This morning started early—we loaded three of our hogs and made the trip to Fisher Meats. Smooth drop-off, no issues, and another milestone in the DaleWood journey. On the way home, though, another idea took root.
What if we could make our own lumber?
Around here, 2x4s don’t go to waste. Whether it’s a doghouse, a raised bed, or repairs around the farm, lumber is a constant need. And while we can always buy it, I thought—what if we could grow it, harvest it, and shape it right here?
That’s how today’s experiment was born.
Cutting Logs the Old-Fashioned Way
I grabbed a limb about five and a half feet long and ten inches around—big enough to work with, small enough not to break the saw. With nothing more than a Ryobi table saw, a sawzall, and steady hands, I went to work.
It wasn’t easy. Logs are round, heavy, and unpredictable. I notched the edges to get a straighter guide, then eased it through the blade. Every cut felt like a small victory. By the end, I had two rough slabs. They weren’t perfect, but they were ours.
Not smooth, not straight—but undeniably farm-grown lumber.
“The experiment begins: a fresh log on the old Ryobi table saw. No mill, no fancy gear—just farm grit and curiosity.”
“The first slices weren’t pretty, but every craftsman starts with a rough edge. The wood had its own idea of how it wanted to split.”
Israel’s Raised Beds and the Spark of Inspiration
This whole idea came from watching Israel’s creative work earlier in the week when we began cutting down and pruning our apple tree and large branches. Then it continued when I observed him walking the property, scavenging scrap wood I had collected over the years.
With careful measurements and a good eye, he built three solid raised garden beds—simple, square, and strong.
What stood out wasn’t just the craftsmanship, but the beauty. Scrap wood that had been lying in the grass was transformed into something useful and lasting. That’s when it hit me: if we can do this with leftovers, why not with live wood from our own trees?
“Israel putting in the real sweat equity. Every homestead project takes teamwork and determination.”
“The fruits of Israel’s handiwork: raised garden beds built from scrap wood collected around the farm. Proof that beauty can come from leftovers.”
Faith, Courage, and Sustainability
The truth is, learning to make boards isn’t just about saving a few bucks on lumber. It’s about courage—the courage to try something new, to take what you’ve got in your hands and see what it can become.
There’s a quiet peace in shaping wood this way. You feel connected—to the land, to the trees, to the purpose God put in front of you. Each board cut is a reminder: sustainability isn’t just a goal, it’s a way of life.
“Every board tells a story. This one started as a tree limb, pruned from the property, now shaped by our hands.”
From Our Farm to Yours
Here’s where we want to bring you in: have you ever thought about where the things you use every day come from? The boards that frame your home, the bacon sizzling on your stove, the eggs in your fridge?
At DaleWood Farms, we’re not just raising livestock—we’re raising possibilities. We believe in a food and farm system where nothing is wasted, where every cut and every harvest ties back to faith, family, and legacy.
So while today’s project was lumber, tomorrow’s project could be the pork that lands on your table, the goat meat for your freezer, or the eggs and chickens your family enjoys.
➡️ We’re taking deposits right now for pork orders—whole hogs, feeders, and market hogs processed through Fisher Meats.
➡️ Goat, eggs, and chickens are coming too.
Don’t wait until the last minute—we ran out this year and had to turn people away. Secure your spot now, support local, and be part of something bigger.
What’s Next?
The boards we cut today won’t build a barn, but they mark a first step. With practice, maybe with a chainsaw mill or planer down the line, we’ll get cleaner, straighter lumber. The dream is that one day, when we build a doghouse, a shed, or even more raised beds, we’ll be able to say: this came from our land, from our hands, and from our faith.
Because at DaleWood Farms, every project is about more than just wood or livestock—it’s about legacy.