Poplar Cuttings 2015 (And First Firewood Harvest!)

[@thundercloud47]

Yet another step towards self sufficiency. Thank you for taking us along for yet another adventure...and would like to mention, one element of many that I so appreciate about your channel, and respect you both for...it's a learning adventure/journey, and no matter how tedious (or not), you always make it so interesting, that I feel compelled to give it, or something similar a go. Y'all are wonderful motivators, and I sincerely thank you both for it! Gretchen B. :)

[@WayOutWestx2]

+thundercloud47 Too kind, as always, Gretchen. We're just exploring and seeing what is possible - and flattered that you and others share our discoveries. (Don't tell anyone, but it's finally stopped raining this morning. Could it be that the sun will shine today?!)

[@meehan302]

Some great Popular trees . You have given a good demonstration of the effect the weather has on growing.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Patrick Meehan Thanks Patrick - it's all so interesting, isn't it?

[@CraigArndt]

Enjoy your videos, popular are fast growers. We have a tulip poplar that broke in half due to a snow storm and has regrown to an impressive tree. Had a bunch of hybrid poplars that grew 6-8' per year. El Nino is driving some incredible weather for us in the States. By now we usually have snow, but, this year so far, we have had none. Have a happy Christmas.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Craig Arndt Thanks Craig - you too!

[@armyguy9735]

Do you have Black Locust trees? They are fast growing and nitrogen fixer, much better for fire wood

[@voosum]

just found ya channel I love the quality and content have been marathoning your videos keep it up m8 thumbs up from NYC

[@WayOutWestx2]

+asoom Welcome to the wet side Asoom!

[@rubygray7749]

My summer? It officially began 2 days ago, and so far we are having a prolonged gasping heatwave in our "cool temperate" island, and a drought which began about a year ago. Our soil never got soaked all winter and October (first month of spring) registered only 2mm rainfall, the lowest ever recorded. I keep hoping that we will follow your example of a cold dry spring with a cold wet summer! But El Nino has settled in for the foreseeable future, no decent rain to be had.

[@robertk3850]

It's nice to see you cutting wood you grew...........I really enjoy your channel..........Digger

[@WayOutWestx2]

+robert k Thanks Digger - yes! it's really satisfying.; With a bit of luck we'll now have a sustainable supply of timber indefinitely.

[@vajkfekete2635]

Here in Hungary poplar is also used as cheap firewood mostly. But there are kitchen tools made of it, primarily kneading boards.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Vajk Fekete Thank you - that's interesting.

[@francescaliberchpadrisa955]

I have always been told that poplars are no good for burning, however here, where I live they ususally grow next to rivers, so they are quite wet and all that. And because the climte is drier, people who want firewood qick plant pine trees. As oaks are good firewood but they are slow growers. But it is interesting to know that poplars and that bad at the end of the day!!!

[@pamelacourtney8998]

Is the mother stump still producing for you . Love this method for firewood harvesting . Blessings to all

[@WayOutWestx2]

Yes it is. Still going strong.

[@tomek]

I wish someone would give you a tv show

[@Rhinoch8]

Not wearing protections? Heard horrendous stories of skilled professionals getting injured from confidence in chainsaw manipulation. Apart from that, great work! Am looking forward to watching more of your interesting videos :)

[@PatyBN]

Hello!!! I agree that the weather is absolutely crazier every year! I live in a city called Niterói across the Guanabara Bay, on the opposite side of Rio de Janeiro city. It is now 45°C, at this hour and they say it's still mild! Mild?!?! I am baking and have been overcooked for long!!! This time of the year is summer for us, but I remember that winter was really weird too. We had agreeable weather for long but hardly any cold days, by cold I mean 14°C!!! I read an article about Donald Trump views on climate change, he says it's rubish. Maybe with all the air conditioning in his homes, planes, offices... he doesn't get to see what is really going on. Love your videos and the new guinea pigs are adorable!!!

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Patrícia Balthazar Neves Thank you Patricia - yes Trump is an idiot, but there are lots of people who think that way too. But at least we have guinea pigs!

[@weenerbunnyable]

This Winter is turning out very odd. Too cold and damp to dry laundry outside very effectively, but warm enough we've not used our electric blanket at all, and our calor gas heater has been used pretty much just to help speed up drying laundry. Our home has no insulation or heating of any kind, and is an old, old house full of gaps and with unglazed windows, so without the blanket or heater it's not unusual for it to get to 7*C indoors in December. But I'm sitting quite content right now in a room that's 23*C!

[@WayOutWestx2]

+weenerbunnyable Whereabouts are you? Doesn't sound too close to us : - )

[@weenerbunnyable]

+WayOutWest Blowinblog Stuck in the South of England, I'm sorry to say! Although we are at least on the coast

[@joeobrien196]

A very strange year. On 2 separate holly trees near me there was full flush of berries from last Christmas until now. Now they are bare.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+joe obrien None at all here either, Joe

[@suburbanplantation1770]

last year we had a two day storm that brought seven feet of snow in mid november. this year this Friday was the first trace of snow. the latest ever recorded. about 12 miles south of buffalo new york usa in the town of west falls. the lilles started to come back up!

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Suburban Plantation Wow - that's more extreme than here. (Could we have just a little snow please?)

[@arjenhillenius1917]

You might try to make wooden shoes out of the poplar wood and sell them as decoration and flower pots!

[@GamingLover869]

Did the poplar coppice well in the end?

[@manxman5825]

Very helpful and interesting video thank you. Are these hybrid poplar or regular native poplar?

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks - these are hybrids

[@thefaeryman]

Merry Christmas

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Rev John O'Toole You too John!

[@TheRevWillNotBeTelevised]

You two should make a kids TV show.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+koopification Don't tempt us - too many things going on as it is : - )

[@TheRevWillNotBeTelevised]

WayOutWest Blowinblog Maybe but you'd both be great presenters, you both have the calm measured style required. Time to start pitching! I could just see a Way Out West show on CBBC or the Irish equivalent.

[@jake42731]

Are those normal willows or hybrid willows? I believe hybrid willow can also grow around 12 feet per year, in fact hybrid willow is used in Denmark as a fuel source.

[@WayOutWestx2]

They're not willows at all, Jake. Look at the title!

[@jake42731]

I am talking about the trees at 1:52 clearly willows, are they normal willows or hybrid ones? thanks.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Oh, now I understand. Yes, they are hybrid ones but we won't be planting them again - we have a local variety that is far better. No where near as tall but much more bulk.

[@jake42731]

I've planted willow cuttings in mid march, and they only grew about 10cm, is this normal? Would they have grown more if i planted them in winter? they are supposed to grow about 10 feet a year, thanks in advance.

[@laggytim]

its 20th December and we have the window open to cool the house down.... weird times we're living in

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Tim Heap Where are you Tim?

[@heidiroberts6094]

Wonderful videos. My entire family loves them. We have a lot in common so it's inspiring to watch you both thoroughly enjoying it all. How are the bees coping with all the rain and warmer temps? I heard one of them say, "hello" while you were cutting down the poplar. We purchased our first hive this last spring and out of all the books we've read about bees, we turn to yours most often. :o) Thanks for taking the time and effort to share your world with us.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Heidi Barbe Thank you Heidi - I'm flattered. I'm a little worried about the bees but mostly because the weather was so bad when the queens were being mated back in the summer. Only now will they be running out of eggs - but we won't know till the spring. Oh, well. Such is life! Hope things are dryer where you are.

[@goldenhourfarm424]

Is this the same poplar that makes flowers for tea?

[@WayOutWestx2]

I think it's a different one, but I shall experiment...

[@goldenhourfarm424]

@@WayOutWestx2 Thanks for your response. I checked and the one I'm asking about is Tilia spp. I think in the UK+Europe it's called Lime. We call it Linden or Basswood in the US. It is a poplar though so maybe I can propagate in the same way you are doing yours.

[@170221dn]

When you trim the poplars could you use the branches as cuttings?

[@WayOutWestx2]

+170221dn Yes you could, but I found that they don't take as well as the ones from the stump. I suspect it's because the branches try to make bigger leaves - which means they are more likely to dry out and die.

[@170221dn]

Many thanks. Not that I was intending on doing that but am just interested. Great channel!!!!

[@ThatSuzanneSchmid]

The kids say the weather has been the same for a while despite it being Dec. very mild Fall in NC

[@damienkearns6299]

Damien Kearns here, could I please have some popular cuttings. Don't know if you got my last messages or not as I'm a novice at this technology. Would be happy to pay for them plus any postage costs. Many thanks. Enjoy all your videos.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Damien Kearns Hi Damien - yes you can. email me here if it's easier - blowinblog @gmail.com (take out the gap) Or go to the website

[@liboriopsych]

Somebody nearby has those poplars growing along the road. You just saved me the embarrassment of knocking on their door to ask, because I have been dying to know. They are so interesting. Like a tree stump that grows a bush on it every year, and then the cut it back down to a stump every year. Theirs grow "snowball-like" flowers on it. Are they also poplars? I want to grow some. Also, I want to take branches from my HUGE willow bush (Dappled Willow, I think) and grow a hedge row along my west property line. I'm told that willow is the best self-rooter. But, I can't find any instructions; i.e., do I use new growth, last years, or older... Any advice? I'm told, it's the easiest to propagate, but I haven't been very successful, yet. P.S... I love your channel. Merry Christmas, +Blessings

[@WayOutWestx2]

+liboriopsych Interesting! We have no problems getting willows to root (and apparently they are one of the very few species that don't mind going in upsidedown!) so not sure why you're having troubles. We'd put them in now, pushed into damp soil at least 5 inches. rub off all the buds except the top 3. keep the weeds down for the first year and never let them dry out. Perhaps you could ask your neighbour for a few slips from their poplar too? And plant some of those along with the willows? One year old, or two year old slips work best - anything older are not as successful. Good luck!

[@liboriopsych]

+WayOutWest Blowinblog Ah... There is my problem. I've been using old branches, thinking they would be more hardy. Thanks for the advice. I'll be cutting and planting them this weekend. And, as for the weather, it's been very odd here in the states too. Cold and snowy where it's usually warm and dry--and warm and dry where it is typically several feet of snow by now. I checked my Farmers Almanac (do you have those in Ireland), and it says that starting in January, it will go back to normal, but with a vengeance. Lots of extreme weather, cold and snow. So, keep warm... +Blessings

[@kasch7574]

Thank you for another very informative video. Tim, I'm interested if you have any thoughts on building a rocket mass heater. I've watched some good videos on yt about it. But still don't really get it.

[@WayOutWestx2]

I think it would be a brilliant project - but not simple. If you want them to work properly and safely then you have to get them right. I just don't have the time at the moment (started another big project) - but maybe one day..

[@kasch7574]

Thank you for your quick respond. I'm really honored for getting attention from someone who I think is a genius and inventor of so many useful things, humanity couldn't exist. ;-) - wish you both a merry Christmas.

[@alexarvey1]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Was that a bolt cutter you were using to cut branches?

[@WayOutWestx2]

+alexarvey1 Thanks Alex! That was a lopper - same sort of thing as a bolt cutter, but with a sharp blade. Find them in garden centres.

[@alexarvey1]

+WayOutWest Blowinblog - oh ok. Now i see the difference. Thank you.

[@Dollapfin]

The willow has a few more btus per cord

[@WayOutWestx2]

interesting

[@Dollapfin]

Way Out West Blow-in blog yeah. But I’d say the poplar is producing more biomass than your willows. I woulda thought in a wet environment that the willows would have done better but idk. I am growing both also so we will see.

[@WayOutWestx2]

We bought 'super willows' of different sorts when we came - but all of them have been disappointing and we're replacing them slowly

[@hanzifaction]

I don’t get what you’re doing here. Are you growing the polars for firewood? Why not let them grow bigger to get some more sizeable pieces

[@WayOutWestx2]

we're thinning them

[@The12ArmdPuffin]

very informative! Great chainsaw skills :D

[@OmmerSyssel]

Poor ignorant you if that chainsaw job count as admirably.. 🙈

[@jenniferlynn99]

I don't think that these are the same as Canadian poplars in the woods were I live....and, if we were to just stick a limb in the ground as you do, I don't think it would grow! You need mulchy/damp earth like yours!

[@wts7759]

Excellent video but please buy some chainsaw boots and trousers.

[@roadwarrior8560]

we call them sallys

[@h7oslo]

Hello Tim & Sandra, I was thinking of you, on the balmy west coast of the Emerald Isle... Each year, as this season progresses, I play these vids to remind me just how fortunate we are... kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmGmeqdjabiWgac So, I do hope you enjoy the Christmas season! rc

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Rusty Case That looks like a really interesting film. Thank you. No time to watch it just yet but sometime soon. There was an interesting documentary season done by the BBC about the European pioneers too. But we have plenty of examples here too of people who just didn't survive when times got too tough. Don't worry - we never forget how lucky we are really. But a little moan about the weather occasionally is allowed too!

[@tripplehelix]

Surprised the bee's didn't mind the chainsaw being so close to their nest.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Tripplehelix They're pretty easy going as long as nothing actually falls on their hives

[@FuzzyDreamin]

Climate change... Having one of the hottest summers here in Aussie

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Lillyleaf101Mew Scary, huh?

[@paulmcguire3789]

I get blamed for most everything, I still get hate mail over the Titanic . but the weather is not my fault. in order to mess up this bad takes a committee . committees are from governments and the biggest committee there is the United Nations so it's their fault, not mine.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Paul Mcguire Are you sure about that? Sounding just a bit defensive there, Paul. Just where were you on the night in question?!

[@paulmcguire3789]

I was playing poker with a couple freinds

[@MikeHunt-on6of]

Geoengineering

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Mike Hunt One day the world...