When I planted it up most was planted for short rotation firewood for a wood stove, but it has been really useful for other things. When ever I've done bushcraft lessons I've harvest poles for use for cooking over the fire, last spring we started harvesting bean poles (which we stripped the bark to stop them growing)
I think firewood should always be the last thing wood is used for, so any other uses it has first is ideal and I need to start doing this more. The chicken coops needed some new perches and I'm automatically thought I needed to buy some batten to do the job. But then when I have a large patch of willow with lots of the wood being the right diameter, it seems daft to use anything else.
So I rounded up the children and went to coppice a few trees for what we needed (my daughter also wanted to make some wands!). I know willow isn't the most durable of timbers but it should be fine for a few chicken perches and when they break they can then be burnt!
The wind was really blowing as well so the children tried to fly their kite - a great way to wear them out!
I've ordered a few more different types of basket willow cuttings to add to what we have already. I plan to pollard these rather than coppice them, who knows what use we'll find for it in the future! We might cut down a few more rows of what we already have (it'll come back stronger) and use it to weave something as a great activity to do with the kids.
What material do you grow for use in the garden or the smallholding?
Hi Kev, mainly hazel, ash and willow, sometimes holly for cooking tools as it doesnt taint the food. We have just had a long overgrown leylandi hedge cut, the poles are long enough to build a largish hut. Expect we will onlyb get round to buiding a hutch with them though. I was fascinated when we cut down a holly tree, that had to come down, that the wood was green. It faded after a few days though.
ReplyDeleteI will send a few crystals for the kids for wand making, if you send me your adress.
Kathy
I said this to my eldest and she was really keen and would love it thank you! I keep wondering what I could do with the bigger stems from this willow. It made great bean poles last year when stripped.
DeleteWill try and send it this week,when we can get out. What is your adress, you can email it to me.
DeleteKathy
What's your email address - mine is on here on the contact page - won't write it here as can get lots of spam from it.
DeleteI really should plant some willow. I have a vision of using it to make wattle fencing around the garden. It's great for trellising as well.
ReplyDeleteGood on ya!
The best time to plant a tree is now!
DeleteWhere I live, we have Osage Orange (commonly called 'Hedge' here). It was originally imported for making living fences, or hedges. It is a fast growing, willow like tree/bush. Unlike willow, the wood is very hard and dense. My turning friend, Bill Jones, thought it was much like your English Boxwood, but with a grain texture. Farmers here sometimes used 'hedge' wood for shear pins in farm mowing machines, etc. It is commonly harvested for wooden fence posts, as it will not rot.
ReplyDeleteNow that sounds like a great tree - willow used as a fence post is very dangerous as it's likely to take root! Wonder if that would grow here or not?
DeleteOsage Orange will take root just like a willow! They are thick growing, thorny and invasive here. I'd send you some sticks if there is any way to do it. Otherwise, you might inquire locally. Osage orange = Beau d'Ark, Hedge, Horse apple. All the same tree. It is native to Texas in the USA, although it has been moved all over. It is a tree to watch out for as it can take over if you turn your back on it. They are 'weeds' in my forest.
DeleteAh, that doesn't sound so great - I'm the worlds worst for forgetting about things! I'd probably end up living in a thicket if I planted it!
Delete