Hewing Away

We just got the logs from the tree we chopped down brought to us at our hewing site, so we've been able to start work on those. We've also started to make a few work horses for ourselves. Not sure when those will be done, but they're sure to be a great help. Myself, along with Tracy and Mr. Esty, went on a search for some wood to use in the woods just yesterday. Sadly we didn't find much of use, but what we do have should work quite well!

Rainy Day

We were inside today due to poor weather. We read the parts of Walden in which Thoreau describes the actual construction of the house. It was admirable to see that the house was not only inexpensive, (about 650$ in today's money) but also build out of some scavenged pieces. The building of the house put a mere dent in both Thoreau's wallet and the environment.

Thoughts Around Earth Day

I'm reading John Vaillant's book, The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed, in which he presents much vividly detailed history of British Columbian Forestry and the socioeconomic, environmental, cultural, and moral conflicts that arise from it still.  To start chapter four, Vaillant includes this poem, by Donald A. Fraser, "adapted by Margaret Horsfield".  The notes of what we now know as a misguided manifest destiny echo through the song.  And while, on Ailsa's house, we're being mindful in our materials selection and means of acquisition, we must, as we contemplate our link with centuries of foresters, sawyers, and builders, consider our place in the great balance.  

The Song of the Axe


I am the tooth of the human race,
Biting its way through the forest vast,
Chip by chip, and tree by tree,
'Til the fields gleam forth at last,
Eating its heart with keen delight,
Into the groaning tree I bite.
Every stroke the land doth bless,
And joy o'erflows the wilderness.

MARLEY film release yesterday

As tribute to yesterday's national film premiere of Marley, we present the favorite Bob song of the International Hewers' Guild:

Dear fellow Thoreausians,

What an honor it has been to work with you these past few weeks. From lopping down 90 ft pines to raising logs to be sawed in half, from hewing timber to hauling trunks, and all the laughs along the way, we have made a great season thus far. Let us maintain our enthusiasm, our always good natured heckling, and our profound inertia throughout the rest of the year, so as to best wish off the seniors in our future forestry ventures.

This past (4-day) week, we hauled the five sections of the white pine we felled behind the pond.  We got them out of the woods and as far as the faculty parking lot, where Dave Jones and his guys will haul them down to our hewing site off the exit driveway.  Todd Mazzeo brought us some shin pads (and lent us his own pair) after we sent out a school-wide request for used pairs to use while we hew with our broadaxes.  Thanks, Todd!  We continued our hewing and also cut more cribbing to support our logs at the worksite.  I'm hoping Allegra will upload the video she shot today of our buzzing hewing site...  Allegra?  ...Hello...?...  

Our one rainy day

Last week it rained one day.  Since our tools were sharp, we repaired to room 301 and watched Alone in the Wilderness, the story of Dick Proenneke's log cabin construction in Alaska, 1968.  Proenneke's expertise with traditional tools much like those we're using inspires us, as does his relentlessly efficient work ethic and self-sufficiency.  Here's a trailer:

Day: 1 Injury count: 0

We got off to a bit of a slow start but have gotten moving quite fast!! It's been a ton of fun so far, and it only looks to get better. :) Thankfully we're all alive and maintaining appendages, and with our precautions this patter should continue without a problem. The other day, we decided to prove sexism wrong. With the excused absences of a few of our members, it was left to 7 girls (and Nick) to move the parts of the 90 ft tree we cut down on week two! We still need to bring those logs the rest of the way to our hewing site, but we're well on our way now.

What Happens in the Woods Stays in the Woods

Although, we got a slow start to the spring season, things have started to pick up quickly. We're in the fourth week of our project and our group has almost doubled in numbers. Last week we took down a white pine out in the Pingree woods and have now started to move the logs up the long and tiring journey to the boat shop. Can't wait for more hueing!!! And time with Nick Kritikos!

Toughest Kids On The Block

Though we started out small, our numbers soon swelled allowing for eight hewers at one time, but not to worry, we are very safe ax wielders with our catcher and hockey shin-guards. We have already taken down one white pine tree and transported what felt like twenty, but that's just how we do. Come check us out!!!!!!!!!!!

Chopping Down a 90-foot tree

House building has been good so far! The most exciting part has been cutting down the 90-foot tree.  After chopping at the tree for about a half an hour,  it fell down with a thundering crash.  The tough part now is carrying the tree from the woods to the field. Hopefully, we can carry all of the parts down by the end of the week, if we are strong enough :)

TIMBERRR!!!

Varsity Co-ed Experimental thus far

I suffered a severe injury last week.  My finger was sliced open.  But it was ok, because I put dandalions on people's cars.  I think Thoreau would be proud of my combination of nature and modern technology.  I really enjoy debarking trees as well.  It is fun.  I'm really having fun so far in this whole endevor.  Go team axe throwing!!

The First Strike! English Teachers Gone Wild!

Captain's Log (Haha, get it?)

The Varisty Experimental Coeducational Afternoon Activity Team is beginning Week 4 of their long journey. We've made great progress despite the rambunctious actions of one Michaela Byrne. In the coming weeks we will continue hewing, and eat more dried mangoes, because that's just the way we flirt.

-Dictated but not read,
His Royal Highness Nicholas Dimetri Kritikos of the greater Salem area

Day 1: Chopping with the Moores!