Big thumbs-up to Buckin’ Billy

To my friends on the “Buckin’ Army” page on FB:

Greetings, buckin’ buddies, from Brown County, Indiana. As a long-time homesteader who heats the house with wood, my interest in making firewood took on a new intensity this year because of the ‘rona, and how the government’s response to it has pretty much destroyed my business as a working musician.

Typically, for the fun of it I’d bust up maybe a quarter of the 12-15 ricks we need to make it through an Indiana winter, but the lion’s share of my stack I’d buy from a local friend in the firewood business.

This year, even though I’m getting ready to turn 67 and my back isn’t as limber as it once was, I made it a personal challenge to cut, buck, split and stack the entire winter’s woodpile. Currently, I’m about ¾ of the way there.

We’re surrounded by trees here on our Brown County property, plus our church has made available a huge pile of logs that were donated by a professional faller in the congregation, free for the hauling. Lots of free BTUs all around me, all I need to do is process it.

Aided by a Stihl MS-250 chainsaw, a Polaris 450 Sportsman for dragging logs, an old single-axle trailer for transport, an even older homemade hydraulic splitter (recently refurbished and painted fire engine red), and a tandem wheelbarrow for moving my splits to the woodpile, I’m managing pretty well, with only minor complaints from my back now and again.

So with my task set before me and more free time on my hands,
I found myself updating my knowledge of wood cutting by
watching videos on fallers, gas-powered hydraulic splitters,
portable bandsaw and chainsaw mills, and related topics.

This is how I stumbled across Buckin’ Billy Ray on YouTube, and by extension (because of my love and respect for the man’s robust life and simple, perennial philosophy based on two simple words: “Be kind.”) the Buckin’ Army FB  group.

While it seems the world is going fairly crazy all around me, by reducing my exposure to the news and all the political drama, and turning my attention back to “my world, which will never change”, as Buckin’ would say, not only am I getting in better shape physically, but also healthier mentally and spiritually. You might say it goes all the way back to the old Zen saying that to achieve enlightenment one should simply “chop wood and carry water.’

There’s just something about being in the woods, respectfully harvesting (with gratitude) what we need from God’s bounty, that puts a man’s thoughts where they ought to be. I believe in the old saying, “God helps those who help themselves”, not with the connotation of selfishly and unconsciously taking what you want without acknowledging the Source of everything, but with a focus on self-reliance, working with (not against) nature, and providing for oneself and family without imposing on others to do it for you. I like to think of it as doing my part to lighten the Lord’s to-do list.

So I’m on track to heat our home this entire winter for the price of a few gallons of gas, some 2-cycle oil, bar chain lube, and really, not all that many hours of physical labor. Plus I’m getting some much needed exercise without paying for a gym membership, and I have something to show for my exertions at the end of every day.

I’ve learned a great deal from Buckin’ Billy’s many videos about how to properly a chainsaw’s teeth and rakers; how to study a tree and make smarter decisions on where and how to make my back cut so the tree will fall where I want it (it’s a thing); what to look for in a good axe, and how to best wedge in a new handle. But just as valuable as the practical advice is his warm smile, hearty greetings, and eternal optimism gained from a life of purposeful simplicity and hard work.

I just recently joined this group, and wanted to share my story with you, friends. I’m wondering, though — has it occurred to anyone else what an odd thing it is to watch hours of falling and bucking videos, dominated by the sound of a rambunctious chainsaw ripping through wood, and somehow find it such a relaxing experience? 😉

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