Fast Firewood

Feb 07, 2005 123 Replies

Because they'll rot. Unless they are black locust, sassafrass, osage orange or a handful of other woods that generally are not used for lumber they won't make good fenceposts.

experience

customary to

In defense of humanity over the last hundred years or so considerable interest has arisen in both silviculture, that is harvesting wood in a sustainable fashion and also to a much lesser and more controversial extent in conservation, that is preserving some wilderness forestland in its wilderness form, unmanaged by humanity.

Given the time it takes for a tree to grow to the point where it is economical to convert it to lumber (around 70-80 years for an eastern hardwood) humanity is in it's infancy in terms of learning the ropes. But that is a big improvement over the thousands of years of 'managing' the forest of Italy, Lebanon, Lybia, England, Easter Island, etc.

I am hopeful that people like our Mr Cawthorn wil make it psosible to enjoy wood and wood products and to keep and restore large tracts of true forest to its natural, unmanaged state.

schreef

*** The list of rot-resistant wood is a little longer than that. Secondly not all fences are there forever. Some fences are built for a limited time only. PvR

schreef

considerable interest has arisen in both silviculture, that is harvesting wood in a sustainable fashion and also to a much lesser and more controversial extent in conservation, that is preserving some wilderness forestland in its wilderness form, unmanaged by humanity.

is economical to convert it to lumber (around 70-80 years for an eastern hardwood) humanity is in it's infancy in terms of learning the ropes. But that is a big improvement over the thousands of years of 'managing' the forest of Italy, Lebanon, Lybia, England, Easter Island, etc.

to enjoy wood and wood products and to keep and restore large tracts of true forest to its natural, unmanaged state.

*** Oh yes, it is not inevitable that forest management will go wrong. Actually there are plenty of examples of it going right. But making it work does require planning, thought and skills; and a tradition of transfering those skills to next generations.

An approach of "you start with a bit of forest and do what you will and it will turn out all right, automatically" is not going to be helpful.

BTW, a "true forest [in] its natural, unmanaged state" is not the only thing worth striving for. A well-managed forest can come fairly close to a natural state, close enough to be quite worthwhile and enjoyable. PvR

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