Then a porcupine came into my life and I started wondering about where he might live. He wouldn't jump out of the pile one day when I unsuspectingly went to fetch a load. Or wood he? Erring on the side of caution, I decided it would be a good idea to stack the wood, the better to see any porcupines, packrats or other perpetrators living within.
With my decision made, I proceeded to procrastinate because stacking wood was not on my top 10 list of things I wanted to do Sunday afternoon. I turned to my favorite procrastination device, the internet, to see if there was a right way or a wrong way to stack firewood. Wouldn't you know it? There is a Science of Wood Stacking. I so did not need to know that.
"Firewood dumped in a heap won't dry and it won't burn well blah blah blah rain will soak into the cut ends blah blah blah ground moisture will soak into the inner bark." Alright! Alright! I'll stack it!
But then I read about the Shaker round woodpile. "It will keep your wood dry and dazzle the neighbors."
Won't those cows be impressed, I thought. And maybe this could be kind of fun.
Witness the Shaker round woodpile:
photo courtesy of Brookline Renewable Energy Source
Silly me thought it might be fun to stack two cords of wood into a pretty, even, symmetrical cylinder.
Silly me needs to have her head examined.
Three hours later, I had one and a half not-so-pretty, lopsided, asymmetrical cylinders of wood.
But at least I no longer have a prodigious porcupine proving ground.
***
You've got until Tuesday at 7pm Mountain time to weigh in on which pin-up girl or boy should grace the cover
of the 2012 7MSN Ranch calendar. Click here to review your choices and cast your vote.
But at least I no longer have a prodigious porcupine proving ground.
***
You've got until Tuesday at 7pm Mountain time to weigh in on which pin-up girl or boy should grace the cover
of the 2012 7MSN Ranch calendar. Click here to review your choices and cast your vote.
I never minded stacking the wood when we had a woodstove, but it seemed the piles when down (were used up) a whole lot faster then what it took me to make them!
ReplyDelete*One of these things is not like the other....*
ReplyDeleteGood try though. I never knew stacking wood could be such an "art".
I imagine the Shakers had a lot of people standing around each side of their round woodpiles, adding logs in turn . . . don't you?
ReplyDeleteOur good ol' farm kid who was going to stack our wood didn't show up when he was supposed to. I might have to start stackin'.
I wonder if the porcupine thinks "She's inviting me to stay, she built not one but TWO wooden igloos for me to choose from!"?
ReplyDeleteThe middle hole looks like a perfect hideout to me!
Gosh and all this time we just were working with our little wall. We have enough wood for 45 Texas winters. I really need to get rid of some!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that the porcupine will move into one of those nice, cozy, warm woodpiles!
ReplyDeleteHey, I am impressed! You could call this the wood workout......
ReplyDeleteNot bad for a first try.... sorta
ReplyDeleteNot bad for the first time, I don't think. Wow what a response to the cover of the calendar...All the pictures were so good. Have a good day and hugs to all
ReplyDelete"Wood he?" Heh heh...I see what you did there. ;)
ReplyDeleteGood pile considering that the Shaker photo has nice even wood, not all gnarly and curved like yours. Yesterday was a wood cutting/splitting/stacking day for us too.
ReplyDeleteI like stacking firewood and do it pretty much every fall to replenish our supply for winter. Because I live in a rainy country, our science of stacking is different than that as it must be under cover (when possible) and in a line. That means the line must hang together and each end us cribbed. Cribbing is where the art comes in as that means you stack two one way, then the next two the opposite forming something that will not slide apart as the wood in the middle is added. The cribs are where you look for the right wood that will lie flat and is the same height and length. We buy our wood for a guy who gives me beautiful wood split and I totally love stacking his. When I get a load that has uneven sizes and shapes, it's more of a challenge; so you hold onto a good wood supplier ;)
ReplyDeleteKeep going Carson, your wood pile is taking shape. Those Shakers knew lots about wood anyway. Yes a porcupine might just want to stay the winter since it's cozy at your place.
ReplyDeleteCount your blessings as my good friend in Texas is battling wild pigs on her ranch. They digging holes and destroying the land.They are big and mean.
You could always trap the porky and drive him 30 miles up country sort of like the snake evacuation. I wish you luck and I know you'll figure out something. Best always, Sanra
Wow! What a cool looking pile of stacked wood. Who would think? Your piles are pretty darn good for your first shot! Keep practicing!
ReplyDeleteI HATE stacking wood. There is definitely a technique to doing it, and I think you have to have a talent for it (I do NOT). As we use wood for heat in the rainy/cold PNW, it's a yearly venture. I look for anything else I can do to avoid stacking (including using the "procrastination device) :) I'm impressed... "I" think you did an excellent job!!!
ReplyDeleteI love stacking wood. I get it from several sources so it's all sizes and shapes, and it's hard to stack properly. I had several trees trimmed this spring, which left a lot of scattered wood on the property. So I hired a fellow to gather it up and stack it for me in the woodshed. He obviously didn't read about it on the internet. The rows are 10 feet high and are leaning. It looks like a Jenga puzzle, ready to collapse the first time I pry a stick from it.
ReplyDeleteDo porcupines crave salt? Do you have a salt lick it can get to? Perhaps that's what has attracted it. Maybe there's a salt lick for the cows somewhere close. Anyway, if that's what it's after, it might get its fill and amble back to where it really lives.
I like #8, with George and Alan and the flowers. Too cute.
ReplyDeleteYou are way more ambitious than I am!! Wow.
ReplyDeleteokay, you did a hell of a better job than I EVER would be able to do with the stacking..... but I laughed my head off with this post... thanks for sharing your adventures.... and seriously, whoever stacked that wood in the "demo" photograph....obviously does nothing else at all!
ReplyDeleteAwe! What a cute little place for you 'Porcupine'! LOL Love the art of the round stack! Never knew!
ReplyDeleteOk, Linda, where are you? No post today (Tuesday)? Hope you are OK. You know I set my clock by your morning post. Do I have to call the Sherikf?
ReplyDeleteLove the wood stack, and would like to try it next fall.
ReplyDeleteAlso noticed that you are still in the "month" of October. So am I...
Karen
Wood Workout sounds good to me.
ReplyDelete