Aspen, Colorado
Timber Frames and the Working Wood Lot
In winter the horses go from cultivating the gardens to hauling out logs. Jon turns the logs into beams on our sawmill, and uses the beams to custom-build timber frames for houses, barns, and cottages. Sometimes the seasons overlap, and Farm Stand customers can see Jon in his outdoor shop chiseling mortises while they shop for vegetables. We can also hand-hew beams as an accent or for entire hand-hewed frames that look like they were transported from the eighteenth century. We either finish the structure, or supply the frame for the owner or another crew to finish.
Part of of our mission in the woods is to use low-impact logging practices that encourage biodiversity and wildlife habitat. We work with a forester to identify healthy trees and thin out those that are dying or diseased. Using horses to haul out logs is a huge benefit in woods work—minimizing damage to the forest floor and navigating narrow trails without causing ruts and erosion.
