Major Storm Damage - Blessing in Disguise?
Here in central Coastal California, we've had a major storm, with hurricane force winds and 10 inches of rain in Ben Lomond within a 36 hour period. My 90 foot tall Cypress tree fell with a big crash onto my 60 foot tall Sugar Maple that held my really cool treehouse. Correction: My tree-removal guy just told me that the Cypress was 120 feet tall.
The base of the trunk measures around 18 feet in circumference, if my math skills hold up. I'm basing that on a diameter of about 6 feet. Pretty damn big tree. It also took out my power lines,a cabana, and as you can see in this picture, landed on my travel trailer, poking two holes through the roof.
After making sure everyone was safe, and breathing a sigh of relief that the behemoth didn't fall on my house or someone else's house, I started thinking, "Hey, you're going to have a much sunnier space over in this area. Maybe you should put some new crop beds here?" So that may be the blessing in disguise. Unfortunately, it's going to cost me a pretty penny in clean-up. Anybody want to come over for a free "class" on chainsaw skills, demolition, and dump runs?
Cynthia,
I love your farm and am glad the trees didn't fall on your house (or the animals).
I wish you the best.
Lea
Posted by: Lea Cox | January 05, 2008 at 08:52 PM
Hi Cynthia,
Am writing to say a HUGE THANKS for mailing your free seeds all the way across the Pacific to us here in Australia. Interestingly enough we are having lots of rain on the east coast at the moment; a big downpour yesterday dumped over 4 inchews in two hours, and cut a big drain through our newly prepped bed - luckily we were waiting for the new moon to plant. Love your site and blog, it's very much like what we are aiming for. Cheers, Andrew
Posted by: Andrew @ 1466 | January 06, 2008 at 09:53 PM
Wow! That was a big tree.
-Douglas
Posted by: Douglas | January 07, 2008 at 08:56 AM
I would love to learn to use a chainsaw, since I have three downed trees in my own backyard! So glad there were no injuries. Sorry about the loss of your beautiful trees and that wonderful tree house!
Your neighbor from across Newell Creek,
Robyn
Posted by: Robyn McIntyre | January 07, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Cynthia,
I'm glad everyone's okay. That is one massive tree! Maybe you can use it to grow mushrooms or something.
Posted by: Nate 2.0 | January 08, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Cynthia!! WOW saw your pics...sooo glad you were unharmed!! Listen, before you pitch all that great Maple: SAVE some!! it'll make FAB cutting boards and it if's not 'hard' enough it will still make some neat shelving/table-top/whatevers...you'll be able to point out the peices and remember all your blessings!! Old koan: "Barn has burned down, now I see the moon"
Posted by: Fran Wincek | January 08, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Oh my goodness!!! That is so crazy! I'm glad it didn't fall on your place or the guest house... and I'm glad no one was living in the treehouse (including me)!! Are you going to be able to save most of the herb garden?
Posted by: Karla | January 09, 2008 at 06:23 PM
OH, so relieved it didn't crash right through your house. Firewood for decades!
Posted by: casey | January 10, 2008 at 10:42 AM
I might be good for a bit of chainsaw work. Pretty big tree. Is it all cleaned up yet?
Posted by: sawdust bob | January 10, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Hi Karla! Yes, the tree went the opposite direction of the herb garden.
Sawdust Bob: Hi, how are you? No, it's not cleaned up yet, too big of a job. My tree guy just told me that it'll take $6,500 for demo, cutting and removing of both trees and treehouse. Ack!
Posted by: Love Apple Farm | January 11, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Wow, Cynthia...I'm happy to hear nobody was hurt. Yikes...it must have been scarey watching all this happen!
I still keep thinking of that cute trailer that I looked at to rent. Hopefully nobody was in it when the trees and treehouse fell on it!
Posted by: Marty | January 11, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Hi Cynthia,
I really LOVE the Tomato Fest cookbook I won from you...not only is it BEAUTIFUL there are a lot of growing tips and recipes to die for. Last weekend I took the last of the tomatoes from my garden (they are all heirlooms I bought from you last year) and prepared the seeds (from the instructions in the new book) for this season. This is the FIRST time I have ever done this and I am so excited and feel like a real farmer! I look forward to when I can actually get those seeds started!
Cheers and I hope to see you soon, Catt
Posted by: Catt | January 11, 2008 at 09:06 AM
Hey Cynthia...I am glad you and all of your critters are safe. I will be by to give a helping hand, once I get cleaned up here.
I have always admired your constructive outlook and sunny disposition AND once again, it will be another amazing adventure to watch what you do next!! love, kath
Posted by: KATHY CUMMINS | January 11, 2008 at 09:46 AM
I was glad to hear that no one was hurt and you didn't have any major damage to your house. We have done all our own chainsaw work on our 2.5 acres for the last 21 years. Just a couple of years ago we cut down 6 huge eucalyptus trees that were over 80 ft. tall when one fell and just missed the neighbor's house. Good luck with your new gardens in the new sunny space.
Clare
Posted by: Clare Z. | January 11, 2008 at 10:38 AM