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T H E H A N D C A R V E D B O W L

Chapter 1 | H A R V E S T

HARVEST & TRANSPORT

When choosing a tree, use your knowledge of how trees grow to select one with good

carving potential, then make a plan to harvest it.

What to pack: anything you’d use

to fell a tree (that’s a whole other

topic): bow saw, orange flagging

tape, peavey/cant hook, chainsaw,

small fold-out saw, large wooden

scrap wedges to prevent logs from

rolling on a trailer or truck bed,

rope, sled, paint, paintbrush, plas-

tic for wrapping the used brush,

ratchet straps, red flags in case the

material sticks out from the bed

or trailer, and a tarp to deter wind

or to minimize debris (small rocks

and dirt have a way of getting

lodged in the logs while being

transported).

EXIT STRATEGY

Consider how far into the woods

you are searching. The same

distance you travel into the woods

is the same distance you will travel

out, but with large logs.

Even before taking the first cut,

consider your exit route and any

obstacles that may hinder you as

you transport sections from the

cut site to the trailer or vehicle. If

you are harvesting in the winter

and there’s snow on the ground,

walk your exit route so you’re

aware of any hiccups that may

be hidden in the path. Clear any

branches or debris that could be a

hindrance. There’s nothing quite

like getting whipped in the face

with an insultingly small branch

while dragging a hundred pounds

of wood behind you.

FLAG & COMPARE

As you search for the perfect tree,

mark your favorites with orange

flagging tape. This way you can

quickly compare the best candi-

dates and find them easily. Remem-

ber to remove the tape once a tree

is out of the running. Consider the

overall growth in this forest—is the

tree you selected the only one of its

kind around? Maybe save it for the

greater good of the ecosystem and

keep your eyes peeled for some-

thing more plentiful. Look for ease

of felling, access to the loading ve-

hicle, level ground, and (of course)

large sections of clear wood along

the trunk. Start breaking it down

visually and see if it’s the amount of

wood you truly need. Be careful not

to bite off more than you can chew.

BREAK IT DOWN

After felling, break down the tree.

Branches come off first, along with

the top of the tree. Use the thicker

portions of these branch sections

for smaller projects like spoons

or shrink pots, and save the thin

branch sections to use as garden

stakes or trellises. My entire home

garden perimeter is woven with

the small outer branches of birch

trees from all my past projects. If

you happen to burn wood, save

everything else for kindling. Waste

as little as possible.

LONGEST TRUNK SECTIONS

POSSIBLE

Section the trunk next, keeping

in mind that it’s best to take the

longest lengths possible in order to

minimize the amount of exposed

end grain. Your aim is to break

down this trunk into as large of

pieces as you’re able to move,

while also yielding the most clear

wood in each section. Walk along

the trunk to assess where any

branches, knots, or inconsisten-

cies in the bark are. Then plan

your cuts directly on as many of

these problem areas as you can.

Eventually these ends will be

sealed and those sealed ends will

be trimmed, so you are placing

them in the future waste areas and

essentially canceling them out.

Also keep in mind that branch-

es grow from the pith, meaning

only one side of the log would be