at 5am - turns out he’s pushing leaves in front of the hole. This page was super helpful, thanks!
From "The Winter Life of the Skunk" »
Thank you for your words, I was confused by this article and others on using a maul instead of an ax.
My entire life I have only ever seen axes used for splitting wood. My family and friends, in Europe, have used axes to split wood for centuries. The one time I used a maul I failed miserably at it, probably because I was used to using an ax.
The technique behind splitting wood with any tool is what’s important. You start on a wood block, not on the ground, then you pull the ax down to create as much velocity as possible. If you hit the piece of wood close to the edge, or on a strategic split/crack, the wood will fly apart violently in opposite directions, no problems. If the ax gets stuck, you lift it with the block of wood and drop it on the ax butt against the block, it MUST split.
Thanks all, I’ll stick to what works.
From "Maul vs. Axe" »
Oh, wow. I can’t stop chuckling about the story behind the Latin name!
From "Fascinating and Wicked Gross" »
I had several skunks that visited in the summer/fall of 2014, but had no skunks this year. We had a terribly cold winter with too much snow. Do you think they all died?
From "The Winter Life of the Skunk" »
I am very curious about these. I have them everywhere around my house. Can eat them just the way they are?
From "Birch polypore, Piptoporus betulinus" »
Yes, in a way it’s gross though a fact of life those of us that spend much time in the out of doors learn to accept and live with. Nice article!
From "Fascinating and Wicked Gross" »
Very interesting article. Memories of squirrel pies. Loved the ending about the peace offering for the yellow jacket!
From "Fascinating and Wicked Gross" »
Botfly larva in cattle are common. I’m not a squirrel hunter so this is new to me.
From "Fascinating and Wicked Gross" »
Yep—count me among the folks who find this wicked gross. :)
From "Fascinating and Wicked Gross" »
So sad. I miss them too. I would sit on the open porch at night and turn on the light to draw the insects in under the roof. The bats would swoop all around me enjoying the smorgasbord. I would feel a tiny breeze as they flew by me.
From "No Easy Recovery for Bats" »
I miss the bats. I’ve left the porch light on until I go to bed to draw the insects just in case there’s a bat in the area. I haven’t seen one in two years. I hope they make a strong comeback.
From "No Easy Recovery for Bats" »
Yup, you nailed that one. I have timber property and speak with loggers/foresters several times a year. But here is a wrinkle on the skills issue. Its not so much the technology, but the problem is that children are not brought up on farm equipment like they used to be. My son was on a tractor at 3, controlling the bucket for me. He’s been driving them since he could reach the pedals. He knows how to stay out of trouble with a tractor on uneven ground. Many of today’s kids don’t, and so they are dangerous in a large piece of equipment. They get the controls, the electronics, the fancy displays and helpful sensors, but they don’t have a sense of “balance” in large farm equipment. You can’t teach that in a classroom or a government funded jobs program. It’s learned slowly, progressively, moving from small to larger machines. All it takes is one tip-over to destroy a year’s profit and a very expensive machine.
Yes, the complaint is that good machine operators cannot be found, but the problem is not the technology.
From "Breaking Down Technological Barriers in Maine" »
Cattails are almost like Blow Fish. One bite can be fine or it can be poisonous. Thanks for such an informative article!
From "Cattails: Nature’s Supermarket" »
Thanks for giving some history for the Treehouse Guys, and thanks especially for explaining the origin of the names B’fer and Ka-V.
Great article!
From "Deer Love Ginseng to Death" »