RicelandMeadows

Making Ready

Published by

ricelandmeadows

on

sawmillphil

May 15, 2018

The rain has stopped all field work for now. I will be switching gears from spring field work to woods work. Our ash trees have all been killed by the emerald ash borer. An insect brought to us from Asia/China. It has decimated the ash trees in several states. There is no predator for them. The woodpeckers go after the larva, but by then, it’s too late for the tree.

It is my hope to harvest the dead and dying ash trees before they rot away. I went in search of a market for the logs. I have found a sawmill willing to take the logs and pay a fair price for the wood. I will have to get busy before I lose my market. I have a few nice logs. The rest of the tree will become firewood for the sugarhouse. It will be used for boiling maple sap next spring.

So, while the rain keeps us out of the fields, we will continue to work. The horses impact in our woodlot is minimal…even in the muddy conditions from the recent rains. We just have a small plot (3 acres) to plant to animal corn and our gardens to get ready for planting. I will switch back and forth between jobs as the weather dictates. It will all go smooth. I just have to make sure everything is ready to go. So far…So good!

6 responses to “Making Ready”

  1. Rich Busche Avatar
    Rich Busche

    I am a retired custom applicator from the Wooster, Ohio area. I enjoy reading about your activities; please keep posting. As you can imagine, it is wet here also. Some of the “not so early” corn is up here with lots of spring work to do yet. Keep trusting, He will see us through. Rich

    Reply
    1. ricelandmeadows Avatar
      ricelandmeadows

      Thank you Rich for following along. I should have lots more time now to write and farm. My retirement starts today!

      Reply
  2. jennyrecorder Avatar
    jennyrecorder

    You raise the issue of feral animals here- what devastation can be dealt when an animal that doesn’t belong makes it to another countrys’ shores. Here in Australia, we are often mocked for our OTT quarantine and customs laws, but we know all about animal pests. Cane toads, Donkeys, Foxes, Pigs, Camels, Horses, European Wasps, Fire Ants etc etc (and the list goes on and on), we know all about loss of habitat and extinction of native fauna. I really hope something can be done with your timber, but especially that your scientists can find a way to rid of you of the borer that has caused this destruction.

    Reply
    1. ricelandmeadows Avatar
      ricelandmeadows

      Thank you Jenny. It was nice to read about your plight as well. I remember from grade school learning about rabbits in Australia. They were everywhere! Alas, our world becomes smaller by the day!

      Reply
      1. jennyrecorder Avatar
        jennyrecorder

        Can’t believe I forgot about the rabbits!
        Enjoy your retirement x

  3. ricelandmeadows Avatar
    ricelandmeadows

    :o)

    Reply

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