Future kindling

Work to ensure we have enough kindling is a vital part of life on Hardwood Hermitage.  Without the small branches that get fires going, the big wood would be useless.  Prior to some snow this morning, some red maple stump sprouts were thinned.  The species may not be the greatest of trees, but the relatively soft wood rates very high as kindling.  Our supply is essentially infinite, because red maple stump sprouts grow quickly just about everywhere you look in the woods.

Thinning the stump sprouts helps meet forest management goals, in addition to being key to our heating plans.  The less desirable red maple gets removed, which provides more sun to birches, sugar maple, and red oak.