Off Grid Winter Project: Milling the Giant Ash Tree into Planks

In this winter off grid project we focus on milling the giant ash tree into planks to be used for various off grid projects in the woods. As part of my winter woodland management plans I wanted to use the ash tree to make some useful bushcraft and off grid projects. And so we had the ash tree milled up into one inch planks to be used for various bushcraft projects. Some of it will be used for wood carving projects, others for more elaborate projects. But either way, the famous ash tree will live again in a different form! Winter in the woods is always a great time to get jobs done. The tree sap isn't rising yet and so the trees are dormant. Now was the best time to sort out the ash tree.
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[@TAOutdoors]

WOODLAND LIFE - EPISODE 4: VERY excited about this episode! The big fallen Ash tree is such an important part of my woodland, it felt right to do this. What do you think I should make with it??? Watch every episode of My Woodland Life series here: kzbin.info/aero/PLxnadpeGdTxCwRkZTLMhjbT_EAu6bAIZy

[@Somethingawsome]

could you please give me a link to the saw you are using in this video.

[@Somethingawsome]

just wondering where your woodland is?

[@brillbill354]

New to the woodland series is this the same piece of land as the builds like the saxon House

[@nickdavies6547]

@@brillbill354 I hope Mike won't mind a long-time subscriber providing an answer on his behalf. It's a different area of land - this is one he bought only recently for himself. Previous projects were done in other woodlands - I think, though not totally sure, also privately-owned, but certainly with the owner's permission.

[@brillbill354]

@@nickdavies6547 ah thank you I've not seen many videos of late

[@gallopingg1]

GOOD OLD DAD, GOD BLESS HIM.

[@marciclark8266]

I met and married my late husband 34 years ago working at a lumber mill in Baker City Oregon in 1987. The smell was FANTASTIC! Now I smell all wood, lol

[@Treeman196]

I'm a man of the woods worked in this industry 40years tree surgeon and forester never earned alot of money but by God I've enjoyed every minute of my working life I'd do it all again ,great to see you g blokes carrying it on

[@simonhopkins3867]

As a wood turner I was drooling at some of that unusual grain 🤤. Not only because it's beautiful but when it has seasoned it'll be worth ££. Lucky man.

[@LM-gq1om]

For such a young guy, Ryan is very knowledgeable about his craft. The smell from the cut wood must have been delightful. Great video!

[@TAOutdoors]

He really is very knowledgeable on the topic.

[@theoneandonlycaptaincanada6915]

comes from having a good dad.

[@Sionnach1601]

Ash is my favourite tree. Oak seems to get all of the kudos, as it is very special; yet ash's light green foliage, allowing a beautiful gentle light in on the undergrowth, and its multi-purpose hard but light timber is fantastic. As firewood, it's fabulously long-burning, high heat capacity, and gives off that lovely sweet and (again) *light* fragrance as it burns. It's a beautiful tree - like the best white wine in the World.

[@mozdickson]

@@TAOutdoors Any link you can share to his business please?

[@markjones5561]

@@Sionnach1601 lost all our ash (I'm in Maryland. USA) due to Emerald Ash borer. It's been 20 years since it's been discovered (invasive from Asia) and now all ash in this area are gone, probably for good. :( Hope ash die back finds a fix, and soon!

[@robertr4193]

Some of those slabs would make some really nice looking guitar tops.

[@janeoftorquayfe1513]

Wish it were smellvision, just to smell the sweet aroma of the Ash tree. Glad to see dad there, away from his new wooden shelving for fishing lead weights. Thank you both Love and Light 😊🌺✨

[@MedeniFilm]

Super je video / film... Bravo !

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Ash is one of The best woods! Almost all of the tree can be used. The pieces of trim can make tool and knife handles, spoons spatulas and on and on…… It was so good to see Graeme! A life long project this woodland! Love from NW Colorado. Thanxz

[@brycegutierrez4677]

I love that you are going to be leaving the root system. It's a bit like a memorial

[@strawman3059]

Never thought I'd find a tree so interesting 🤣👌

[@rgober60]

Good for you. Wonderful not to let it go to waste. It makes beautiful furniture. Right nice spoons and such. Do as the feeling takes you and that will be what is right for you to make. It will speak to you and you'll know what to do. Very nice video , Thank you for sharing young man. Stay safe and Take Care.👍👍👍👍👍

[@marcomcdowell8861]

I live in northern Japan. Trees are pretty abundant here, especially pine. For near a decade I would bike past a 3 story high school that had 6 massive pines, maybe 40 or 50 feet tall, lining the front of the school. One morning on my way to work, I was shocked to see cranes and saws chopping down those trees. It was quite unsettling that things that had lived so long were just hacked down to expand a parking lot. I stopped to watch and noticed a monk saying prayers for the trees and the woodsmen had taken their helmets off and prayed with him. Even in doing their jobs, the people still had reverence and probably a bit of regret for what they were doing. I found out later that some of the wood would be shared to all of the lower income and elderly who had wood stoves and the rest would be used to build a habitat next to the school. Although I felt a certain way to see such massive trees being ended, I did take solace in knowing that the people doing it didn't do it with malice and that the wood did wind up serving a purpose for the community. Sometimes you need to remove trees for one reason or another and it's awesome to see how you've multipurposed the fallen ones.

[@germanjp9746]

Ryan needs his own channel - a true craftsman and very knowledgeable.

[@jamesclarke8918]

Lovely video

[@ModernKnight]

Great to see you getting so many different uses from the one windfall. I'm always amazed how much lumber can come from one big tree!

[@phillpearson7531]

With the projects you create, the tree will now live on for several more generations.

[@kelsea8767]

Oh yes, I love seeing trunks being milled~ There is so much joy seeing the grain exposed for the first time.

[@12stepsbeyondtheeventhorizon]

I had never heard of a "tree surgeon" before you introduced Ryan. What a fantastic, albeit difficult job. He seems so knowledgeable, it's an absolute joy watching him work his way through that Ash with the chainsaw. And I massively respect the fact that he's helping you out with moving branches about and other camp stuff instead of just sticking to the job you're actually paying him for. I'm enjoying this series so much, and I gotta say I'm a bit envious. Wish I had my own woodland too. Maybe one day.

[@townwitchdoctor5538]

Ash smells so good when you cut it. I love this sort of stuff, there's such a primal feeling working in the woods.

[@Leightr]

Finest piece of ash I've seen in many a year.

[@WiltshireMan]

That was great Mike, I think you've done the right thing with that big old Ash tree. Good ole Dad to the rescue with his pallet wood spacers:)

[@TAOutdoors]

Thanks Sandy!

[@jaynarlay]

As a major nature & recycling lover myself, I absolutely adore this video! I live in gorgeous 'Pays des Lacs' in Jura in France and many of our woodlands aren't well managed, unfortunately, due to them belonging to small villages with no financial means...or to rich private owners with no care. I should send them this video so they see how simple and beneficial it is...

[@Kestrel1955]

I absolutely Love the way every piece of that magnificent tree is being used to benefit your woodland, the birds, animals, and even humans, right down to the sawdust itself. It's fantastic, and I can't wait to see what is done with all that you have set aside for human use! I have confidence you will show us how the forest reacts to everything done here, Thank you so much for this journey so far.

[@Ogrematic]

Sawdust is great for use as a firestarter. We mix it with wax and burn the chunks.

[@Kestrel1955]

@@Ogrematic Excellent!

[@recesunar9069]

carol Oliver trees are the answer to al suvival .dead or alive. correct?

[@Mlucas47]

"From another generation where nothing was wasted" in that generation we used to call that being tight... 😂 Good old Graham...you are lucky to have a great dad and a real bond.... certainly a great example to this current generation...i was lucky i had a dad like that too....sadly no longer with us... Xxx love you dad....

[@Mlucas47]

By the way....my dad used to straighten nails and keep them cos you never know when they might come in handy.... 😂

[@toxicclown3035]

I love watching these woodland videos. "Working amongst nature never really feels like work." Never a truer word said.

[@bobmcelroy7289]

I plan on watching this series for sure! I take this theme to heart, and especially love when younger generations take up the gauntlet and run with it!

[@daveyjoweaver6282]

You are honoring this ancient being with respect. As a long time woodworker, this wood is very much alive. You went to great efforts to deal with each branch and limb that will benefit all life in those Beautiful woods. I own 8 acres which is part of hundreds. Such a gift ti live within them and being aware of every of my actions and how I impact this land. Kind Thanks for sharing this and many other videos! I wish you all many Blessings, Love, Light and Joy of Being! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania

[@hunterwelch3358]

Sad to see such a majestic tree go down, but knowing it will live again lifts the heart.

[@linesanraman7974]

Listening to the wealth of knowledge that Ryan has is really enjoyable. Thank you for including so much of that in the video.

[@Gazh64]

I'm so glad you decided to mill the main trunk into usable timber. Having stacks of decaying timber is vital in your woodland but the smaller branches and root system will decay much quicker providing essential habitats for all of the bugs and fungi which in turn attract the larger animals in the food chain. I'm a bailiff on a 450 acre fishery and manage a couple of smallish woodlands and improving the bottom of the food chain has paid dividends in attracting the wildlife. Great work, looking forward to seeing your progress.

[@loragunning5394]

I originally subscribed to you videos due to their woodland survival tips and tricks, but am finding this new series of forest husbandry to be my fav so far!

[@TAOutdoors]

Glad you are enjoying it!

[@virginiarocks]

That wood is so beautiful - I’m so glad you decided to mill it. A piece of the really “olive wood” looking grained wood would make a lovely tabletop.

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

Ash is a great wood. My son-in-law mills wood like this. We just got a good new Husky saw for this task. He will be making some tables. I make spoons. Thanks for showing us and take care.

[@dspf68]

It's always nice having smarter friends to help! Good work sir!

[@PatBot]

Great viewing Mike, not only will the Ash tree provide you with timber, fuel & animal habitat... it also provided us with this video subject, and, hopefully another video where we watch what the timber will become. Thanks for the upload Mike.

[@felixdekatt3650]

all that saw dust could also be used for composting toilets whilst in the wilds . and compacted just a little make great fire starters. im so happy you are using what you can out of the tree and not just firewood as that would be a shame and a waste of a quality tree, and yet still providing for the forest , with this attitude and focus your woodlands will thrive because its being managed in a positive way. i think your choice was the right one , and i wish more people thought like this , but at the end of the days its your wood lands and the choice is yours for better or worse , that is what it is a a land owner, keep up the good work David from Perth Western Australia

[@justinburwell5124]

I was very sad to see such a beautiful ash tree laying down in the woods, but I am very happy that Ryan has decided to give the tree new life in other ways. That grain is amazingly beautiful. It would make an awesome epoxied live edge table for the bushcraft camp in the future.

[@zygmuntkuzminski8312]

nice to see people enthusiastic about woods

[@chipper841]

I call that one a "Monster Tree"!👍👍Much thanks for the Ash education and tree history over there.

[@gallopingg1]

JUST AN IDEA, USE THE PLANK WITH SOME SPLITS IN IT, USE TO MAKE A TABLE TOP, FLOW THE SPLITS IN WITH RESIN!! GREAT JOB GUY'S.

[@claradesmet496]

The way you talked about the sawdust smell, we could smell it through the computer screen.. Thank you for that. Greetings from Belgium. Clara

[@lesliepeters7966]

I miss walking through the woods, when I was a young lad I use to live in a village that was surrounded by a forest. I spent many happy years playing and camping in that forest, never forgot the piece and quite and the lovely sounds of mother nature.

[@LeroyJGibbs]

Every time I hear you narrate parts of your videos, it's like hearing a young David Attenburough.

[@harrisquicksilver6595]

Hey my friend from across the pond, just wanted to say im glad that u guys are so respectful to nature. If we could have more people like yall in the world it would be a much better place for everyone. I love what yall are doing with your woodland. Thank you.

[@JakobKaiserCreative]

I'd love to see you forge another knife with Alec and make the handle of the curly ash you cut there. Possibly a cutlery knife to go with the spoon you carved. If you've got contact to someone with a lathe, turning a bowl or plate from some of the wood could be a great thing too. At least for me personally, having a set of tools I could use everyday, like the things I use to prepare and serve my daily food, made from the first wood I cut on my very own patch of land would be an absolute joy. Love to see the progress on the woodland! Keep it up, lads!

[@jimkoney4200]

I enjoyed that you spoke about nature and the creation of new habitats.

[@lesleeg9481]

Glad to see you're recycling the tree into future projects and making habitats for the creatures living in the woods. It's inspiring.

[@zynab2748]

Hello, I am an Arab from Palestine and I love your channel very much, good luck to you

[@kevinotoole885]

Wow!!!!! I’ve watched somebody who gets as excited as I do with natural, live wood!!! I make resin tables out of live wood, only as a hobby and nothing this big, but I can tell you planks that big made into tables would sell for thousands each. Great watch, I could almost smell it from here 🤣

[@Tallness1000]

This video makes me so happy. David Attenborough happy. Cheers.

[@DanSoldierGuy]

I love that you're giving back to the woods, not just taking from it. My lifelong goal is to buy land, and I'm so close to being able to do so. Your videos are very inspiring.

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

Ryan is an impressive lad. That rigged saw track is brilliant, love it

[@jodylarson5317]

always happy to see your dad 😊

[@me-l-9910]

Fascinating content, Mike! I'm so impressed by the skills of your tree surgeon friend Ryan. As you say, he makes it all look easy, to think he's been at it twenty years?! It's a delight to see you as you develop your own place in your woodland management. And brother, you have natural skills as a carver, there will be much more to come, I know. That coffee scoop is brilliant, thanks for working in the final touches.

[@cherieayers8207]

You can make some Firestarter with the sawdust & wax. You can make some beautiful kitchen counters & tables with the live edge. Stunning! Have fun!

[@jasontraska2616]

Any of that sawdust that you don't take back will make a wonderful natural mulch that will break down over time and add its nutrients back into the soil. Great stuff Mike! Eagerly awaiting the next episode.

[@Sionnach1601]

Your Dad is wonderful: I love his efficient, savvy style. Great kudos to ye for (like Ray Mears) wearing *only* earth colours in the woods. People wearing garish colours are like litter on the landscape.

[@MallaganVloggs]

I was one who said you should make use of it, glad you listened :)

[@kevat310]

Great vid! Your description of your dad is identical to mine! They obviously are from the same generation. Waste not want not. I remember as a kid a huge box of USED nails in his workshop!! LOL!! Sadly, my Dad passed away 30 Jan 2022. I will miss him dearly. I will be back in the UK soon to pay my last respects to a great man. Enjoy these moments you have with yours.

[@Niffty-fv8hx]

This content is so enjoyable to watch….. I can appreciate the sence of fulfilment and pride you must be experiencing whilst on this new venture and the fact you have your legend of a dad there as well is very special!!! Fantastic…. Big love from the south west

[@TAOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@firstlast822]

One of those big planks would make an absolutely magnificent desk. Nothing that'll fit into the woodland, but it could be something nice in the home to work from.

[@eriktaylor5704]

What a behemoth!! It is great to see you use it for with respect.

[@Arkanic]

Some wonderful timber you have there. For what it's worth I'm glad you decided to make use of it.

[@jonbroadsword7572]

What a way for that majestic tree to live on. If you are looking for other projects, I had a friend in high school who turned a beautiful baseball bat out of Ash on a lathe. It also makes wonderful handles for your axes and other hand tools. Good Luck and Have Fun.

[@justinterbasket4565]

Quite the majestic tree good to see it milled and with for the future wood projects

[@ajrs98]

Amazing video and project. I love when you're speaking candidly in the moment or just showing rather than voiceover

[@Gimli_syn_Gloinuv]

Mike ... i cant explain why, or what is different now ... i'm watching you for quite some time now, it feels like a lifetime almost ... i remember you building the bushcraft camp .. hunting ..skinning animals ... i'm particularly fond of Alec Steele coop videos ... all the projects and discussions with your dad ... it all was awesome and really enjoyable content .. but now .. and specially this last episode .. speeks to me the most ... i'm so happy for you to get you own woodland, there is so much positivity pouring out your videos now it's almost stunning ... this episode made me feel calm, happy and hopefull for the future .... i can still somehow smell the wood, and i probably will smell it for some time now ... my imagination and thoughts went so far and wild with projects that could be done with "just one tree" from carving projects, bowmaking, furniture, decorations to artistic instalations or just plain and simple habitat building for animals ... thank you for sharing your experience and hard work with us, i wish you, your family and friends all the best in the days to come and i'm looking forward for you next videos :-)

[@peterww3106]

Some fantastic grain in those boards. I’d be chopping them out to make chopping boards. Stunning once sanded and soaked in mineral oil!

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Mike .

[@Bill_tyler]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@campcookhenry]

Those planks would make some nice tables and other pieces of furniture, looks nice

[@theShamrockShepherdWagon]

Those planks could be such beautiful cabinetry. I know you'll do something wonderful with it.

[@rhondachapman3688]

So glad you decided to mill the log, can’t wait to see what you decide to make with it.

[@davidperks1973]

That top bit would make a gorgeous live edge coffee table...

[@immasurvivor]

The halfrounds from the first cut makes for a beautiful bench.

[@davidmann3365]

The live edges are really only used for vanity tops and counter tops. But the pattern on the split in the tree looks really good. The initial semi circular pieces cut from the logs, you could see if there is an axe maker that wants the ash for handles. Have fun carving the oak, its super hard when seasoned. You Dad's sausage looks good to me, cooked the way I like them.

[@CptRichardHead]

I learned everything I know about bushcraft from you my dude,been hitchhiking in America for 10 years .look forward to seeing more

[@Slikx666]

There some of that ash that would make a great guitar 😀 and it's good to see Graeme is keeping warm.

[@Ogrematic]

This is why you call the pros. They know their stuff. I can't wait to see how you use the planks. Looking forward to those videos.

[@wag0NE]

Sniffing sweet sawdust in the woods, sounds like a fun weekend..!

[@outdoorsbeyondnature1980]

Ash tree smell is pleasant like sugar pine. I would like to see Bushcraft spoons and knives carved from the union of the ash tree with two trees grew together. Like I said Old English or crafty characters they were Carpenters. They were antiques of the olden days and when you look back at the relics of the Old English it's remarkable how they crafted all that from hand tools.

[@paulharding1621]

Absolutely fascinating watching Ryan work.

[@williamirelan9332]

The first cuts made by the Alaskan saw mill would make excellent tables and benches. I can see the draw horse now. You have many wonderful projects ahead.

[@jesmitty7367]

The ash would make a beautiful table and chairs! Cheers!

[@Somethingawsome]

I’m going to watch the whole video later

[@julieivers7375]

You've got some gorgeous slabs there Mike, I could envisage table tops, benches, etc with them. Love the dead hedge idea too. Ryan is so knowledgeable, you and we are learning a lot from him. Thank you, I'm really enjoying this series.

[@robertr4193]

That is some really stunning wood grain in that tree.

[@matthewstudholmebrown1943]

Just brilliant, so pleased to see some one doing something different 😎😁😁

[@tammaragill9347]

Such beautiful wood. You could even put some in fabric bags to put into boots/shoes and closets to make them all smell lovely 😍

[@maripurdiie6666]

your loving consciousness for the forest and particularly this tree warms my heart on these very hard times. Thanks so much for all you do.

[@jgstevens5169]

Your passion for wildlife and the woodlands is appreciated. Thank you for sharing your love and enthusiasm.

[@Jakedaniels3914]

Absolutely loving the series. As a guy who’s far from wooded areas, this is bliss for me.

[@BillyBOB-sm3rl]

I can't wait to see what you build with all that nice wood.

[@SRN-24uk]

Wow! Really finding this interesting, especially with Ryan and the tree surgery.

[@entubadao]

It's a majestic straight, strong tree. Hope you make good use of it.

[@markmccann8356]

Fascinating to watch. Your friend is truly a professional. I love your deep concern for managing your property in a way that honors the forest and the creatures that live there. I wish I had such a beautiful piece of woodland to call my own (I'm sure others watching do too!). Most of the hiking I do is on trails where there are limitations on where one can go and what one can do. Still, as I hike, there is a certain sense that the path I'm on is something - at least for the time I'm there - that I can call my own. Even when the hike gets hard, the rain is relentless, and the mud unbearable, there is still a character-building aspect to every adventure in the woods. I was thinking - and I know it sounds a little corny - that maybe that old tree was grateful in how you used it's parts in different ways (It reminds me of a story I read as a child). I love the authenticity, the candid conversations and commentary, and your overall mindset as you live out your passion in the wilderness. Peace!

[@ArielleViking]

Such beautiful wood, I had a giggle at your dad's sausage banter. Very interesting to see what your doing with your woods. ❤👍

[@othniel7828]

Bravo! You’ve given new life potential to an otherwise dead tree. Great work guys. Tell Dad I appreciate his thrift. Where I live in Minnesota, you’d love the massive size of our forests.