Mesquite (from Nahuatl mizquitl) is a plant found in Mexico and upwards through Southern US; some species are also found in Central and northern South America.  It is a deciduous tree reaching heights of 20-30 ft; depending on the particular species and environmental conditions, it can exhibit more shrub-like tendencies than tree.  With long deep taproots making it an extremely hardy, drought-tolerant plant, ranchers consider this a nuisance tree because it competes with rangeland grasses for moisture.

Native Americans relied on the mesquite pod as a staple in their diet; the bark used for basketry, fabrics and medicine.  Today, the flowers provide a nectar source for bees producing wonderfully flavoured honey.  It made, and continues to be, a significant element in the natural and cultural landscape.

As with the harvest of many raw resources in developing countries, the growing demand for mesquite as a cooking fuel is causing environmental and potentially economic problems.  It is being harvested to fulfill the growing demand for mesquite charcoal.  Mesquite charcoal burns slowly releasing a smokeless, rich-scented heat.  Beyond its primary purpose as a cooking and heating fuel in Mexico, it is used to fire kilns that create roof and floor tiles.  Critics claim that the production of mesquite charcoal is an issue reminiscent of Third World tropical rain forests. It is my understanding that Mexico acknowledges these pressures and environmental concerns and is attempting to take measures to manage this.

As a species used for woodworking, it is hard and dimensionally stable. Teak, mahogany and mesquite are equally ranked as the most stable hardwoods in the world.  It is harder than oak and maple.  Long-lasting, it can withstand heavy weight and moisture changes.  I’m hearing that it is becoming the ‘new exotic’ of the US as various woodworking and trade associations encourage the sourcing of local, home-grown woods to replace those that have fallen politically and environmentally out of favour.

The good points of mesquite are endless and yet it has been a most feared and hated tree.  Despite the past scorn of stockmen, many are coming to the general belief that is it too valuable to extinguish and yet too dangerous to trust unwatched.  Having reviewed the historical significance of mesquite, and the pros and cons of its modern wood-working value, I’ll say that for us at West Wind Hardwood, we do not actively source or sell this mesquite.

Shrimp fishermen in the Sea of Cortez have long used mesquite in the building of their boats, and its past significance to Colonial Mexico can be seen today from carved church doors to range fence posts.   Weathered and well-worn furnishings can be found for sale throughout Mexico.  Jan certainly took an interest in both the wood-working skills invested in these fixtures, but also in the idea of incorporating them in our future home; the casa of our dreams.  We are owners of property in Sayulita, Nayarit…… someday we hope to build our ‘go-to’ home in the sun.  And after 5-years, we started the process by talking to a local builder and an architect in March.

The reason I choose mesquite for this newsletter was because I loosely relate mesquite with the current trend to use wood smoke to flavour our food.  Admittedly, it may be a loose word association at best, but I remind you that we are entering what is long-hoped, well-earned hot summer for the Pacific Northwest; filled with the smoke of outdoor bar-b-ques amidst family and friends.  Please refer to my earlier Newsletter #12 – August 2007 – Smokin’ Hot.  Read about the many choices for wood chips; their taste values and what wood best lends its flavour to which foods.  Find out which wood smoke is Jan’s favourite!  And don’t forget our salmon boards. These too enhance the flavours of fish and poultry.  Try them in both your oven and on your bar-b-que or grill.

“All life is an experiment.  The more experiments you make the better.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is an older boat, which my friend decided to restore. The old woodwork was taken out and each piece was replicated with templates, and Ipe has been installed. I can tell you the Ipe is stunning in boat work, however, it is very hard on the steel tools, like chisels and hand planes. Carbide power tools have no trouble at all with it. The wear on the steel tools is overwhelmed by the beauty, strength and value of Ipe.

- Bill Howard

His work is currently available at the Peninsula Gallery.

Don can be contacted by email at: donbastian@shaw.ca ]]> http://www.westwindhardwood.com/taproot/2012/05/09/wood-carving-by-don-bastian/feed/ 0 http://www.westwindhardwood.com/taproot/2012/05/09/solomon-island-wood/ http://www.westwindhardwood.com/taproot/2012/05/09/solomon-island-wood/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 18:56:32 +0000 West Wind http://www.westwindhardwood.com/taproot/?p=476 var flashvars2 = {}; flashvars2.galleryURL = "http://www.westwindhardwood.com/taproot/wp-content/uploads/2.xml"; simpleviewer.ready(function () { simpleviewer.load("flashContent2", "600px", "500px", "transparent", true, flashvars2); });

I recently read an article form our brokerage company advising that logging practices in the Solomon Islands was not sustainable.  So I immediately asked our contact for this wood to comment.  Here is what was said:

“The Solomon Islands are a developing country and, as such, suffer from the misfortune of corruption and not having systems in place for conservation to the extent that we have here.  It is true that there is illegal logging that occurs on some islands in the country.  In particular, there is a great deal of bribery that occurs from the Asian logging companies that use naive landowner’s rights and privileges to log large areas.  However, the government is making strides in enforcing conservation.  For example, commercial logging can only occur on lands that are below 400 meters above sea level where the forest is accessible to logging.  Some islands are low lying, and that is where this illegal activity is centered. There is also a maximum cut rate, and exports are monitored closely and include permitting, right of logging documentation and for species like the Tubi, extraordinary permission to log.

The majority of log resource land (80%) in the Solomon’s is owned by tribes in a community-like manner.  Unfortunately, it does happen that a full tribe is convinced to log their area because the amount that the logging companies offer the tribes is more than they could earn in many years, even though in actual fact what the tribes are given is just a fraction of what the logs are really worth.

The article suggesting that logging resources will be depleted in the current year is, in my opinion, an exaggeration. There was a survey done over 5 years ago that came out with this prediction.  Since that time, there have been other preventative measures put in place, to accompany the education that organizations like Greenpeace provided to rural landowners.  Other measures like the establishment of a CITES office, and tightening of logging and exporting rules since the end of the civil tension which brought a strong Australian/New Zealand influence on government services.

In our practice, we do not participate in these methods of logging, but purchase from related parties in the Solomon’s at fair prices.  We know exactly where the log comes from and how it is logged. The Narra from my last trip came specifically from the land belonging to my tribe.

A major part of my trips involves hours of education – teaching and explaining to landowners about conservation, and the long term risks of mass logging.  I talk to them about getting the best value from their wood by selecting and cutting to maximize the grade of their wood and about replanting to ensure future generations have the same opportunities.”

You can check out pictures of logging on the Solomon Islands in Volume 37 – November 2011.

OR see our post about in HERE.

Now this old lady is living the life of a grand dame on the Elbe River. She is fully restored to her original state under the name of ‘Viva of Conover Cove’.

West Wind would like to find a new home for this real gem of a boat. Built at Silva Bay Boat School in 2004. It has lots of figured wood and brightwork. Non-dipping lug – Sitka spruce spar. Includes a trailer!

12 Ft Sailing Dinghy “Riff”, Design #136
www.gartsideboats.com

Please check out our FOR SALE page for more info.

I recently moved to Sidney from Powell River. I have always had a passion for media and design, and look forward to pursuing a career in digital media. In my spare time, I enjoy working out at the gym, playing paintball and video games; and of course, working at West Wind is a new, fun experience giving me a great learning opportunity.

Scott

Scott is currently in his senior year at Parkland Secondary. Originally from southern California, he has enjoyed the last few years exploring the island and making tons of friends. His favourite hobbies include baseball, woodworking and a large fascination in ancient history and mythology. Scott boasts a rather large collection of artifacts from ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt and more.

Wow!! Ask and you shall receive, and ‘boy’ did I ever. Obviously I struck a chord. Little did Jan’s cousin, Søren Tellerup Nielsen know what he would start when he sent us his firewood pictures from the cold of Denmark. I’ve received photos, poems, stories and wise words. Please enjoy, as I have. And thank you to everyone who took the time to share.

• Quote and Photo submitted by Dean Ross
• The Best and Most Inspirational Firewood by Bruce Schneider
• Home is where the hearth is by Bruce Wilkin Design
• "Nobodyz Perfect" sculpture by Trinita Waller
• Ideal Firewood - by Robert
• Fireplace Photos by Dave Jack
• Birch for firewood and Guitars by Rich Kenny
• A Good Neighbor by Rod
• Sweet Acer's The Nicest by David More
• Lumber Cutoffs by Steve Burgess
• My Woodshed by David Laidlaw
• The Simple Guatemalan Camp Stove by Martin Golder
• The Coolest Bobcat Attachment You'll Ever See by Bob Pearce
• 2 photo's of how I deal with a lot of firewood by Michael
• Firewood Tips from Chris Dixon
• No Help From The Bahamas! by Roddie Pinder
• Hornby Island Artist link sent in by Norma
• Cord of Wood Defined by Ken Miller
• The Concerns With Burning Wood by Warren Franklin
• The Biolite Camp Stove by Gavin Macrae
• The Wonders of Ironbark by Fred Apstein
• Staying Warm in McBride by Brian
• Alexander Selkirkʼs Campfire story by John Montpetit
• Destined to be firewood... Turned into Art by Howard Lobb
• Warming a Family Home by Bill Thomson
• Best Fire = with my best friend by Jessica Laudien
• One Simple Tip by James Thackray
• What's left of a Juniper Wood Pile by Bill and Rosie Long
• Firewood a poem By Francis Levy
• Dowel Bowel link sent in by Ron David
• A Few Thoughts by Tom Burch
• Our Woodshed by Marsha McGrue
• An old timer I use to heat my workshop by Dave Jack
• Fire Photo by Michael Sarosiak
• More Than a Just a Fire by Britney Zelmer
• Any Firewood Is Good Firewood by Cynthia White
• Reuse and Recycling of Wood by Barry Wood
• Beech Firewood from Denmark by Søren Tellerup Nielsen

“Firewood can warm you up many times before it is intended to!”

Dean Ross

Home is where the hearth is………



Submitted by:

Bruce Wilkin Design
Victoria, BC

This is a piece of sculpture that I created from a piece of wood destined for the fire pile. It was a part of a branch
that was cut off a tree in my Mother-In-Laws yard.

This piece is the first in a series that I call "my fire wood restoration project". It is carved Garry Oak and has a dark stain with an oil finish.

It is mounted on a plinth that is solid checked yellow cedar. The piece pivots on it's mount.

She is called "Nobodyz Perfect" aka "The Left Kick".


Trinita Waller

Submitted by Dave Jack

We have lived in Horsefly for the last fourteen years. Our sole source of heat has been wood. There has been an abundance of beetle killed pine in our region so that is what I have been using most of all, but only because of availability. We use cedar for kindling. A lot of our wood comes from burn piles on logging roads but we also harvest a significant portion from our own property. For my money, though, the best firewood is Birch. It burns hot and slowly compared to just about anything else. It does not leave a significant amount of ash either, which is an advantage.

I have always been partial to Birch. It has other uses besides firewood. When we moved here, I started a cabinet and furniture making business. I was able to acquire a good amount of birch locally and started making furniture and other things out of it. It was a very successful venture. As time passed I became tired of building the same old thing and to make a long story short, I started making musical instruments. Many of them out of local Birch that I harvested.

Today, I have become a reasonably successful luthier and use Birch in several different instruments that I build. I make Acoustic guitars, Resophonic (dobro) guitars, Dulcimers and Strum Sticks. I have made several of each using Birch. I find that it is a very good quality tone wood and, provided it is cured properly, it is stable and easy to work with although care must be taken when finishing. The nice thing is that if the instrument does not meet expectations, it is still firewood.



Rich Kenny
Cariboo Musical Instruments
Horsefly, B. C.
www.cmiguitars.ca

Here are some photo's of our woodshed, it is 16 ft square divided into 4 bays each approx. 5 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft each holding about 2 1/2 cords with a centre walkway.

We use 3 bays for a mix of Fir & Alder (mostly Fir) and the 4th bay reserved for Arbutus . We use the Fir as "Everyday firewood" and reserve the Arbutus for the colder days of the Winter.

In our opinion Arbutus is the Premier firewood followed by Fir then Alder.

We use about 2/3 of a bay / winter and as soon as one bay is empty we refill it and go on to the next bay which we have dated so we can rotate our stock.

David Laidlaw

Bobcat Chopping Firewood - Click to download video!

My son sent me this neat setup and I thought of your coming article on firewood.

Bob Pearce

Here are two photo's of how I deal with a lot of firewood during the year.
The bundles of mill slabs can be 3/4 to a full cord. I can cut them up in less than 20 minutes with this setup.
You can see my little outdoor wood boiler that does hard service heating up over 5000 sq/ft of shop and house and all of our domestic hot water. The fire never goes out for nearly 10 months a year.


My favorite thing to do with firewood is to save ebony and rosewood offcuts and burn them for guests. They are suitably impressed with the range of colors produced and the opulence.
(we have a very nice fireplace in the house)

Michael

The work I do and the lifestyle I have chosen are interlocked with wood and a great deal of fire wood has been consumed in this. I live in a rural area and burn firewood as a secondary heat source both in the home and in the studio. When I work with wood it is often in conjunction with fire wood. As I gather firewood I keep an eye out for interesting logs or pieces that I can turn into my artworks. I carve a lot of bowls and spoons and do chainsaw carveings. So all the wood comes from what others often consider firewood. Here are some examples of firewood art.



These works all started from Green wood that was destined to be firewood. This just some of the stuff wood waste can be turned into the best part of all it is free for the gathering.

Cheers Howard Lobb
Woodworkerhowardlobb.com

Best Fire: With my best friend and a glass of pinot
Time: Dusk
Temperature: Cold
Location: Tofino, BC
Fire Wood: scavenged driftwood

Jessica Laudien

James Thackray

This is a picture of what is left of the neighbors wood pile (Bend, OR)......This batch was mostly juniper that he has a devil of a time splitting. As you likely know, most of the firewood around the high desert is pine. Each spring permits are issued to wood cutters to take wind fall out of certain forest areas, often very close to the road. The heavy forest floor fuel loads are usually in area's that are not accessible via roads so it just builds up until a raging forest fire burns it all at once.

Bill and Rosie Long

Our wood shed is the best - can hold 4 cords - loads from 4 sides so you can rotate usage - good ventilation - with central bin for kindling with removal front boards for easy access

Marsha McGrue

This is an old timer I use to heat my workshop. My dad had it in his workshop for years. I rebuilt it ,new firebrick and a new stainless steel body. The castings were still like new.

Dave Jack

Dry hardwood, stacked in the hearth, and fed throughout the night.

Michael Sarosiak

This photo is of our first fire in our new place after moving with my Fiance from Vancouver. Money was tight there and weddings today are expensive so we decided to move into my Fiance's parent's basement suite. Not something we ever saw ourselves doing and the move was probably one of the hardest I've done (even harder than moving at 18 by myself to the metropolis of Vancouver from a small town in the Okanagan).

My Fiance knew how difficult it was for me and built me this fire our first night. The uneasiness I was feeling about this new chapter of our lives was diminished by the comfort and warmth it brought. Because it was more than a fire, it was a symbol that what makes a home is not just the physical place, it is the people and memories you share in it.

by Britney Zelmer

A number of years ago I became interested in reuse and recycling of wood, wood salvage and urban forestry. San Diego has very few native trees so local tree services provide most of the firewood produced locally. I have taken to collecting wood from tree removals and from agricultural sources to make natural edge furniture and look for interesting pieces to demonstrate the beauty of the material. I have included photos what I call my Firewood Series I started a couple years ago. These are from what was a pile of firewood.

The first two are California Live Oak cleared for a housing development.



The second two are Greviliea robustus, a type of lacewood from Australia cut from a local street tree removal.



The last two are Avocado from an orchard that was cut down no longer profitable due to the rising cost for imported water.



Enjoy!

Barry Wood

The trees are beech. Sometimes it is thinning, and the trees are labeled with the marker color, other times it is areas to be cleared completely because it will planted with new trees but we decide what wood we want. We think that the beech is the best. It's easy to split with the ax, and it has a high calorific value. To make your own firewood provides warmth many times, and you do not have to go to the fitness center :) We have also sent some pictures from the weekend.

Søren and Anne-Grethe Tellerup Nielsen/Hansen Peter and Jette Madsen
(Jan and Lars' Cousins in Denmark )

Giant Western Red Cedar discovered while bushwhacking in some pockets of old growth forests around Nitnat Lake!

Photo and Bushwhacking by Danny Schaftlein

Talented Artist and West Wind customer, John Briggs, created these beautiful sculptures with our wood.

jbriggs@telus.net
photos by Dennis Urbonas