The Handle Factory - Gardens - Compost - Humanure
Where Do We Get Our Wood Chips?
Not too far from the homestead is an old 19th century mill that has been in operation since the 1800's. It's located next to a creek obviously because water movement is how almost all mills were powered before the wide use of STEAM engines. Today, they still have one of four machines there were purchased in the 1850's and delivered by steam engine and ox carts. It's still in use today turning axe handles.
We are going to go back to that ax handle factory at some point and have them custom make a handle for an axe head that Tim (my Father in law) found when he was a child. Video below!
They've agreed to a full interview and tour of the factory.
$10 for a truckload!😮 We have been calling/begging everywhere to get woodchips around here Nada!!!😕 But thats so great for you. We might just buy one of those humungo leaf/grass clipping bags and attach it to our mower and use the grass clippings as mulch. We've just been raking up the grass clippings for now and adding them like mulch around our trees and plants. Also adding to our compost pile. We dont evsn have leaves here in the fall & winter so we have to use what weve got. Also looking into clumping bamboo as bamboo produces lots of its own mulch plus it has many other purposes around the homestead ; goat food, building structures, garden props,etc.😊 Happy Homesteading y'all! We will be Live @5pm central on youtube tonighf. Hope to see you there!
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Possibly get a chipper, that bamboo would make great mulch, right?
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I chipped a large pile of black bamboo. The fiber was like wire and got into the bearings around the chipper shaft and froze them up solid. The wood was dry and like iron. I personally would test each kind before chipping.
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Wow, good advice, I guess I won't be doing that.
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yes chipper is on the wishlist
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You guys are blessed with this Sawmill so close by!
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Great video! It is cool to see that you are getting the wood chips straight from the source (local and you are utilizing a by-product). I have to buy mine by the bale from the farm store since I don't have a direct source like that. It looks like there was some moisture on the wood chips. Do they start composting where you have them stacked in the shed? Or do they dry out by the time you start using them? Or is it not even a concern?
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As long as you keep them dry, they won't compost very fast if at all. But once you put them in the open and let the rain and snow fall on them, 3-4 inches will break down over 1 year and provide amazingly healthy black dirt underneath.
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I liken Tim unto a quite super hero. He put out a fire and saved countless animals and quite possibly humans!! I've been to June Lake with my wife about 10 years ago. It's beautiful and it's adjacent to Mammoth Lakes/Mountain, and it's probably because of Tim and his Dad!
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Quite possibly!
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We love wood chips. We have the local townships offer free wood chips. They allow the members of the community to drop of branches and brush and crews trim trees along the roads. They chip it and make it available for free.
Most people don't know about it. It's one of the best kept secrets. A few times, I dumped off brush from my yard one week and the next week pick it up as wood chips.
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nice upvoted and visit my wall when you free thanks :) @mericanhomestead
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Interesting video!
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If only the tree companies made their wood chips that nice.
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Very cool stuff! Keep it up!
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The axe head is very cool! Looking forward to seeing more on that. We just love finding things like that and restoring them. Mr. Rain got himself a circa 1940's drill press for only $10 last summer and refurbished it. It is like a work of art and runs amazingly well. I should post that video over here on steemit soon :)
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I had to get rid of my truck a few years ago (i drive 50 miles to work one way) so I carry two plastic totes in my backseat. I stop and grab wood chips and mulch when they are free. Gotta make due with what you got ya know?
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