what would you do with this?

we had a major ice storm a few weeks back and it took down a ton of limbs and trees. so now i have a pile that looks like the below. I dont have access to machinery or horses, basically all i have is a pickup truck and a chainsaw. since 99% of it is pine, firewood is out of the question. Im just not sure if i should cut it into manageable sizes and just stack it to rot. put it on contour and let nature slowly cover it. I need some permie ideas please.

Hi Drew,

Well first it looks like some really nice red pine of some variety. So lets start a list of possibles...

1. These are nice bolts that would make great lumber of all sorts from timber framing down to board stock.

2. I am not sure where you get the idea from that you can not burn this. It wont make long fires, but will make very hot ones. The hottest and best burning wood for fast fire type heat is Pinyon Pine and conifers area common burning species over hard woods in many cultures, as they have been for millenia. You may have to clean more than once a year, and don't let the fire go with this species, as like Pinyon, it can burn supper hot. So, yes you do have some really nice fire wood actually.

3. Hugelculture material for sure.

4. Water troughs for live stock if you adze them out.

5. Bowls and other wood items.

6. Split for benches.

7. Rustic furniture...a lot of rustic furniture...

8. Let rot for mulch...the least desirable with these fine bolts.

Regards,

j

How about a small log structure? Maybe use them as framing for a hillside root cellar? Framing for raised beds? cut the big ones into "discs" to create wooden plates. Mushroom cultivation?

I'd see about getting the big pieces cut into lumber. Is this on your property? Then for sure, I'd try to cut into lumber whatever I could. Makes good memories, you know.... Otherwise, firewood for the solid stuff ought to work... For raised bed sides, you could mebbe buy a rip chain for a regular chainsaw and cut them yourself...

Best, TM

As ever, it depends...
What do you need on your property? Do you have livestock you need to provide with shelter? You might use some of that lumber to make sheds for them, and that could include some of the Holzer style using logs to shore up earthen walls.

Maybe you have some place where a length of split rail fencing would be useful.

Maybe you need a trellis or an arbor.

You have a load of timber there, and I agree with Jay C., using it in hugels would be my last choice.

I would make an effort to get it stacked, so it does not rot before you can get to using it productively.

I would also consider splitting some of those logs into quarters. Easy with a sledge and some wedges and can make a big log into a manageable load. From there you can hew timbers for building structures, or split down some more and get to furniture size pieces.

Lots to do with that, even with limited tools.

But mostly, you have to think about what you need for your situation and ask how to utilize your windfall to best advantage for you.