Someone, get me some cheese.

It's Christmas, yet again, here on the farm.  Our cheese boards have arrived. If you can't tell by the look on Arik's face, we are thrilled.

Arik eyeing up the goods.

The cheese boards were made using the wood of one of our beloved trees that was taken down in December of 2012 due to safety concerns.  It was a big oak and it stood here on the farm for approximately 200 years.

The Big Oak.

Each cheese board is unique and beautiful in it's own way.  The big challenge is going to be picking a favorite.

No two alike.

The finishing touches of adding our logo will be underway soon.  Once complete, these lovely cheeseboards will be looking for new homes and some delicious Wisconsin cheese to accompany it.  We'll be sure to keep any of you folks who may be interested in one posted.


While I'm here, I'd also like to introduce you to our newest employee, Dennis (aka "D").  He recently moved here from Wyoming and started here on the farm last week. He's a great addition to our team and has been a huge asset to us already, mostly assisting Arik.  We are happy to have him and look forward to our journey ahead.

Welcome "D."

A sawmill for Christmas

To say the Farm closed out the last quarter of the year with a bang, would be a monstrous understatement. As autumn was coming to a close and Old Man Winter was settling in with all of his white, fluffy goodness, we were anticipating a very special delivery. During the first week of November we ordered a TimberKing portable sawmill. The lead time on the order was four to six weeks. Needless to say, we were waiting anxiously and on Tuesday, December 31, the mill arrived.

This photo isn't particularly in focus. Overnight lows were -10 and this picture was taken with temperatures having inched up only a handful of degrees. I suppose my phone camera didn't want to work in such extreme temps, and I can't blame it…..I didn't want to work in them either.

One of the reasons the tree farm has had such success in forestry management, and I'd like to think a reason we won the Tree Farm of the year award, is because we have always had a plan. The addition of a sawmill is the Farms first major step of a new plan.

The sawmill will give us the ability to efficiently cut logs into lumber. The farm has access to wood that will make beautiful slabs for coffee tables, dinning tables, desk, and benches. Here is a photo of book matched hickory. The next few steps of this new plan include building a kiln out of a storage container and creating a space in the Husker Barn to do woodworking. 

Stay tuned, if we get some warmer weather, I'll do a post on using the sawmill. Additionally, I'll share with you my furniture design ideas, think live-edged slabs with metal bases. And also, how to create a kiln out of a shipping container.

The new perspective

                        

A careful eye might notice the wall of Stihl chainsaws or the handle of a snowblower in the background. The subject matter of the photo that I wanted to highlight are the tires on the A220. The A220 skid-steer has somewhat of a middle child mentality out here, on Arington Tree Farm. Its doesn't have the speed of the Bobcat 5600 Toolcat utility vehicle. It also lacks the lifting capacity or the go anywhere attitude of the T300 tracked Bobcat. Simply put, this skid-steer is somewhere in the middle. 

However, the life of this middle child does have at least one perk. The A220 is lucky enough to be reshod biannually. Let me preface that the shoe change isn't a new pair of shoes twice a year. It's simply switching back and forth between a nice weather pair of loafers (turf tires) and bad weather pair of steel toe boots (utility tires). The spring time, turf tire swap is waited for with bated breathe as it signifies the start of the more temperate weather. The winter, utility tire swap is something more of an ominous event. Irregardless of the date on the calendar, our winter starts once the A220 has the aggressive tire pictured in the foreground. 

So the significance of this photo is; I have resigned to the the fate that Old Man Winter has in store for us out here on the farm. The proper foot ware is currently being worn (on all four tires even) by our lovely middle child. And in parting I'll make a confession. It might not be a confession, as much as an act of rebellion on my part. I won't put the chains on those dang winter tires until the night before they are needed or before the first major winter storm. Which ever comes first. 

A farewell to Holly

The last 1065 days at the Arington Tree Farm have been quite interesting.  That is the number of days that Holly has worked with us.  Of course we did allow her some time off for holidays, weekends, vacations and the occasional sick day.  Over this time she has brought so much energy and professionalism to our team.  It has not quite settled in that today is her last day before going on to greener pastures.  My sense is, we are all in a state of denial.

31 new land stewards

Walbridge students have been visiting the farm over the past six years, but yesterday's visit was a bit different, more special than any of their visits in the past. 

We've dedicated part of our woods to the Walbridge students. As we made the announcement yesterday, it was awesome to see the pride and honor on their faces. They've been to the Farm a number of times, but their whole demeanor shifted when they realized they now had a special place here.  

Joe making the Walbridge Woods announcement.

We started the day off by dodging rain drops as we toured around Walbridge Woods. Arik pointed out different tree species, invasive plants and pests, and introduced various management concepts to the students. 

Arik leading a tour through Walbridge Woods.

The best tree ever!

Quercus macrocarpa, the mighty Bur oak. This particular specimen holds a near and dear place in my heart. It is my favorite tree on Arington Tree Farm. But if we can keep that a secret between you the reader and myself, I would appreciate it. I would hate to be waylaid by a branch from one of the jealous Boxelders that bookend my special oak.

Introducing... Walbridge Woods!

It's hard to believe but we've been working with Walbridge School over the past six years! Walbridge students and staff come to the Farm a few times during the year to learn...

work...

and play.