Drop 6” to 8” dead standing tree with a bow saw - PEP BB woodland.sand.deadbow

Here is my submission for Drop 6” to 8” dead standing tree with a bow saw - PEP BB woodland.sand.deadbow:

I am providing photos of the following:

 - My chosen tree to cut
 - Action shot about half way through felling the tree showing my wedge/notch cut completed
 - Fallen tree
 - Measurement across the stump showing the diameter

I cut down this dead aspen for my neighbor. I had quite a cheering section! Every kid in the cauldesac must have lined up on the side walk. They were counting me down, man!!!

I took down this dead standing tree for the Humus Well project during the PTJ!

oopsie

At Wheaton Labs, and using a kantana handsaw, I cut down a dead tree.
The photos below show the chosen tree to cut, my wedge/notch cut completed, the fallen tree, and the measurement across the stump showing the diameter.

I used a katana blade to cut this dead standing tree.

To get certified for this BB, post pictures or video (less than 2 min) of the following:  

  - Your chosen tree to cut
  - Action shot about half way through felling the tree showing your wedge/notch cut completed
  - Fallen tree
  - Measurement across the stump showing the diameter

We cleaned the little patch of forest next to the house from from small dead branches. There we found this dead standing tree. Even though it stood close to the fence slightly leaning towards it, we managed to direct it with ropes in the other direction. No humans or fences have been hurt during this operation.

This was harder than I was ready for. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I’m out of shape 🤷🏼‍♀️ time to hit the gym I suppose.
This is an aspen in my yard that has been struggling for a couple years and needed to come down. My son and his buddy were my cheering squad. I’m pretty watching a tree fall down was the highlight of the week!

Steve Thorn wrote:This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum.  Completing this BB is part of getting the sand badge in woodland care.

This project will be dropping a 6” to 8” dead standing tree with hand tools (bow saw, cross cut saw, axe, etc).  Larger is ok if it makes sense for your woodland plans.



Harvested dead trees are a great material for log structures, log furniture, firewood, hugelkultur and hundreds of other projects!

Dead trees are usually less structurally sound than live trees, so use extra caution.

This video goes over a lot of the safety precautions and a demonstration of felling a tree with a bow saw.

Be safe when using hand tools and felling trees, be aware of your surroundings and the falling tree and above canopy, work at your own risk, and enjoy cutting stuff!

To get certified for this BB, post pictures or video (less than 2 min) of the following:  

  - Your chosen tree to cut
  - Action shot about half way through felling the tree showing your wedge/notch cut completed
  - Fallen tree
  - Measurement across the stump showing the diameter

Another fun bb utilizing a bow saw ...

This is my second time cutting down a tree by hand.  The first was much smaller.  I've probably only cut down 5-10 trees with a chainsaw.  I now appreciate power tools and the people who cut down trees before they were invented.  My goodness, that wasn't even a large tree!

Also I love the photo bombs by the chickens and my farm cat 'Milley.'  I had not noticed them until posting them here!

Partially for my own nostalgia, I've also attached three 'before pictures: Day 1 of the new property in the same area, the kitchen garden mostly complete later that fall, and the garden filled in the year after with the drone overhead.  Unfortunately, the garden hasn't looked that nice again since that day, but I try!

The crabapple that went down with the bow saw is the last remnant of trees in that space.  Kind of sad, in a way.