I got a call on Friday that a friend of a friend was milling a redwood tree and wanted to know if I wanted the mill scraps.  Of course, I said Yes!  I knew I could use the wood to build a new fence part-way around our Cathedral Grove – a 35-tree redwood grove.

On Saturday, I sorted the pile of wood and laid it out to see what I got and how I could use it.  I decided to build the fence with our farmhand Will who helped me build the locust planter beds in the garden.

On Sunday, I deconstructed the old fence that was crap: redwood branches and wire, but it kept out the deer.

It took me two hours to remove the branches from this section, trim the redwood duff and rake it out for a cleaned space.

Will and I took measurements and attached 2x4s between the trees, all free wood.

Last was adding the skinned bark of the redwood tree that was milled – I called them pickets, all different lengths.

I started the process at 10am and stopped at 3pm.  We had two sections that we will finish next weekend.  Then, it’s waiting for more wood before we continue.

I love the look of using redwood bark for a fence around a redwood grove.  The bark matches, and it looks warm and natural.