Split and stack dead standing wood as firewood - PEP BB woodland.sand.splitandstack

My tree before bucking, my 8’x2’ stack started at Cooper Cabin on the Lab, finally done!

Most was split with axe or maul, the last bit was with Paul’s Kindling Cracker... pretty cool gadget!

I've been cutting down dying birch trees and bucking/splitting them for use in two winters.  I stack in a holzhausen style which is a round wood pile.  We can get 4-5 cords of wood into a 10x10 footprint.  Due to drying issues in the core of the pile, this year we're doing two cylindrical stacks and trying to leave the core open.  We'll also take some pallet wood and make a roof over the stacks so it looks like a single pitch version Shakespeare's globe theater.

The holzhausen started today with the rings of wood that start the stacks on an inward tilt.  We reuse them because it takes a while to find chunks that lay flat.

Starting pile of wood is 10' long (per tape measure on the ground) and the general middle height is 3' so it's well over 1/2 face cord.

Following the various discussion about BBS being ‘hard’

What purpose is served by the requirement that all logs must be cut to 15”? My stove takes 13” max, 12” more comfortably. I suspect that 15” suits the fires at Wheaton Labs, but why should this be a restriction for anyone doing this outside the labs? It serves no educational point. If I can cut logs consistently to 12” I can cut them to 15”.

Because it's Permaculture Experience Paul, designed for people at Wheaton Labs.

We're still waiting for volunteers to set up all the other versions.  Are you volunteering?

Next time I'm talking to Paul I'll ask him about this one.  Sometimes he has reasons for things that I'd've never thought of.  Other times making a change isn't a big deal at all.  So I don't want to make any promises one way or the other.

Burra Maluca wrote:Because it's Permaculture Experience Paul, designed for people at Wheaton Labs.

We're still waiting for volunteers to set up all the other versions.  Are you volunteering?

No, not volunteering. My skills and knowledge are too limited to any kind of reasonable job, beyond in a few specific badges. But I want to be able to participate! It is frustrating to be blocked from something as interesting as PEP because of items like this.

This BB could easily be split into two alternate versions - participant chooses.

BB - labs version, as above
BB generic version - as above, but the participant explains their choice of log length to fit the intended use, then demonstrates they are cut appropriately by measuring on camera.

If someone happens to be at the labs they do the labs one, if not they do the generic one.

---

A few other examples:

Labs - Plant 20 willows
Generic - plant 20 trees, explaining their appropriateness for your region, and your method.

My woods are chestnut, hazel and oak. In some neglected places the hazel could do with replanting. I would plant 20 hazel. I would not plant willow, as it is not a species that belongs in my particular woods. But planting 20 hazels is at least as challenging as striking 20 willow cuttings, which root with zero effort.

---

Labs - build or repair 12ft of junkpole fencing
Generic - build or respiratory 12ft of fencing, using found or harvested materials (eg hedge laying, dry stone walling etc...). Explain why your choice is appropriate for your circumstances.

In my location a well constructed laid hedge is appropriate - and stacks functions with useful wild harvests.

---

Paul has asked what is needed to get people active pursuing PEP. For me, the answer is a clear path to follow for the circumstances where I can’t do it in the way Paul would prefer at the labs. I may able to do 90% of the BBs as per Paul, but that 10% are the problem. Doing BBs knowing that finishing the overall badge is out of reach is demoralising and frustrating. Mostly I’m doing the tasks regularly anyway. Why am I documenting them if they won’t lead anywhere?

Folks are going to be running rockets here at BB20, so I cut some firewood to help replace it.

Here is my firewood.  Some additional photos are available from my bowsaw/chainsaw dead tree submission. I've got a LOT of dead trees.  I placed the wheelbarrow for scale.

Here are some of the dead stand I took down for this pile.