Apologies to the Lorax …
Posted by Rick - 17/05/06 at 10:05:51 am
The only thing that was missing from our checklist of “must haves” when we bought this property was an area to use for vegetable fields. Today that is about to be remedied. Today the logging crew has arrived to cut down, chip, and truck away 2-3 acres of the predominately white pine forest that is our front yard. As tree-hugging liberal, environmentalist types, it is a bit overhwleming for us; but we plan to use the cleared space not only for growing vegetables, but also to plant new groves of hardwood species such as walnuts, maples, and oaks. White pines have been crowding out many of the hardwoods in Vermont over the years because they are a fast-growing tree, and they don’t have much use other than chipping for fuel. From what we understand the trees on our property will be sold to one or more power companies to generate electricity.
The picture here was taken early this morning as the crew was clearing the spaces necessary for the chipper truck, and other machinery. Since then the process has sped up considerably. We have taken the “before” photos, and Sarah has shot some video footage we hope to upload soon. We will document as much of the process as we can. This is only the first step. The next is for a bulldozer to come in to push all the stumps into a ravine, bury as much as possible, move the bigger rocks to create a retaining wall below the leach field, and finally level some of the land. After that it is up to us to start a cover crop to get us through the winter. In between, we will take a soil sample to see what we will need to do to make our new fields as fertile as possible.
Watch the webcam today if you can stand the carnage.
Update: We made a short Quicktime video (with music!) from the footage we shot.
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AARRGGGHHH!! The trees are completely gone!!
Comment by Stephany — May 17, 2006 #
I understand the feeling and remember it well as we re-cleared our grown in fields. It is well worth it. Now years later the animals have turned what were once brushy pastures and grown in forest to lush fields again. The remaining brushy areas will soon be good grazing again too.
The variety is key. If everything were deep forest it would tend toward monoculture. The same for fields. Having both with the borders between them gives the greatest variety. By cutting and creating a clearing you are creating more varied wildlife habitat and that is good. Just don’t put in a mono-culture, kentucky bluegrass three acre lawn. You weren’t, right?! I thought not.
Someone actually did that in our town, ghastly.
In nature we have forest fires and beavers to do the work. I think you would prefer a logging crew to a forest fire and the beavers, while I love seeing them down in our marshes, are not a work crew I want right around the house.
On the white pine, certainly the tree in your picture is not all that useful as lumber but we have many top quality white pines here which we carefully selectively harvest. They provide wonderful wood - wide planks that you can’t get anywhere but from the King’s Pines as they were once called.
A tip on the flies, hats, wide brimmed straw hats. This is particularly effective for horse flies, deer flies, black flies, etc. They will tend to go above the brim. It helps a little with mosquitoes but not as well. Hats also keep the sun off your head, face and neck. I wear a straw hat most of the warm season while working outdoors and usually when just sitting out to enjoy the day.
Comment by Walter Jeffries — July 16, 2006 #