by Frank & Stephen Philbrick
Storey Publishing, 2006
Soft cover, 8″ x 9.25″, 160 pages

Frank and Stephen Philbrick, enthusiastic and skilled lumberjacks, explain what it takes to bring a tree from forest to fireplace. Part hard work, part pure chain saw satisfaction, The Backyard Lumberjack is your complete guide to bringing in the wood.

It’s all here, from choosing the perfect chain saw to managing a woodlot to safely enjoying the pleasures of a backyard bonfire. Just don’t forget your safety gear!

• Felling-It all begins here, where the chain saw meets the tree. Choose an appropriate wood source and bring it down safely.
• Bucking-Now that you’ve got the tree horizontal, work your way up the trunk, cutting it into stove-length pieces.
• Splitting-Trade your chain saw for a maul and start swinging. You can’t burn until you have split and dried your wood.
• Stacking-Decide which kind of woodpile works for you and stack it up. Keep in mind that the only goals here are to let the wood dry and to keep it from falling over. The level of artistry you bring to the project is up to you.
• Burning-Choose your heating method, lay a perfect fire, and feel the burn.