Does Anyone Like Thorn Trees
I don't like thorn trees. Whenever I find any on my land. I start thinking of what is the best way to get rid of it.
After I had completely removed it and safely placed it in the burn pile.
I found one that had stuck "through" the edge of one of my shoes. Wicked looking too.
The thorns can fall off the tree and anything soft is in thorn danger. Ugh
Especially if the tree is cut down and as it hits the ground. It is possible for some of the loosely attached thorns to fall off
the tree.
This one was in a tree line. There had been an old fence for livestock many years before and the fence row, "as it is called," wasn't taken care of. So any kind of tree can grow there. Even thorn trees.
After I had cut the thorn tree down as you can see. The limbs extended out into the field.
That is not good. Thorns can fall off and be hidden in the tall grass. So I did try to look carefully.
That is likely how my shoe found one of them. It was a mean looking thorn too.
It is not a good idea to drag a thorn tree across a field or pathway. Flat tires or our feet can be stuck with a loose thorn. Not good.
So, I had to put it in the truck. We have a trailer. I didn't take the time to get it out.
Too much junk on it anyway.
Only the stump remains now. I will have to watch over the next year or two though.
A sprout could start to grow from the stump. I could put some kind of poison on the stump
to stop any new growth from the stump. But, we will just watch it for now.
Back to the burn area.
Carefully unload the thorn tree. Oh yes. I said "ouch" a few times. Ha
Done. The thorn tree is now safely on the burn pile. What a relief.
I had cut it up into small pieces so I could handle it a with less danger of getting stuck by
one or more of the thorns.
Now the truck is empty. It is time to go back up to the place the thorn tree had been.
I want to clear up some of the bushes and lower tree limbs of the nearby trees. I will
be ready if any other thorn trees start to grow.
So I cleared up some of the little bushes and lower limbs to open up a view down over the hill.
The brush piles up quickly. Another load to be taken to the burn pile. Or to a place nearby.
I haven't made up my mind yet. I could get a chipper and start a "back to Eden garden."
I am finished for the day. One last look across the hills and valleys before I go. The scenery is
something you have to see in person to really appreciate the view. All in the work of Creation.
Friends I do this because it is the right thing to do for now. If I should sell the land.
Some of the work would already be done for the new owner.
I try to be a reasonable man in all that I do and what I believe. I have no time for foolishness. If what I believe has no foundation.
Then I quickly leave the thoughts and the thinking. I am a realist. I want every part of my life to have meaning.
Value and truth that I hold to be true. Such as my spiritual life.
I believe what I do because of my search for the truth. I do not lean on the understanding of others.
If I cannot defend what I believe. Then I need to look for other answers.
Thank you for following along with me in my journey to clear and clean the land.
I like to look at well planned places that others have worked on and made into something beautiful to look at.
Will I get that done? I don't know. I am old. So, it depends on my health as the years roll by.
Francis
So, what your trying to say is that you don't like thorn trees?? He he.
We don't have those exact thorn trees in Ireland, but we have blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) which have nasty spines (much smaller) that usually give infected cuts. As such they are associated with witches. Although even before that they have always been associated with the faerie people. It is said the faeries live beneath them in among their roots, so if you cut one down you will incur their wrath. As a consequence there are many fields in Ireland with lone blackthorn trees standing in the middle. Of course younger farmers generally come in and take them out without a thought.
@kate-m
Thank you for your information. Most of what you have written and posted is new to me.
And very likely others as well. The "faeries" as you call them, is quite a humor also.
I wonder about such things. And how it could get started to the point of being thought of as being true.
Doesn't matter. Superstition has always been and always will be. My thinking at least.
Francis
I could probably write a long essay about that (but I don't have time). A lot of people still believe in faeries in Ireland. I think there's a certain evolutionary advantage to certain folklores and superstitions. Secular Westerner's shouldn't be so quick to dismiss superstitions as irrelevant. For example this paper below is quite interesting, unfortunately I'm not sure it's readily available without an institutional subscription to get through pay walls. But in brief, it details how Irish myths of changelings may have quite effectively protected people against infection by bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). But as you say, true, useful, or whatever, superstition is hard-wired to always be! And who knows, maybe it is true in some sense, the faeries are essentially beings that live in a parallel universe linked to our own via special portals. Start chatting to a quantum physicist and it might start to seem not quite so bonkers. (I personally prefer not to chat to quantum physicists as it tends to give me a head-ache!)
Monaghan, P. (2010). Calamity meat and cows of abundance: traditional ecological knowledge in Irish Folklore. Anthropological Journal of European Cultures 19:44–61.
Depending on the situation i may remove, leave or even plant thorn trees.
If the area is to be used intensively we will remove
If we can we clear them out a bit and interplant other species that will overgrow them and theyll die off eventually
And in areas that are truly wrecked and will be given up to nature, i will even plant them on purpose. To keep humans and goats away, privide habitat, soil stability, cover and a green backdrop
@reville
I can understand your reasoning for what you wrote. It is all in perspective. What is the need for now and what will it be later. That makes a lot of sense to me.
Thank you for your reply and your upvote. I appreciate it.
Francis
This was really a lot of work my friend, but still very nice to have taken it out as these thorns are really dangerous! I love trees but the thorny ones are just my nightmare, got hurt so many times with them!
@progressivechef
Thank you for reading my blog. I try to post something interesting if I can. Just every day life for me and for others will power Steemit to the top of the heap in social media. I think so anyway.
Francis
No sir, I absolutely hate them things! They are really hard to deal with so I know what you were going through when you were ridding them. You are a very fortunate man to have that beautiful piece of land! I would give anything to have land like that, so beautiful!
@bluelightbandit
The thorn trees are growing in many different areas of our country and maybe around the world.
They are hard to deal with in removal. We have to take extra time and be careful.
I can do it OK. But who wants to do that so many hours at a time. Ha
Thank you for your reply. I am happy to have you following me and reading my work.
Francis
Well done @francisk!!! Well done!!!
(I promise that I won't make another video...but I am proud of you.) :)
I can't get over the size of those thorns and that they can fall off. I get the whole dragging behind the truck thing, knocking them off but didn't realize that it's easy for the them to break off, too. We have thorn trees where I live but they are more shrubs than actually trees and the thorns are a lot smaller.
Rebecca, Rebecca. Oh soul of mine. How could I do "Without You?" You brighten my day each time I see your comments and reply.
Just say, "oh Francis. I looked out the window today." I would say to others. "She is the wisest woman that I know of." How is that for dedication?
I am happy that the numbers have went up for me. Thank you so much. "Without you." Where would I be?
Oh. Sorry. Forgot. The thorn trees.
OK. What about them? Ha Ha
Francis
I love ya Francis! Ok, so onto business hahaha!
It is clear to me that homesteading is a great catagory/tag for you...
Here's what my inquiring mind wants to know:
What's the history of the land your farm is on?
How long has it been in your family or Pat's family because that connection is unclear to me?
Where did you originally grow up with @cowboyk?
Did your family farm tobacco as the main crop?
I would like to suggest that you write a post that answers these questions (if you're comfortable sharing your story, of course).
Use your homesteading tag, story, life, history (if you talk about the history of the original homestead) You could also use foraging as a tag if you talk about harvesting walnuts from your wild walnut trees that you are make an effort to let flourish.
I think that's a great story...
@rebeccaryan
I grew up on a farm. And I am from a VERY large family. Since I am old. We used manual labor back in those days for most of our work. I never really enjoyed that. Our living conditions were not what I wanted then. Nor does anyone want them today.
Thankfully as an adult I was able to make choices of my own. Many were not good choices either over the years. But, I have survived and flourished to a measurable point in life.
We were true homesteaders back then. Not in the "true" definition of today maybe.
But, we lived as the Amish do today. Only we were more Amish in living than they are today for the most part.
But, I have always liked the land. There is a sense of freedom in owning land. Elbow room I call it. Ha
What I don't really like is to have to be rushing around all the time. I just wish that day would end. It seems that whatever we finish and complete. Two or more take their place demanding attention. I would really like to retire. But, I know that isn't going to happen. Pat won't allow that. Ha
The land for me is mostly an investment and a peaceful owning for security. Someplace to go that others cannot keep us from. Depending on the stability of our government of course.
Governments can take what they want, when they want. Sad, but true.
I really like the world trading markets. That is something that holds my attention easily day after day.
And I like Florida in the winter too. In fact. I could live there all year. Again. But Pat. lol
I can only post who I am and what I like. The homesteading part of my life is by necessity.
Not the passion of my life. Oh yes, I can do it. But at my age. It could soon end.
Not that I feel any creaking bones or the such like. But, I can see the calendar. And it is not in my favor. Ha
Francis
Hi mam..Its really very good work
shearing good
@sabbir24
Thank you
Francis
I like thorn trees, depending on where they are, or if they fix nitrogen into the soil. On a fence line planted close, they protect the property from Invaders, provide cover for wildlife, and can also provide products.
@littlebitfarm
I can appreciate the fact, that so far. You are the only one that has written a word defending the thorn trees.
Many years ago. I was a raccoon hunter. Along with many others in our country.
I never had the dogs to tree a raccoon up a thorn tree. It was too much of a "sticking situation."
Ha
Francis
Hey, what can I say, even the most negative things are often useful in the right situation. I have some Honey locusts on the back of my place here. Sometimes even thorn trees need a little love. If only loving them wasn't so darn uncomfortable! Lol! Your post had a LOT of good tips for when you do have to move them!
interesting... and unexpected.
@notannov
I try to make my work and posts interesting. But, I know that all we can do is show and tell what we do each day.
But, if everyone on Steemit would do the same. We would soon be at the top of the people's choice for places to visit on the internet.
Francis
Clearing those is a real bugger.
I cleared a 13 acre field of honey locust, but it was so dense i just used bulldozer.
Heck of a job.
@torquewrench1969
You are so right. It is not easy. Oh, it isn't hard to cut them down. But the thorns that can fall off could cause some problems later on. Ugh
Francis
You have overcome another difficult stage, Francis is a large amount of work. I see in the photo, it is really dangerous spines. They are great. In the last photo, everything looks so beautiful and full order.
@madlenfox
Thank you for your kind comments. I have always wanted to place on Steemit only what I consider to be interesting to some of my followers. Of course, I understand that not many like thorns. Ha
But, as in all areas of our lives. Sometimes we have to do things that are not always pleasant.
Francis
You are right! Sometimes we have to do any action. Even if you don't really want to. That's life. And it has thorns. But I wish that You get pleasure from Your work. I read with interest Your stories. Because of them I clearly see the path of a man who has goals and overcomes various obstacles regardless of the circumstances.
@madlenfox
Thank you
Francis