DRAWINGS ARE IN!

Tenpenny Studios dropped off 3 different design ideas for the backyard cottage.  The first is a one story studio with a loft.  Another is of a two story, two bedroom design and the third is of a one bedroom, single story option.  These are just the concept drawings and can be massaged and tweaked.  I am waiting on estimated cost per unit which will help with my final decision.  It is estimated to take 8-10 months start to finish which will suck for my neighbors to the north and south so also getting info. on how to navigate that.  

I am still trying to figure out how to upload the drawing(s) here so please be patient.  

 

WHAT TO DO WITH THE REST OF THE CARCASS?

 

What does one do with the rest of a tree carcass after it has been cut down and the majority of the wood milled?  Well, I am learning there are so many options.  The small branches are run through a chipper to create mulch and according to Seattle Tree Care they deliver the chipped wood to Seattle Parks/Rec. over at Magnuson Park where the parks dept. uses it all over the city.  If you would like some free mulch they will deliver the chipped wood directly to your house.  Here is a link for that:  https://getchipdrop.com/ref=ga&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6fzMpo286wIVXiCtBh2_WghyEAAYASAAEgK0vPD_BwE  Be careful though - a friend did this and ended up with so much mulch that she put a shout out to her local Buy Nothing group.  

Turns out I can also keep and dry out the mulch to use in a smoker...cherry wood is good for that. 

According to my neighbor this part of a tree is great for making bowls.  I found out this y-section is called 'the crotch'.  I have a friend who is a woodsmith and asked if he would be open to making me a bowl.  He said 'yes' so I went to his workshop for a tutorial about what he will do with my wood.  Above is a photo of the lathe that he will use to make bowl. 

Above photo:  These are bowls that he has rough cut from various trees which are now drying on the shelf for one year.  He will use the lathe to make 2 bowls from my tree which will join these other bowls on the shelf to dry.  Yes, I am learning that working with wood means being patient as the wood dries...slowly...over time.  I can also use some of the leftover smaller pieces of wood to make handles for bottle openers, knives, etc.

 

This is my woodsmith friend, John.  He is also in a wheelchair so it was pretty great to see his set-up and how he manages to make it happen from the confines of his wheelchair.

In summary:  the wood can be used to mulch, make cherry wood chips for smoking meat, make bowls/handles and slabs for furniture, etc.  So many things.  Not to mention, I could have taken a cut of new growth from my tree before it was felled in order to grow a baby from it and keep the genetic line going.  I did not do this as I was so overwhelmed by the whole experience and could just not cram one more thing into my head.  Part of me now regrets it as that was a really powerful tree.