Firewood and a Woodland Lunch | A Perfect Day

 Collecting firewood for the homestead is heavy work; however, when you couple it with an outdoor fire and a warm bowl of soup, it makes for a perfect day. 

Working alone in the forest frees the mind and lets you de-stress from the confusion of society. Hence the term "No BS" in the title of the video. 

Come along for the ride and check out the sights and sounds of a homestead cookout and workout. 

 

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. 

 

Keeping the trails groomed.

When the snow gets deep in the woods, the wild ones follow in each others foot prints creating trails which crisscross the forest. 

In the woods which I call home, there are many such trails which lead from feeding areas to sleeping areas. There are always stories written on the snow which, to the observant eye, will entertain the imagination for hours. 

I have always groomed trails through that same forest using my little Yamaha Bravo. It is light and maneuverable allowing me to go into areas modern machines can-not follow. 

The snow gets packed down by the sled and within a few hours, the wild ones are using the trail as if it were a sidewalk. Wolf, deer, moose and a host of other forest dwellers leave their footprints superimposed on the track impression of the Bravo. 

This video is a rear view look at the grooming process as I traverse my forest following and being followed by the wild creatures which reside within its shelter.   

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.