Planting trees

Well, not planting trees which will grow.

This is a structure to replace an ugly chicken wire fence, which was put up in a hurry as the deer liked our veg more than us. It's slightly shorter than we wanted, but the bottom rail is one tree, and they are tricky to transport.  It's about 7m long. The top rail is 2 trees.

Most of the posts are ~2.2m/20cm tall pieces off a pair of adjacent oaks, dropped into a hole with some drainage and then the dug clay rammed back in. Very solid.

Whilst each post is very heavy, and the fence represents a few weeks of fuel for the fire, it was less effort to plant them, than to season, cut, split & stack.

Finished bringing back all the trees

Around Feb 2012, I got 2 years to cut the trees from the woods.  We had an unspecified time to get them home.  It's only 500m away, but it's taken until now to finish.  A friend with a couple of tractors got the last 5 stere back this afternoon in 2 loads.

So now all I've got to do is cut, move and stack it in the corner to season it for a year or 2.
In terms of economy, I think I'm better of buying it.  I paid around €75 for 15 stere, so €5/stere, a saving of around €55/stere, or a total saving of €825.  But there is the fuel for tractors, chainsaws, plus maintenance & time.  Today was 6 hours, and I've spent around 60 hours cutting, plus time for moving/stacking. Then the time you don't really count like the post-cutting drinking with your friends, or returning favours.
Mustn't forget that the stacked wood, whether home grown or purchased, still needs to be cut into lengths and diameters that the fire will swallow, then stacked in a dry area for use, then brought into the house as required.  It is a form of exercise.
I'd almost forgotten the push button convenience of gas central heating. Having a well insulated house, the 15 stere will last us around 7 years, but this amount is a normal annual usage for a classic farmhouse.
March 2016. Found another 2 car trailer loads and brought them back!

getting chilly

First fire this evening.  Wasn't really cold at 17C, but we're getting soft.

Window security grills

Painted with black hammerite type paint.
Date is oct/nov ish