Next Year's Woodpile Begins Today

You know, it's kind of embarrassing to admit that although we've lived here since August of 2000, this will be the FIRST time that I will be certain to have enough firewood to last through the following winter.  What?  Yep.  It's not that we've ever completely run out - we live on 116 acres...it would be impossible to run out.  But the truth is that every year including this one, I've had to scout the property for a downed tree and split 'er up in order to have something to burn.  But not this time, pal.

Cory and I have already been scouting for next year's supply, and the tree in the photo was the first volunteer.  It was also the first time I've cut a tree that was still standing, but I don't feel bad because it was only partially standing: it was rooted in the side of a hill that had given way and the tree was leaning on a 45-degree angle into another tree.  For the health of the other tree, we thought it best to speed up the process and get this one down.

It is a huge sucker, too, so we had to cut it into six or seven lengths in order for me to be able to drag it up with the tractor (using the boom pole seen in the background, behind the spitter).

My Troy-Bilt 27-ton hydraulic splitter has been such a huge blessing for us, and well worth the money we spent.  I can split so much more wood, in such a small amount of time, that it's almost silly.  So glad we got it.

It's such a good feeling to look at that pile.  I just might fix me a cup of coffee, head back out there and look at it some more.

We just posted a little video commentary, too.  Take a look at it by clicking this link:

How to build a wood supply: Start working on next year's firewood, today!