When you hear the word “ logger , ” it credibly conjures up images of a red - shirted ax - wielding fellow intemperately at work in the big woodwind . What you might not realize is that early homesteaders were adequate share Fannie Merritt Farmer and logger .
Even today , unnumerable rural land owners are still hard at work out among the pines , following woodlot management architectural plan that preserve the forest while get in hard currency .
Planning Is Key to Cutting
Now it may seem a stretch to consider your woodlands a crop generator . But is it really so unlike then oat or cattle ?
Granted , the process ask years compared to months . But if done correctly , a section of woods will fully come back all your workplace . Most country properties have some ground that is wooded , even if broken up into small sections .
So how does a would - be logger get started ? Well , he or she gets started with a programme , of course .
For many landowners interested in a log operation , the first thing in society is to look at what you need both now and down the route a decade or more .
Do you require enough income from the wood to keep the collector of internal revenue at bay or a unbendable income ? Do you signify to hire a professional crew or do you feel like getting in tactual sensation with your inner lumberjack or -jill ?
If this is your first log venture , it ’s a good idea to have a woodlot direction programme train . A professional tree farmer can be adjoin to execute a timber survey and draw up such a plan . Your local farm denotation office , forest rangers or woodlot owner connexion will be able to maneuver you toward a competent soul .
Lorain Ebbett-Rideout
Once the forester completes his survey work , he will map out the timberland into blocks , tally all merchantable timber and outline access code roads with any extra possible trail . Then each block will be assessed as to the amount of cutting available , possible improvements and any hassle spots .
The ruined woodlot management plan will also guide you on how to keep the water table in effective shape and improve experimental condition for wildlife . These woodlot management plans are very detailed .
For the medium homestead logger , a woodlot management programme will sure as shooting offer some salutary direction .
Lorain Ebbett-Rideout
Read more : Your woods can also ply a number of non - timber product !
Market Matters
One thing you demand long before you get down cutting is a securities industry for your production . This can sometimes present a challenge .
At one time , rural area bristled with sawmills , and any granger with logs had a quick marketplace . However , these days it seems sawmill are catch scarcer , and lay down a draw of a brace hundred miles not out of the question .
Again , the woodlot owners connexion or forest ranger billet can help turn up a buyer .
Lorain Ebbett-Rideout
Contacting a John Stuart Mill is essential to harvesting timbre . They will give dimensions such as length or top width and quality requirement , which you must adhere to closely . You ca n’t deal edible corn to a turnip buyer . So give the pulverization the correct logs and they will use you dear .
Any load of log is proceed to need hauling , and few farm woodlot owner can execute proper management of this . You will require a truck .
Local hoi polloi in any farm area will truck log for a fee and have the loading equipment as well . How many logs will you ask ? That ’s a bad interrogation , because regions vary . Here in the North Woods where I endure , a two - grade semi - trailer will concord 220 to 300 logs ( more or less ) , bet on the wood type .
Lorain Ebbett-Rideout
These big trucks require good roads plus an adequate bout area and room to charge .
I prove to employ existing farm roadstead and drag out to cut grain fields , clean up any mess once the logs are hauled . test to schedule a juiceless week to haul and long before wintertime come .
conceive me , trying to drag a fully load semi trail of logs with both my farm tractor taught me this lesson!Lorain Ebbett - Rideout
Old and New
My press cutting process is a intermixture of old and raw , with the long secret plan always in mind . consider it or not , I have often cut tree left by my grandfather for “ someone else . ”
I , too , routinely pass on trees for tomorrow , which mean I ’ll belike never tinct them . But someone will .
Selective harvest method work well on my small forest closure . I never skip any tree less than 8 to 9 inch in width at the base . By following this simple ruler , I can guarantee future cuts .
True , it may be 10 years or more before you’re able to take these trees . But they will provide much in the meantime . go forth to originate , they have seed down the orbit with a worthy species , plus kept the circumvent wood in good stipulation .
Another method I use is to first search over any division slated for harvest for damaged braid , such as broken off tops , too many damaged limbs or sign of helplessness or insect trouble . tree with pathetic root hold or too much lean or the one with thud of dumb branches indicating miserable medical prognosis .
Get them down before it becomes a total loss . Also cut any unwanted mintage when you encounter them . Lorain Ebbett - Rideout
Timber!
Unlike a motorized open - cut harvesting , which is about f number and maximum output , I work slowly . And I stay measured to not destroy any other trees , if potential .
Once a block is take for harvest and a good access trail brushed out , the baffling stuff start . I use a chain saw with a 16 - in cutting bar and a 45 to 55 - cc engine for cutting trees and log . This is team up with a pocket-size 35 - cc model , which is used for removing limb or glade trails .
A curing of thick charge card felling wedges and a crowbar legal community enable me to have control condition of the steering a tree fall or at least in possibility anyway .
My tree harvest always begins at the farthest end of any select occlusion . This makes for inadequate trips out as piece of work proceeds .
From long experience I attempt to accrue back into the woods rather than out over the trail . If possible , the tractor remain on the hauling tryout and the log are winched out . By this method , I keep the machinery track off the forest floor .
It takes little longer , but I ’m always pleased with the outcome .
I powerfully suggest mounting a lumber winch on your tractor . These come in size for every tractor model and , for my money , are priceless in the advantages . They are a substantial investiture of several thousand dollars , but you are international nautical mile forward with one .
My 35 - horsepower machine is a 4 - by-4 model and with a windlass can drag out a half dozen see logs 16 feet long with ease . The log make out out slowly , steal along between their stand neighbor and steered by adjusting tractor perspective . Best of all , winch allow you to keep the tractor on firm ground , deflect backing down hills or into a bad spot .
Read more : wintertime is the perfect clock time for lowly - scale logging . Here ’s why .
Cut Right
Once delimbed , trim trees into logs right in the woods . I like this method because it ready for short , easy - to - pull log . Even a perfunctory tractor operator can quickly and confidently run this apparatus in no time .
When cutting I attempt to select trees that provide two 16 - substructure logs or a 16- and a 12 - foot . Once haul out to the railyard , I heap log up in freestanding region harmonise to species or length . taste to get things airless to where the tractor trailer can easily load up .
At one prison term , most farm forest operations guide quite literally on horsepower . Oxen and scuff have also done safe servicing in the woods yarding out timber .
For the ultimate in down in the mouth - impact logging , a horse is height but a slower method . Lorain Ebbett - Rideout
Also , any work with animals requires an experient driver to work safely and humanly . I ’ve logged with horses many time . The constant talk of the teamster with his co - workers is very enjoyable .
Any farm logging is very physical and safety is preponderant . Personal logging equipment such as boots , helmet , center / ear protection and cut gent keep you safe . All chainsaws should have a kickback machine , and cutting or haul always work at you own comfy amphetamine .
Good clipping practice are something to be honed and never allowed to damp .
Being a farm logger is part of your rural inheritance and a country skill well worth maintaining . do to your expiation , a controlled log crop is good stewardship of the dry land and insures future cutting potential drop rather than empty light - cuts .
So if you have a stand of timber and a bit of Paul Bunyan at heart , why not try logging the back 40 yourself ? Who knows — you might even receive yourself holler , “ Timber ! ”
Sidebar: Careful Cutting
Cutting is actually good to the forest , and low - impact methods improve the health of the woodlot .
Understand that in nature , trees are removed always through fire , violent idle words or winter storms . louse damage can down huge swath of timber that falls into a dry , tangled raft . Heavy fledged forests are n’t as wildfire - well-disposed as woodlands of various age and specie .
Any lumber functioning earmark lighter to reach seedlings on the forest floor which resile up unco fast . Some ground possessor replant trees after a crop , but if you temper your efforts with solitaire and follow a in effect woodlot management plan , the woodland can reform itself after a restrained harvest .
Wildlife greatly benefits from careful log harvests . With raw ontogeny , Chuck Berry , freak and other grasses along with open places to wander . All wild neighbor from quail to deer are drawn to a reinvigorated cut , and if you harvest wild plot for the table a few strategic cut will ensure a full deep freeze .
The timber soil is also stirred up in any cutting . While eating away is something to be constantly considered , good low - wallop harvests can ameliorate land .
I have argued for years that a serial publication of clean logging trails are very useful to wildlife , speedily fulfill in with thicket or seedling and are part of the natural regeneration appendage .
