Rick Scoutmaster

What can I say? The comments above are America, by and large they are a peek into the breadth of what Thanksgiving is for many of us. Thanks men.

3 months, 3 weeks ago onWordpress in artofmanliness.com

14 years we’ve heated our home, dried our clothes and heated our water with wood from 39 acres of mostly Oak/Popple, using 8-11 chords/year depending on weather. “making wood” as it’s called in our rural area, is considered by nearly all the men almost a spiritual thing, as comments above hint at, there is a mental health benefit, difficult to describe, that makes a men & boys feel manly to drop-block-spilt-cure-burn wood to meet our needs, it just feels great. Besides Michael’s tips(#10 above) and others, I’d like to add these: A key to splitting is reading the wood, like you would read the water on a stream to avoid the underwater obstacles. A chopping block about knee high can save your back-the completed stroke ends up with the maul handle level. For tough wood, cut blocks ~12″ long for easier splitting; short pieces “stack” well with this quick method: Toss the wood into a “wind row” pile on a line of pallets. Tarp or use some scrap steel siding or scrap plywood just for the top 30% so air flow is maximized for good drying (needs 2 summers minimum in a very open area for green oak.) If you don’t dry it well, you can have lots of creosote build up (potentially very dangerous) and much less heat as your fire must boil the moisture out before it really burns.) For smaller pieces of wood, ones that won’t stand up for you, lay it down on your block-hit it on the side. Frozen wood splits easier. A rip chain (works great-fast!)for your saw is worth it if you your wood source includes a lot of big old trees or has species of very tough wood like elm, cottonwood, box elder, etc. Lastly, allow me to bust one of the common myths: all species of wood generate very closely the same BTU’s of heat per pound of dry wood. It’s the volume that varies; I know to cut 14 chords of Popple to equal the heat of 9-10 chords of oak. If you don’t burn wood, offer to help someone who does, pack a great lunch, maybe bring a grill, and you’ll enjoy the day better than most other things you could have done. ... See all content Hide content

3 months, 3 weeks ago onWordpress in artofmanliness.com

Much of this blog and responses points to a fundamental Truth, a keystone of life:

IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

This concept has become a great tool as part of my matrix that I use for decision making. It is inescapable. Who I hang with, what I read/watch, the goals I choose or don’t, what daily attitude I choose, or default to, these ideas are what moves the rudder of my ship, directing the path of my life. We can’t directly steer our own ship, I must choose the ideas, and they, inexplicably, get me to the destination I desire.

In my purpose of making a difference in my small sphere, I get to witness this in action. In our Boy Scout troop, about 25% of the boys, after a few years, start thinking about what kind of man they want to be…when I see that in a boy, I smile and know my work is done. ... See all content Hide content

3 months, 2 weeks ago onWordpress in artofmanliness.com