Konrad in Lincoln
02-06-2004, 08:50 AM
I knew the day would come someday, but didn't know when. This past weekend, my parents approached us and said they'd been offered a large amount of money for the 30-odd acres of farm/scrub land that surrounds their acreage. They've been approached by developers numerous times over the years, but this time... it's time.
This is a hard thing to accept, but like I said, I've seen this day coming for the last decade or so. The creeping urban sprawl has slowly laid waste to farm after farm, and it has gradually reached my parent's land. You can now actually see paved streets and street lamps through the trees behind their house. It's never really "dark" anymore at night out there. Never mind that I haven't lived in that house for over ten years. It's where we grew up, and my dad built the house himself when I was about 2 years old.
My childhood was spent wandering in these fields, trees, and shallow valleys. Endless adventurs. Each tree is familiar to me in some way. Only someone who grew up in the country will understand what I'm talking about.
I do take heart that this is a blessing to my parents: Their health insurance costs are rising, the house needs repairs, and the family business has taken its share of hits from the slow economy as well. The amount of money they've been offered is indeed handsome, almost rediculous, and will leave them set for the rest of their lives. For this, I am gratefull. I may be sad, but I'm not ignorant.
On to my question: There are quite a number of mature cedar trees growing on several acres of this land that will be paved over in the next few years. I know nothing about harvesting trees. All of my boatbuilding lumber has always come from the local woodworking shops. I would like reap some sort of modest benefit from their destruction. They will simply be dozed over, burned, and paved over.
If anyone can offer some input as to cutting, storing, anything... it would be appreciated. Perhaps a canoe in the future? That would be a noble second life for them, don't you think?
Any help is appreciated, thanks for reading.
This is a hard thing to accept, but like I said, I've seen this day coming for the last decade or so. The creeping urban sprawl has slowly laid waste to farm after farm, and it has gradually reached my parent's land. You can now actually see paved streets and street lamps through the trees behind their house. It's never really "dark" anymore at night out there. Never mind that I haven't lived in that house for over ten years. It's where we grew up, and my dad built the house himself when I was about 2 years old.
My childhood was spent wandering in these fields, trees, and shallow valleys. Endless adventurs. Each tree is familiar to me in some way. Only someone who grew up in the country will understand what I'm talking about.
I do take heart that this is a blessing to my parents: Their health insurance costs are rising, the house needs repairs, and the family business has taken its share of hits from the slow economy as well. The amount of money they've been offered is indeed handsome, almost rediculous, and will leave them set for the rest of their lives. For this, I am gratefull. I may be sad, but I'm not ignorant.
On to my question: There are quite a number of mature cedar trees growing on several acres of this land that will be paved over in the next few years. I know nothing about harvesting trees. All of my boatbuilding lumber has always come from the local woodworking shops. I would like reap some sort of modest benefit from their destruction. They will simply be dozed over, burned, and paved over.
If anyone can offer some input as to cutting, storing, anything... it would be appreciated. Perhaps a canoe in the future? That would be a noble second life for them, don't you think?
Any help is appreciated, thanks for reading.