
Clearing the building site with friends using forestry saws, hatchets, and an axe. Yes, I know that traditional hand tools are very slow compared with a chain saw and hydraulic splitter. But it was fun and rewarding taking the trees down by hand, and the slow pace provided time to appreciate and understand the land.
All of the felled trees except one will be cut and split into firewood. If possible, the largest tree will be processed into usable lumber for some part of the house (maybe shelves or a door).