This is the green ash after the majority of its canopy has been removed, over the span of several years. All branch removal and trimming so far has been done using simple hand tools, often at the top of a 20 foot ladder. Branches were cut off and lowered to the ground manually via a rope so as not to damage any of the vegation below. [Fall, 2020]
Several years earlier, from a different vantage point. Is this showing workers crawling around on the garage roof? [Feb 2017]
Is there any way that this can end well? To see the whole disaster unfold, skip to the actual video below, since this is a single, solitary, slice of time.
Here is the answer to question raised above.
The last 11 seconds of this natural tree's plausible life on this earth. As an eTree, however, who knows?
Reducing the Ailing Ash to a usuable stump, September 2020. This part is being done with a 32 year old chain saw designed for trimming branches. The chain saw's bar is significantly shorter than the diameter of the tree trunk, but it only has to be slightly longer than the radius to get the job done. I finished cutting up the trunk into manageable pieces, but when I turned the saw off after the final cut, I broke the small handle of the saw's toggle ON/OFF switch. Karma, I suppose. Debbie has ordered an OEM replacement switch for an exorbitant price, and I'll put the repair project on 'to do' list.
Out with the old, in with the new. The replacement coffee tree, planted by a squirrel a few years back, is already well on its way. Research tells us that young trees are much more effective at sequestering carbon than old trees, so replacing this old ash is actually a sound environmental decision. Of course, a lot depends on what happens to all the wood that's now no longer part of the original tree.
Digging (by hand) an approximately 8 foot long trench, 18 inches deep, between the eTree and the garage. One conduit will contain the 120VAC supply line while the other conduit will contain the signal/data lines. The camera on the top of the eTree will likely receive it's power via PoE ("power over Ethernet"), so the need for the AC may be optional.
Using a 3/4" self-feeding spiral bit (Greenlee) made for cutting through wood for electrical wires did a reasonably good job of cutting through the Ash end grain, although it required making the bit's cutting edges extremely sharp. Here we're feeding a platic tube through the hole to make sure it's open all the way through.
For better or worse, both the 1/2" and 3/4" UF flexible conduits are installed and buried. Pretty soon this ground will be frozen and snow-covered. I haven't yet figured out what kind of 'door' to protect the entrance to this Fairy Castle.
After spending nearly two weeks pecking away at this tree, a skeptical woodpecker comes by to inspect my work. She leaves after looking it over and leaves a note saying "Call me first next time, and I'll show you how it's done."
Flagpole is now vertical.
...and the flag of Cascadia is raised!
And finally, the "flag's eye" view:
