How a Medieval Peasant Chopped Firewood versus a Modern Peasant

In the Medieval age wood was harvested from coppice or branches. This is because saws were incredibly expensive and hard to make and used only for specific work of value, not firewood. Firewood had to be chopped by axe and billhook and therefore smaller diameter is easier to manage and was often bundled into 'faggots'. Larger wood would be reserved for construction and furniture. I use the same techniques for cutting kindling from brushwood that would otherwise go to waste.

[@ItalskeSekery]

I prefer the medieval peasant! It's a simpler way of life filled with challenges, yet at the same time, it's rewarding. Despite the comforts of modern life, there are aspects of medieval peasant life that make me believe they had a truly unique and authentic existence!

[@edoellien239]

You have way more time then most of us. While its fun, and actually satisfying to chop, buck, haul, split stack and by hand, I really dont want to bring the wheelbarrows and handcarts out to the woods, and fight the brush and hills. It would take me months to get my wood up.

[@ItalskeSekery]

@@edoellien239 I don't have much free time either, unfortunately. I completely agree that technology is indispensable and useful. However, in some cases, it can certainly be avoided. Working with a scythe or an axe is not only possible but also very effective. It allows you to connect with the sounds and scents of nature instead of the smell and noise of technology. In medieval times, donkeys were used to haul logs, and even today, horses and donkeys remain indispensable for dragging logs to places where tractors cannot reach

[@bushleague3472]

@@ItalskeSekery Where I live in Canada, the preferred wood for heating your home is birch. Most birch that is easy to get at has been cleaned out, so for almost a decade I've been using the humble toboggan to fill my truck efficiently. I usually try to find stands of birch that are back in the bush a bit, uphill of the road. I do most of my cutting in the winter, when the sled can be used and the birch splits easy.

[@MadNumForce]

Tell a medieval or even more so Renaissance peasant you're going to turn a tree you can make a 6 meter long roof beam from into firewood, and YOU end up in the chimney. From a tree that big you can probably make 8 floor supporting beams for a 4m span house.

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Exactly, big wood would never go to waste

[@harwoodblades3633]

Years ago you weren't even allowed to cut branches on an estate in the UK if you worked for them.. you could have wind blown branches for heating and that's all 🙄 I've been working all year in the lakes walling so my log store is full of branch size pieces.. hawthorn..the king of woods 😁

[@vinniesdayoff3968]

When my dad was a kid many the local houses had rafters made from poles and trees cut locally. They may not have been perfectly straight or uniform and the thatcher made the roof even on the outside.

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

Thats what annoys me is so much wood is imported too.

[@jeffquinn5653]

Larger wood sure burns a heck of a lot longer than small limbs. A lot less getting up to stock ona cold night.

[@brettbrown9814]

Interesting video Ben!

[@Steve_G88]

modern peasants use poulan pro chainsaws. they cant afford stihl lol

[@richardsullivan1776]

As a humble peasant, I love both ways!

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Doesnt hurt to know how to do both!

[@gvidokepitis1068]

My grandfather and father did it and I do it too, because it is a sin to leave firewood to rot in the forest...

[@lopingwolf]

Great video!

[@coffeeandlifting]

Limbing with an axe is actually a lot of fun. Bucking, not so much. 😅

[@cosmicbilly]

I love bucking.
But limbing and splitting rounds is still my favorite by far.
So damn fun, especially limbing, I could do that all day!

[@TheudBaldM]

Bucking dry wood is not fun, but green wood... 😍

[@cosmicbilly]

@@TheudBaldM yeah lol bucking dry wood is a chore... Slam your axe only for it to sink in half an inch🤣

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

I prefer bucking with an axe to a bowsaw tbh

[@Sawmill.skills.indonesia]

Good

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

The small stuffs great for a pizza or bread oven.

[@johng2779]

Does that sycle looking thing work on all wood types that debracher thing to debranch the branches. ?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Billhook? Yes it works well on all wood

[@Joey-L]

Which do you prefer ?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Both are good. I use the small stuff for kindling

[@Adamt1235]

how do you thin out your axe handles? I combed through all your videos and I still can’t find any. Methods to thin handles

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Shinto rasp

[@Mrvanna-fo8hc]

❤❤❤❤

[@pardoealan2017]

Can I ask where you got your billhook from, I like the design

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Its an angelo b bergamo pattern, rinaldi also make one

[@pardoealan2017]

thankyou

[@Ve-suvius]

💪

[@JoshHodge-o5y]

Those chainsaws are the wrong color