Feeding the fire is important, especially when the forecast may include snow well into May. I was driving into town with Irene recently and was stopped on the River Road by township guys who were busy felling road-ivorous foliage. As I was waved through I stopped and inquired what they were going to do with all that conveniently downed timber. "Haul it off." "Mind if I haul some off for you?" "Not as long as you keep it in Eureka Township." "Sold!"

So this is what Michael and I were doing for fun on a Sunday morning:

We still can't get a loaded trailer up our muddy driveway (frost is almost gone, which means it should firm up within the next few weeks...Lord willing and it doesn't rain too much), so the wood will remain in the field for now. We managed to salvage at least a cord of wood (once it's split)...maybe more. The advantage to ditch wood is 1) you don't have to worry about dropping a tree on someone and 2) no brush pile left over! So good to feel like you're performing a civic service and getting free stuff all at the same time.