Getting a head start on winter—cutting and stacking wood before the mosquitoes and ticks take over. We only use older trees and always plant new ones, replacing every log we burned last year. It’s part of our seasonal rhythm and our arts-based approach to sustainable living.
The Art of Cutting Wood Before the Bugs Wake Up
There’s something deeply satisfying about the thunk of a wood splitter cutting clean through a log. The smell of fresh-cut pine, the pattern of rings etched like time-lapse memories—cutting wood for the winter isn’t just a chore, it’s a ritual. And right now, before the armies of mosquitoes buzz and the ticks march out, it’s the perfect time to do it.
We’re not just cutting for the sake of it—we’re replacing every log we burned last year, restocking our woodpile in preparation for the long cold stretch to come. It’s part of a seasonal rhythm we respect. We use old trees that are ready to fall or have already come down, making room for new growth. And for every tree we take, we make sure to plant new ones, keeping the cycle of renewal alive and rooted.
In our arts-based living lab, even the practical has its poetry. Cutting wood becomes an act of rhythm and balance: a dance between blade and bark, timing and torque. It’s the original fitness program—no gym membership required. Each round log, stacked neatly with care, is a promise of warmth in the cold months ahead. It’s a reminder that self-reliance, sustainability, and creativity can go hand in hand—and that preparation is a kind of quiet power.
So we roll up our sleeves, breathe in that crisp spring air, and get to work before the bugs try to claim the season. Because there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of a woodpile—symmetrical, sun-drenched, and smelling like survival.
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