Preparing for Winter 24.9.2018

Only three days since the Autumn Equinox and the weather is turning inwards. Outside the temperature is a mean 6 degrees. I’m grateful that Storm Ellie has blown herself out but it feels too soon for the nights to turn cold. My thoughts turn to firewood and keeping warm.

Arriving early at Orchard Barn I set about splitting logs. There’s a selection of home grown wood to choose from. I pull out seasoned Elm, Cherry Plum and Hawthorn. There’s a place in the sun where I set up my chopping block. I am a chameleon needing direct warmth from the sun’s rays before my body functions.

I choose a heavy felling axe. It has the weight to open up the knarled grain of Elm. Each type of wood has different characteristics. Elm (seasoned or green) is heavy with a dense grain. It was used by the Romans for drainage pipes through fields. I’m in awe that the Romans used long augers to tunnel their way through the centre of these trees. Underground it has a durability outstripped by other woods. I understand it was also used for the pilings they built Venice upon. Much of our main barn is Elm and it’s also our wood of choice for the new Craft Barn. I digress easily …. If I can persuade Elm to split it makes excellent firewood.

We are also blessed with an ancient Cherry Plum tree. The Orchards East Project  believe it to be unique to Orchard Barn and have taken cuttings for their Suffolk Collection. The tree dropped a limb four years ago (it was both laden with fruit and Plum wood is brittle). We used two sections as chaise lounge arms for benches and the rest has been logged up. Some of it was rotten and decays quickly with no calorific value for burning, but yields mulch material instead. The pieces I’ve found are twisted with a maroon coloured bark – a clue to the pinks, copper, cream and delicious aubergine I find when I eventually persuade it to split.

After ten minutes of chopping I’m warm on the inside and surrounded by beautiful firewood. Just take a look at the colours in this Cherry Plum!