Four days with the Biological Woodsman

Last week I got to spend four days in Virginia With Jason and Jagger Rutledge. I didn’t really sign up for any of the programs or training they offer, but instead just sort of invited myself. We worked out an arrangement so I could give them something for the time I spent with them, but I know it is always hard to have an unknown person show while you are trying to work. I found southern hospitality to be in full swing in Fulton County.

I was definitely on vacation, but my idea of vacation is a chance to learn or do something I wouldn’t get to do at home. Also when I travel, my mind kicks into overdrive, developing ideas for me to take home every minute like a meteor shower. Mixing this with Jason’s forest ethic that ties the work in the woods with a healthy community that uses logs for timber framing and cabinet making, and teaches land owners to harvest mushrooms, and we had no end of things to talk about.

I learned a new (to me) tree falling method, the open face, hinge, and latch. I got to practice on a few large trees. I showed up on a day when they were opening a new aspect of their current job, so I got to help with laying out and constructing a new trail to the landing. We worked a gentle contour up and across the slope to the back of the wood lot. I think I earned my keep the first day I was there as we made trail through some nasty white thorn. I learned some of the TSI (timber stand improvement) techniques, including criteria based selection of trees to be cut and working with the trees to be left to improve their growth.

While I didn’t go with the intention of learning about horses, it is always interesting to be around working horses in the hands of a real teamster. Needless to say, Jason and Jagger have beautiful horses that are all about work. Jason’s quiet, light, style of driving belies an expectation of high performance, and all the previous training and work the team has done.

There are two main things I thought of while I was in Virginia. The last thing I want to do is sell logs off my own land. I’d like build a small wood drying shed, and fill it with sawn lumber every year. I could sell that to furniture makers, and cabinet makers, and fill it again. The other is I will likely breed my mare to Jason’s stud horse in the spring. Don’t tell Jason, but if I get a filly, I could then breed two mares to a jack for some Suffolk mule foals!

Needless to say I had a great time down there, and thanks Jason, Jagger, and Kate for taking me in. Donn double nn