Site Discussions

Thanks for the tip about the toxin. I had no idea, and neither does anyone I know, including my good friend who loves to lift up rocks and poke at things under them. I’ll pass the word!

Nice essay . . . I’ve always wondered about the deer camp ritual. But—hey—what’s with the sexism?

““Why do you leave so early if all you’re going to do is sit around all day?” their wives or significant other might ask, to which the hunter will reply: “there’s a lot of work to do at camp.” He’s not lying, but he may be exaggerating slightly. What it boils down to is that the concept of mental decompression is just too hard to explain.”

Gents, don’t forget that we gals know all about mental decompression! And most of us have our equivalent retreats. (In fact, we just might be waiting eagerly for you to go off into the woods for a while!  <grin> Or be heading off in the opposite direction for some deer camp of our own.)

Whatever form your deer camp takes, happy hunting to all this season!

Dave, The effect to which you refer, and which has been “around ... for centuries”, is NOT what we experience today. Simple.

Hi,

I am looking to have around 13 HUGE pine trees cut down in my yard.  I have heard that some mills will come to your house to take your trees.  If this is true, does anyone have any information for me about this process or know of a mill around here that would be interested.

Thanks so much!!

I see that Vermont Wood Pellet has a website, Kevin, but I don’t know anything beyond that. I’ll look forward to learning more.

As for the white birch pellet blend, Dennis, in theory, species isn’t supposed to matter in a pellet like it does in a stick of firewood. I’m told that dry wood fiber contains 8,000 btu per pound, which is why hardwood and softwood pellets are interchangeable. It does seem like there’s a quality difference in the amount of wood vs. the amount of bark/dirt/etc. In a pellet, though, I guess that’s what separates the “premium” pellets from the others, which can be a hodgepodge of material (I’ve heard reports of people finding full kernels of corn in cheap “hardwood” pellets).

Recently I read your column on the yellow jackets. A few months ago, I had an interesting event with them. On my porch, there was an old rug on a bench, too heavy for me to move. It had been there for a long time. I noticed one day that the yellow jackets had made a nest in one end of the package,(it was wrapped in paper). I decided to ignore them and let them stay until they left for the season. We don’t use the front door much,anyway. One night, I had a visitor on my porch: a bear. He had pulled the rug off the bench and eaten the entire nest, pulled out of the rug. I stared at the mess for a while, and noticed that the yellow jackets were in a frenzy, as one could imagine. But I decided to leave them alone for now. Over the next few days, I watched them daily and was amazed at what I was seeing. There were many dead jackets, scattered over the floor. Those who had survived were diligently taking away their dead. They would take hold of one, push it over to the edge of the step, and then take off to who knows where. They continued this for about three days. The porch floor was cleared. Then they started making a new nest in the same end of the rug. Now I had another problem. I couldn’t move the rug, and it was summer; they would be there for several months more. My daughter lives with me and is violently allergic to them and all sting insects. If she got stung…off to the hospital.so, even though I had, by this time, a great affection for these hard-working fellows, I could not leave them there. So I got a foam that was just for Yellow Jackets, and when they went to sleep, I foamed them. In the morning, they lay there, foam gone, and they just looked as if they were asleep. All I could do was cry a bit, and get rid of the rug. Sorry. I am not a child. I am 84 years old and love every living creature.

I’ve a few comments on the article.

“A premium pellet should produce 20 pounds or less of ash per ton.”

Not bad! As an old railroader I used to burn coal. (Not that I would today)! A ton of coal routinely produces 1.5 tons of ash. Don’t ask me how, just ask anyone who has ever burned coal.

“It will use leftover hardwood – mostly white birch – in its pellet blend.” I consider white birch a fall/spring fuel. How does it become a toasty choice when pelletized if its 30 below outside?

I may be old school but I’ll still put my faith in a strong steel or cast iron wood stove that needs no external power or battery backup to function. There is nothing like a well stacked, two year woodpile in October to put your mind at ease, no what Mother Nature throws at you for the next six months! 

Does anyone have info on the Vermont Wood Pellet Plant?

Are they making a premium pellet?

Thanks for starting a dialog on wood pellets.

Great article!!

As a High School history teacher and amateur weekend archeologist I compliment you on your fine website. One Captain John Rollins from New Sharon Maine built a sawmill (with a granite stone boiler house) on the Minneapolis riverfront in 1871. I have inherited some of the bread-loaf sized stones and wanted to ask what resources on historic granite restoration you may know of in your part of New England? I was inspired by your photo of the granite foundation with fitted smaller stones and no mortar visible.

Thank you.

I don’t know of a site off hand, Rachel. Maybe a reader can help? Otherwise, be in touch with me if you’d like to learn more about our Northern Woodlands Goes to School program. In the program we develop place-based curriculum activities related to stories in our magazine. I can be reached at 1-802-439-6292

My students are studying the regions of the U.S.A.  They need to create “flowcharts” that show a resource going from its natural state to a finished state.  Any suggestions for a site that can visually show how a tree becomes boards or paper?  The students are in 5th & 6th grade.
Thanks,
Rachel

Nice.

Over in Southwestern Vermont one logger friend of mine is getting $700 a load. This works out to about 7 cords, or $100 a cord. Word on the street has it that wood is a bit cheaper over in Brattleboro on account of last year’s storm damage.

I first heard of Ms. Thomas and her book when she was a guest on a local radio, call-in program. She continually voiced the fact that she gained her vast knowledge about deer by looking out her window as they ate the food she left for them. She encouraged those who called in to feed deer. This despite the fact that the NH Fish & Game Commission discourages the feeding of deer, to maintain healthy herds.

I am not a hunter but am not against hunting. I like to see deer on my property but the spillover from these deer that congregate to be fed, cause much damage to native plants and shrubs and even trees that I am trying to grow and maintain.

As indicated, there has been undue publicity for this book. Our local Shopper had an item about her speaking at the Harris Center an important Conservation Center in NH. After due consideration they have agreed to have someone present to give the position of the NH Fish & Game Commission to balance information given in her book and presentation.

Wow. The things you can learn from reading this magazine. It’s only my first issue and already I’m amazed. I had no idea that our birds molted and changed their plumage to suit various purposes. How is it possible that I’ve spent so much time in the woods over the past 10 years (hunting wild mushrooms, primarily) and just heard about this fantastic magazine? Who knows? But I’m glad I finally found it.

Hi Lora,

I was there Friday with with a chainsaw filing, safety,and felling demonstration. I hope you can make it November 19-21 for the Low Impact Forestry (LIF) weekend.  It’s not a job, but an adventure! I’ll be there training novice and experienced chainsaw operators.

Thanks,

Pete Tracy

This is also my first time seeing Indian Pipe.  In my case I found it in what seems to be an unusual place.  It is located in a partially shaded area beside pine trees that are less than 15 years old.  The soil in this area is very poor.  After testing our soil the state agricultural agent said that the only thing we didn’t need was dirt.  Everything I’ve read about Indian Pipe says that it should only grow in deep shade with very rich soil.  Comments?

I periodically buy a logging truck load of mixed hardwood [not saw-log grade] to buck up for firewood. How can I find out going prices to know I am paying a fair price?

Thanks for mentioning that Indian Pipes turn black after ripening. That solved a mystery for me: I had found blackened pipe shapes under a beech tree and wondered if it was another type of non-choropytic plant or just a dried up mushroom like Dead Man’s Fingers.