Reflections On Life

As time goes by, I am becoming more aware that life is a finite affair. 

I am approaching the ripe old age of 65 and am very conscious of the fact that there is more time behind me that what is in front of me. 

I know this sounds somewhat depressing, it truly is not; it is simply a  fact of existence and once a person comes to embrace it, the more they will spend time wisely. 

Cutting firewood has been something I have done for over thirty years and I have learned much about the nuances of the work. How much longer I can continue to tackle this demanding work is a mystery but I intend to continue to do so as long as my body permits. So far, I have not heard any complaints from my anatomy. 

I produced this video as a way to show the amount of work that goes into gathering firewood; and the necessary safety protocols a person must use in order to preclude a hospital visit. 

I hope you enjoy this video. 

R.G.W.  

Bitter Cold | Firewood Gathering | Yamaha Bravo

 Firewood gathering can be a huge chore; however, if you look at the work as a chance to workout and be outside for days at a time, collecting firewood for the homestead becomes somewhat fun. 

On this particular day, the sun was bright but the temperature was brutally cold. I fired up my little snowmobile and away we went to cut up some trees which had blown down in a violent summer storm.

The little Yamaha Bravo is a perfect sled for the woods as it is nimble and narrow. Air cooled and no frills it's perfect for the punishment I put it through to supply my home with wood. 

Come along for a ride and experience a day in the woods collecting firewood. 

 

Bitter Cold and This Little Sled Still Goes

The temperature outside was - 25 degrees Celsius as I trudged toward my little 256cc sled. 

I needed to pack in the trails for future firewood gathering but I was unsure if the little Bravo would fire up. 

One pull on the cord and the little Yamaha started. The game was on and away we went to pack in the trails and collect a few pieces of firewood I had previously cut. 

It's amazing how fast the wildlife catch onto the trails and use them to their advantage. Instead of pushing through deep snow, they can traverse the land and conserve energy. 

In the coming days, my little Bravo will be put to heavy work hauling out the cord wood needed to keep the homestead warm. 

Stay Warm and Happy Trails. 

 

Harvesting Firewood Sustainably

 A forest does not need humans to manage it. The forest will evolve and change as dictated by nature. 

When people move into the area, the forest comes under immense pressure. Vehicle traffic and firewood cutting are high on the list of culprits. 

Heating a home with firewood takes a lot of effort. if you gather the wood from your own woodlot, managing your forest for sustainability becomes an absolute must. 

In this video, I showcase a multi-stalked Maple tree being culled for firewood.  Rot was developing between the trunks thereby threatening the entire tree. 

These multi-trunked trees are perfect for harvesting. Keep the straightest trunk and cull the rest. The remaining trunk will then have access to the entire root system and it will flourish. 

Felling trees is dangerous and should not be attempted by untrained or inexperienced people. 

Many people are maimed or killed every year because they attempted to put a tree on the ground.  

The method shown in this video is the safest method I know. It relies on a hinge of wood and well placed wedges. There are many videos on social media which will show you how to attain the proper cuts. 

Practice will give you the confidence to succeed. 

Happy homesteading. 

 

Sustainable firewood gathering.

Every year, I cut and split roughly two bush cords of wood which is used to heat my home. I always do this task during the winter months.  

A bush cord is measured as: 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long. Which is 128 cubic feet in volume. 

I haul the wood back to my dry-shed which houses 4 bush cords, this ensures that I have well seasoned wood to burn when the thermometer plunges.  

Winter is the best time of the year to collect firewood for many reasons. To name a few - damage to the land is minimized, (high importance in my opinion) the logs are easier to split and it is easier to drag the firewood out of the bush.   

I love working in the forest. It's a meditation of sorts. The stillness of the woods and the cold fresh air combine to create a perfect environment in which you can lose the cloak that society places on your back.  


I filmed this as a tutorial. My technique is safe but not perfect. I have had several close encounters with the dangerous end of the axe. I always work alone and therefore I would be in big trouble should I become injured. I do the best I can to stay focused on the job at hand.  

I only use wood from trees which have been toppled or broken by high winds and bug infestations. This has supplied me with wood for 30 years and has kept the forest healthy. 

With all that said, I hope you enjoy a few minutes of wood gathering in Algonquin Highlands. 

I have used the axe shown in this photo for at least 15 years. Three handles later, it is the best I have ever used.