Shou Sugi Ban - Yakisugi

I am in the process of thinning out a small forested area to make it more accessible and enjoyable to be in, while giving the more desirable trees more room to breath.  

As a result ive dropped about a dozen conifers so far, which include Pine and Spruce.  

This is on a property that I need to walk in about a kilometer. There is no electricity or running water.  My tools of choice so far have been a battery powered chainsaw, battery powered pruners, a rope with some pulleys and carabiners, and a medium sized heavy duty shovel.  The shovel has been amazingly useful for removing the bark from the trees after they have been cut down.  

For now I cut the logs to specific sizes, which Im able to handle and maneuver around. They are being stacked so as to not be touching the ground for the time being.

Now that I am at this stage Im beginning to wonder about how and when to preserve them.  One of the methods I learned about years ago is called "Shou Sugi Ban", where fire is used to scorch the surface of the wood to help protect it from rot, insects, and even fire!  

What I don't want to resort to is using propane, as is usually done these days. I do intend to make some biochar from a lot of the dry debris that ive accumulated, and have the thought that maybe I could create a small-medium sized "Kon Tiki" pit near where the logs are stacked, and set up some rollers on either side of the pit. As the biochar is being made I could also begin scorching the surface of the logs using the rollers as a way to more easily move the heavy logs.  

Have any of you done anything like this before? Id love to read your thoughts!  

At what stage should the logs be burned?  Should they be allowed to dry out for a period of time first?  

Ill be looking into this on my own anyway, but thought it would be fun to create this new topic in case anybody wants to share or learn about this process. If I come across any great info Ill make sure to post it here.  

Here are a few photos for now.

My boys have been using that technique on a house they've been working on recently.





They claim to have been using one of my dragons, but I suspect they're not being entirely honest with me...

If you are just trying to preserve the wood for later use then I think all you need to do is remove the bark as you are doing, stack them off the ground preferably in a well ventilated area and cover them with plywood or used metal roofing to keep rain and sun off them until you are ready to move on to next step.  That is how sawn lumber is dried and round logs are better at shedding water so it should work.

Beautiful work your boys are doing Burra!

Here is an example of a method that can be done out in the woods: