This week in the woods.
Happy Memorial day! I hope everyone takes the time to honor this holiday for what it really is. We like to go to the parade in Mechanic Falls and then walk down to the Maple Grove cemetary for the ceremony. I think it is important for us and the kids to actually understand the reason for the day off and that it’s not just a day for camping and cookouts. Thank you to all of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and to the families who must live on. It makes you realize that even on your worst day at work, it’s still a good day to be alive and thankful for our freedoms.
Last weekend we went up to the logger’s expo in Bangor. The boys absolutely love to go. It is better than Disney World to them. We literally stayed the whole day and they ran back and forth from machine to machine. We run a whole tree operation and the boys get pretty excited about seeing the cut to length equipment, especially a forwarder. Unfortunately, I don’t get much of an opportunity to really speak with any vendors because the boys’ excitement sort of takes over and they don’t have the patience to wait for me to stand around chatting. Now I know how my father felt going up there 25 years ago…. sorry dad! We met my sister up there and went to this amazing restaurant called Masons in Brewer. Gardner couldn’t hang though…. he passed out eating his pizza!!
We have been working right along in the woods and finished up our first job of the season. We couldn’t have asked for better landowners to work with! Thank you Brian, Terry, Ben, and Eryn. It is always nice to build relationships in our community. We had done a lot clearing for a new home on the property and some selective cutting on the rest. The majority of the lot was mature oak trees that were more than ready to be harvested. The job was a perfect start up job for the wet conditions because the land is rocky, well drained, and high. The landowners graciously treated us to dinner this week and shared with us that they have been out cruising in their four wheeler on the skidder & ATV trails. I hope they are able to fully enjoy their little corner of the world for years to come.
We are busy planning out our jobs for the upcoming months. It takes careful planning to make sure we land on the right job at the right time based on typical weather conditions, soil conditions, landowner objectives, etc. In order to have a successful harvest with decreased impact on the land, we have to be selective on when and where we cut. The next job we are going to is in south western Maine which will work out well because it tends to dry up a little quicker down there. We are going to have to be a bit creative in order to get into the job. We are going to bring our bridges down and create over a culvert and ditch so we can swing the trailers into the job. Getting trucks in and out of woodlots tends to be one of the most challenging parts of the job. Thankfully we have a couple fantastic, meticulous truck drivers that get the job done every time.
Finally, my wife made us boys get some family photos in the woods. I suppose it was long overdue because the last time we had them done we only had one child and he was a year old! Oops.
Now off to enjoy another gorgeous day cleaning up the yard and BBQing with friends! Till next week…..