I bought my first home this year. Wow, talk about a wild ride. We got the house in June, and we are just now starting to get somewhat settled in. I just got the back garage semi-straightened up, and man, has that opened my eyes to endless possibilities. You see, for the past 8 years, I have lived in a rented house. The drive was gravel, and the garage was tiny. You could barely fit a VW Bug in there if it were empty, and it wasn’t. So, I would shoulder crawl under the cars to change the oil and stuff. Ouch!

Now, I have 2 garages (yeah, 2 of ‘em). One smaller one in front, attached to the house. One in the back that is an outbuilding, and 2 1/2 times the size of the one in front. Wherefore, I promptly changes it’s designation to……The Shop!

The other bonus to this new home is the 2 fireplaces (yeah, 2 of ‘em). So, I can now, not only dry out after coming in from the rain (that’s how we roll in the Pacific Northwest), but I can supplement our heat. So, tomorrow I am going up into the Tillamook National Forest, and cutting firewood with my friend Bobby.

Why would I want to trudge up into the forest in the rain, just to get some firewood. I’m glad you asked. I’m sure you have heard the term “Economic Downturn” lately. Well, I found out that if I buy my wood in town, it will cost between $150 and $200 per cord. Then, I found out that I could go up into the woods with a friend who is experienced at woodcutting and the permit cost $10 for up to 2 cords. Sounds like a no brainer. Well, not really, you really need to use your brain.

First of all, keep it legal. The permit here is only $10. Stop by your local Forestry office and get the information. Knowledge is Power. Yeah, I grew up in the 70’s.

Safety first. Yeah, I know, but still, you really don’t want to lose a leg or something. Main rule, this coming from a class clown (and for a short time a professional clown), No Horseplay! I am a goof, and I turn that off when working with, say, a chainsaw. nuff said?

Know your Wood (Yeah, I’m laughing too). Where we’re going tomorrow we have mainly Douglas-fir with a slight chance of Red Alder. Both burn well. You get more heat, they are both easy to split. Alder is better at coaling, but Douglas-fir starts easier. I think a mix would be good. It’s a good idea to study up on the Fuel characteristics of the kinds of wood in your area.

If you asked my Granny what the best firewood was, she would say Oak, and if you can’t get Oak and Fir. I’ve had some Oak and it’s harder to get started, but burns long and coals up nice.

Practice Proper Splitting Technique. Take a wide stance, so the follow through hits the ground before it hits you. Safety glasses/goggles, and gloves are nice. I like my eyes.

Above all, enjoy the process. Personally, I love the splitting. I have a splitting maul, and it is the right tool for the job. Before I got it, I had a medium sized axe for camping/backpacking with. Trust me, you want a maul.

I hope this gets you started thinking about how we can save money, and have a good time doing it. I get to spend a day in the woods. Can’t get much better than that.

So, this is what I decided to do. I am starting the site back up, but this time, it’s more of a personal journal of my family transforming our .5 acre in the middle of town, into an urban homestead. Garden, livestock, orchard, and anything else we can fit. Due to the fact that my day job is as a TV Producer, there may be media (read: Podcasts, Video Podcasts) involved. I am in the process of salvaging some of the old articles that I wrote, so if your interested in backyard chickens, or making your own home brewed hard cider, then just keep checking back and I’ll have some up soon. I want to thank everyone who enjoyed the site for coming by, and I want to welcome anyone new. Here’s to getting it right this time. Cheers!