Day 372 - Fiber, Flat, Beetles, Burn!
We finally have fiber internet installed. Wooo hoo! The "phone in the window" strategy is working quite well, and we want to keep it that way. Therefore, no WiFi. If we need to access the internet we must use a computer. This makes screen time more purposeful and less of a time-suck.
Have you ever heard the sound of air rushing out of an inflated tire? 1 outta 10 stars, would not recommend. I've had some slow leaks in the tractor tires for the past year now, but this is my first puncture flat. Filling the tires with ballast fluid and a hole sealant has been on the list for a long time....but so has a lot of other stuff. In the meantime, I'll keep plugging away at keeping air in the tires (pun intended).
A few of the trees I took down late last year were left there due to wet weather settling in. I just couldn't move them with the tractor because of where they were. So they sat all winter, harboring pine beetles. We had a bit more waste than I hoped for on a few trees and had to resort to burning them to kill the beetles and get rid of the damaged material. It's crazy how light a log can get after the beetles chew away half of it. I'm still optimistic that my log piles will yield usable material.
We have a sawmill on the way. The plan for the beetle infestation is to try to stay ahead of the damage. As soon as I notice beetle presence, I need to take the tree down and mill it immediately. That's the plan of action. I do not think I can 100% get rid of them without clear-cutting, but I also do not think it is a devastating situation. It's just a situation that requires us to stay on top of to maximize yield.
Homestead stuff:
American Green Lights, use code jaybates for 10% off https://americangreenlights.com/
Yard Glider (SO handy!) Use code jbates for 5% off https://yardglider.com/
Tractor/Off Road Lights: https://amzn.to/4bmBfHr
Bad Boy 4035H tractor
Kioti KG4066 grapple
W.R. Long 3rd Function
W.R. Long 3rd Function Continuous Flow
Piranha Bar
Universal Workmaster with D Rings https://www.jufabworks.com/products
Chainsaw earmuff helmet https://amzn.to/3XmPsif
PROYAMA chainsaws, 26cc top handle, 66cc big saw: https://amzn.to/4h0c7b0
Stihl MS250
Husqvarna Rancher 460 https://amzn.to/3AUq9v6
UTV mirror https://amzn.to/4dYHeCz
Measuring wheel https://amzn.to/3Z6cATw
Time-lapse cameras https://amzn.to/4cMR6hQ
LockNLube grease gun https://amzn.to/4g48UHR
7/32 chainsaw files https://amzn.to/3XoFFIs
#homestead
JK Boots: Hands down, without question, the best outdoor working boot that I have ever tried. They aren't cheap, and they aren't inexpensive. USE THE CODE jaybates TO GET 10% OFF! Affiliate link to the O.T. Bison - Canyon that I have:
https://www.jkboots.com/products/o-t-bison-rust-roughout-smooth?bg_ref=BwlWA71DVt
JK Boots Update 4/5/25:
My O.T.s are still great. Heavily worn and holding up great. Still my go-to work boot. I recently got a pair of the square-toe western boots (The Buck - Indigo | Chocolate) for days where I prefer the speed of getting in and out of the boots, or days where I'm mostly on hard surfaces all day, or running errands. Very comfortable right out of the box with zero break-in for me. THUMBS UP AGAIN.
https://www.jkboots.com/products/the-buck-navy-chocolate?bg_ref=BwlWA71DVt