TIMBERRRRRR!!!
Our small property has about fifteen or more Ash trees and some are dead. Since I know squat about trees from these regions, I stupidly assumed they had just ran their natural lives and died. Three of the dead trees are close to the house and I figured that I would have to eventually take there of them.
Then I noticed at the base of the biggest one (and closest to the house) dust… yellowish like-dust….fork me. Is something is chewing the effing tree? I am not taking any chances.
Call were made and a a tree cutter came by and was not thrilled either by the sawdust(?) so we are downing trees next Wednesday, the earliest he and his crew could make it.
I went online and found the effing bug: Emerald Ash Borer and the photos showing the damage replicate the ones in our property. Good news is that there are ways to protect the rest of the trees still unaffected by the effing green fokker which involves the use of dinoterfuran insecticide which is absorbed by the trees and the critters ingest it as they try the wooden salad bar.
A total of 7 dead trees will be coming down which means there will be plenty of wood for the cold days. Mind you, we don’t have a wood stove and the Missus has given me the stinky eye about searching for an old one somewhere in a junkyard as apparently I am not to be trusted generating fires.1
I hate having to shed monies unexpectedly when I am still trying to fix crap inside the 80 year old house, but I figure having a tree landing across the kitchen and dining room would be a much nastier debacle than rotten floors.
I will update and share pictures of the downing of the dead Ashes. In the meantime, an appropriate musical interlude:
She ain’t wrong.
Maybe if you explained to the missus over dinner and an appropriate vino 🍷 that wood stoves provide quite comforting warmth, you would be allowed to add one as part of your renovation efforts.
After all, if you have a fair quantity of fuel that cost you nothing; you are good. The gas and electric company both me monthly reminders that they want $$$$ for their products. Going without in WNY this time of year is not an option.....
The enviro-nazis have their claws into the woodstoves, too. They got the EPA to make it very difficult to get what you need, let alone want.
Do your due diligence on the size you need. Typically, smaller is better for keeping the creosote out of the flue. Glass is nice, but it has to cleaned, if you want to watch the pretty flames. Iron is harder to break and doesn't require the seals/gaskets. I primarily use wood heat so, I can go on and on.... Now where did I put that chain saw oil?