THE CLEARING

 Today, some pretty serious work was done. I got into the woods with some pruners, an axe, and a brush hook. I didn’t use the brush hook a whole lot, and only used the axe to remove some bigger trees. The focus was definitely the pruners. They worked really well, but sometimes don’t feel like the most efficient things. But, they get the job done, and cut closer to the ground than is easy with the brush hook.

I pick a spot close to my moms house. Started down below the building. Part of why I chose this toot was ease of access. I could park at the house and walk down with tools. I also think it is going to be one of the cooler spots on the property, eventually. It has some very large beech trees, poplar, and oak. The beech are particularly impressive.

I removed the small poplar trees. There was an ocean of them between 3 and 10 feet, but they came down quickly and easily with the pruners. Some areas where I was working had more paw paw than others. But the parts with less paw paw I figure can be areas I transplant into in the future. Or just let the wild fruit come up as it will. I’m a little worried that the additional sun getting to the forest floor might cause a lot of under growth, but it’s hot this time of year. Hopefully the stuff I cut down will dry out and what is left will be clearly visible, for the next round.

When removing trees, I left most of the beech, oak, and a couple dogwoods. The big trees back there are impressive, and god knows how old, but I’m already thinking about the next round of big trees. One of the things I always complain about in the neighborhoods is how people don’t replace the big trees when they take them down, so I am trying to be conscious of that. The replacement trees are not going to be impressive for decades, so the ones that are already started I am letting go. Sure they are blocking some sunlight, but they are what makes the setting there so nice. 

This area I am picturing being more of a foraged feel area, but one that is pretty accessible and pretty pretty. Possibly pretty enough to picnic in, or have a few drinks with lawn chairs. Taking down the 10’ poplars cleared good line of sight into the woods. It is a nice area. I am worried that the paw paw will just replace the poplar in terms of view obstruction. I might need to do some thinning of those too, one day. Toward the top most part of the hill, I think a deck with a view might be nice eventually. I wonder if I could harvest the wood from the land for projects like that. 

I don’t remember if I have talked about this, but everything I cut I am leaving where it falls. The neighbors have done a bunch of clearing in the woods and tend to make piles with what they cut down. I don’t really want piles. I’d rather just let the trimmings break down where they are. And since any getting in there by paying pickers is years off, they should break down by then. During future chopping sessions, I will try and cut up what I have already dropped into smaller pieces to get them more contact with the forest floor.  

There was a fair number of fruit growing back there. Not a LOT per se, but a good amount. Hopefully the additional light will make them grow well, and tell the trees they can handle growing more in the future.  

Lou came down with me for the first time. She did well. She was a little less interested in investigating the woods, which surprised me, and spent most of her time hanging out at the wood line. She stuck by, though, and I could see her being a regular feature there. Still, if I win the lottery, I’ll need a small pack of herding dogs to manage the goats. Or some Rhodesian ridgebacks. Regardless, it was nice having Lou there. 

A few notable sights were three turtles, and a few mushrooms. One turtle I stepped on. I knew instantly what it was. It felt like a softball under my foot. Actually, the first thing I thought was duckpin bowling ball.

Oh, and a week after getting stitches because I cut myself with a machete down there, Carly took them out on my moms front porch.