Re: [GBlist] burning wood and cleaning the forest

[Ron Cascio <rcascio@beachin.net>]

Sacie H Lambertson wrote:

> As I recall, European forests are picked totally clean.  Little chance
> therefore for anything to decay to enrich the soil.  I've never seen an
> American timber/woods/forest left this way and out here in Kansas, I
> believe I am correct in saying there are now many more trees now than there
> were before white man settled this land, when fires cleared the prairies on
> a regular basis.

Please don`t fall for that timber industry line. Yes there are more trees but
the many small trees do not make up the type of forest ecosystem that was here
before our arrival. More small trees now but less basil area, it doesn`t equate
in the least of ways. Would you rather have TEN peas on your plate or ONE whole
turkey?

> Personally I wouldn't take down dead trees in which bird
> holes are clearly present

When clearing out the standing dead wood in a stand of trees you have taken out
the most valuable wildlife habitat. A standing dead tree is much more valuable
to the forest ecosystem than a dozen live ones.

> and no one would gather for firewood the wood
> debris that is already rotting on the ground so I suspect that the majority
> of our trees are safe.  I do not speak to the plantations which ARE pretty
> dead places.   Sacie Lambertson

We burn scrap framing lumber from housebuilding jobsites in the area. It is
kiln dried and burns very clean in our catalytic stove. I just ask the framers
if I can take their small scrap and they are more than happy for me to get it
out of their way. Dumpster diving for heat is my weekend hobby.

>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
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______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________