Tree Killer
THEN
NOW
THERE ARE ENOUGH TREES IN NEW ENGLAND, okay?
Shortly after my grandparents built the A-Frame in 1962 there was a freak tornado in their yard. I'm not kidding. It moved the A-Frame 6 feet and wiped out most of the trees on their 6 acres. Fortunately, the A-Frame as a structure type is very strong.
Unfortunately, the tornado didn't take out all of the trees, nor did it have any effect on the trees that would grow back in their place at an alarming rate, so what we bought when we bought the A-Frame was a totally over grown, densely dark, non-plantgrowing landscape covered in pine needles so thick they are unrake-able.
Holding onto my resolve to not accept anything about the A-Frame just because it's there and to really try to create what I envision and want out of it (which is light and airy and light), I knew I would have to kill some trees right off the bat. Like, immediately.
Have I mentioned that my grandmother is still alive? As in, alive to witness the death and destruction of trees she has watched grow from sapling to towering behemoth by her terrible granddaughter? Awesome.
I would not be deterred! I would kill the trees! Not even my sulking teenager who has communed with and studied trees in a way I cannot understand but totally believe in would deter me!
Over 20 of them came down in one day thanks to my well connected father who knows men with lots of tree killing equipment. Zane grumbled and made me feel bad and I pretended to feel guilty with my tree-hugger friends, but inside I was delighted and almost smug about the whole thing.
If it makes you feel any better, tree hugger, we are making boards out of them that we will then build a room out of, as well as enough fire wood to keep us warm for the next 600 years.
A-Framed!
Reader Comments (5)
I once said to a fan of trees who was lamenting the illness of a tree, "oh just cut it down its not like there's a shortage of trees around here." I then saw the shocked look of horror on the fan's face...It's nice to know a like minded individual in New England. Thanks
In my opinion, cutting down trees on your own land and turning them into lumber with which to build on said land is the REAL true rootsy, back-to-the-land way to do it.
I'm loving the blog! But I don't see a way to subscribe...or is that just me being internet illiterate?
Thanks guys :) Haley, I have no idea about subscribing. I'll ask Matthew!
My Mom is completely Team Sarah about stuff like this.
Team Sarah! Yay! Haley, Matthew says you have to be a geeky blog reader and use a Google product to subscribe to the blog.