nature boys part two
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 7:32 pm
Sorry to say that my nature stories are mostly depressing. Like, I can tell you about various plants and animals I don't see anymore. One of the species on the way out, is our white ash trees. The emerald ash borer is wiping them out, all over the U.S. and into Canada.
On my land, there are hundreds of standing dead ash trees, slowly becoming worthless. With 2 neighbors added, there's well over 1000 acres of hardwood forest here, containing 1000's of dead ash. This is one of the most valuable woods we have here; used for all manner of woodworking.
It's also a nearly perfect firewood.
Alas, we got too old to do much about it other than lament the loss. If I could, I'd gather it and cut it into firewood...enough for 100 years, if we had a barn to store it in. Each dead tree, as firewood, is worth $100 or more. As lumber, much more. So, we watch it slowly become worthless instead.
This place needs new blood, for sure. The greater stankerosa is wholly owned and operated by old people. Just 4 of them own more than 2,000 acres, with miles of navigable river frontage. The place has everything a young homesteader could hope for. It oozes quality building materials, including stone. I've quit lifting them.
Recent tornadoes have left 1000's of red cedar trees laying on the ground. Unlike the ash, that wood will keep for a long time, even on the ground.
In the past, I've hauled it to a mill after a bad blow. Now, I'm too old. We all are. Pity. It's taken this long to know what to do with these materials.
The new generation apparently knows nothing of value regarding rural life. Very few are interested in it. Looks like we'll take the crafts with us when we die.
On my land, there are hundreds of standing dead ash trees, slowly becoming worthless. With 2 neighbors added, there's well over 1000 acres of hardwood forest here, containing 1000's of dead ash. This is one of the most valuable woods we have here; used for all manner of woodworking.
It's also a nearly perfect firewood.
Alas, we got too old to do much about it other than lament the loss. If I could, I'd gather it and cut it into firewood...enough for 100 years, if we had a barn to store it in. Each dead tree, as firewood, is worth $100 or more. As lumber, much more. So, we watch it slowly become worthless instead.
This place needs new blood, for sure. The greater stankerosa is wholly owned and operated by old people. Just 4 of them own more than 2,000 acres, with miles of navigable river frontage. The place has everything a young homesteader could hope for. It oozes quality building materials, including stone. I've quit lifting them.
Recent tornadoes have left 1000's of red cedar trees laying on the ground. Unlike the ash, that wood will keep for a long time, even on the ground.
In the past, I've hauled it to a mill after a bad blow. Now, I'm too old. We all are. Pity. It's taken this long to know what to do with these materials.
The new generation apparently knows nothing of value regarding rural life. Very few are interested in it. Looks like we'll take the crafts with us when we die.