More woodshed. Walnut milled!

Mill status

I moved some more of the timber logs from near the house over to the mill-barn.  Moved some heavy ones - those big oak pieces from the big tree I felled in the spring of 2013.   I was barely able to use the front-forks to move one of them - it was just on the edge of tipping!  The other log, the bole, I had to drag.  The ground was frozen so it didn't tear things up too bad.  I have no idea how I am going to load that bole onto the mill!  I might need to halve it with the chainsaw first.  IDK.

After moving some of the outside logs I found that I had several Black Locust logs of a decent size.  This made me consider using locust wood as the base of the floor of my woodshed!  I milled one of the boles  and found that it was somewhat decayed at one end and was only able to get a few 2x4 pieces that where long enough for one side of the woodshed.  I milled another locust log and was able to get 3 2x6's with enough length to provide the basis for the other side of the woodshed floor base.  I have 2 more locust logs that I hope will give me enough wood to put in some floor joists.  Not all of the floor base and joists will touch the ground, so finger crossed that the remaining logs have enough good wood!  The locust, like most of my wood, has been "cured" for at least a year, so its fairly hard. Locust is known for dulling saw blades so I am already seeing that this latest blade is showing signs of "wandering"!  I have been using the water drip for all of my cuts on this blade - I think it does help with the locust.

Walnut, milled!

Chris came over Sunday and we milled the Walnut into mostly 6/4 boards.  He had purchased some AnchorSeal and we painted the ends good with that before and after milling.  Walnut mills very easily, I'm not even sure we needed the water drip, but since this is green wood I wanted to be sure we got no fouling from sap!  Chris and I stickered the wood with some old ash and some pine.  

Chris next to the freshly stickered Walnut boards.  We got about 73 board-ft of mostly 6/4 lumber 

Woodshed progress

As I mentioned above in the "Mill Status" section, I milled some locust for the floor base for the shed.  I wasn't sure about using locust wood in this fashion since I haven't heard of it before.  However, after a search on the internet and talking with John Black, I am convinced I should be using a lot more locust for my building projects!  Locust is hard on the mill blades, but its a very stable wood and otherwise mills quite well.  I will be milling more locust for the floor joists next weekend, I hope.

Woodshed with the floor base installed.  Locust 2x4's on the upper side and 2x6's on the lower.

I should mention that John Black stopped by my place on Saturday and informed me that I should get a permit for the woodshed.  I was a little surprised since I thought that the shed was below their threshold (1500 sq ft I thought), but he said that any building requires one.  It's not really a building permit I guess, but a "land use permit".  It's only $25 so I am not sweating it.  He said the next township meeting was on the 26th and I should go to get the permit then.  I called the old secretary number, but a machine picked up - I left my number and asked for a call back.

John and I got to talking and I learned a lot.  He makes wine too (evidently uses the same recipe book I do!).  We exchanged some of our recent wines.  He gave me a bottle of plum and I gave him a bottle of the concord and a bottle of the pear (I gave him a half-pint of raspberry jam too).   The plum wine was excellent - I think I got the better deal in that trade!  I have 4 plum trees, but they wont be producing plums for a couple years yet.  I will definitely think of making some plum wine when I get some plums!

Tree purchase and plans

I got the new Fulton County Conservation District tree order form for this year.  I am planning on getting some of the Pristine and Liberty apple trees (maybe 3 each?)  Also going to try to raise some strawberries this year!  I have no idea what to do for strawberries, so this should be a learning experience.  Getting 12 more blueberries (2 of each type) and 50 more elderberries to go in the "swampy area" out in the clay field.  I am considering getting 100 black locust seedlings since I don't see a lot of black locust on my property (not that I have looked very closely).  I think I will plant them along the fence line of the hay field.  I need to measure that fence line and see if 100 will be enough.  I also want birch trees eventually, but the conservation district doesn't have them on the form.  I will ask if that is something they will look into carrying.

Just for point of reference, I have already ordered some trees from Willis Orchards.  So far I have (order number: 101027226580)

5	2-3' (Limited Supply) (Ships 11/10/2014 - 04/10/2015)	Jefferson Hazelnut Tree	$27.95
5	2-3' (Limited Supply) (Ships 11/10/2014 - 04/10/2015)	Yamhill Hazelnut	$27.95
1	1-2' (10 Trees) (Ships 11/10/2014 - 04/10/2015)	Pecan (Native Hardy Seedling)	$34.95
5	1-2' (Ships 11/10/2014 - 04/10/2015)	White Walnut Tree	$5.95
5	1-2' (Ships 11/10/2014 - 04/10/2015)	Black Walnut Tree	$4.95

and (order number: 101348118149)

6	3-4' (Ships 11/10/2014 - 04/10/2015)	Montmorency Cherry Tree	$24.95
6	3-4' (Ships 11/10/2014 - 04/10/2015)	Dwarf North Star Cherry Tree	$24.95
4	2 Year Old Vine (Ships 11/10/2014 - 04/10/2015)	Pinot Gris Wine Grape Vine	$8.95
4	2 Year Old Vine (Ships 11/10/2014 - 04/10/2015)	Sauvignon Blanc Wine Grape Vine	$8.95
4	2 Year Old Vine (Ships 11/10/2014 - 04/10/2015)	Zinfandel Wine Grape Vine	$8.95

I am still mulling over where to plant all of these.   I think the grapes will go just below the current vines (I need more trellis posts!).  The walnut I will probably plant up along the high field along the wood border.  I am still considering where to plant the  pecans and hazelnuts.  I want the pecans to be somewhat protected, so not along the high wood line!  Maybe below the barn in the wet field area?  The hazel nuts could go in there too - I need to see if its maybe too wet an area for them there.