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Moon Phased Timber Harvesting
Moon-phased timber harvesting is an ancient and simple method of felling timber according to the cycle of the moon. The rational is that much like the rise and fall of the sea (tides) the moons gravitational pull also affects the movement of sap inside the trunks of trees.
When timber is felled between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice (hibernation periods of timber) on the new moon, the sap content of that timber is markedly lower.
The lack of sap in the felled timber acts as a natural protection that prevents insects and fungus from infesting the wood to such a degree that moon-phased harvested timber does not need to be treated with poisonous and toxic chemicals (e.g.CCA) in order to deter beetle and bug from infesting it.
This concept is not new. It is currently being commercially used in Europe according to formal moon-phase harvesting calendars.
After felling, trees are left to dry (cure) for 4-8 weeks in the forest with their branches, bark and crown left intact. By propping the base of the trees up during drying, gravity assists in “bleeding” the last traces of sap from the timber to its branches as the tree dies. Leaving the branches on during the drying or curing process also reduces the amount of bending and warping of wood and therefore decreases the amount of timber loss during the milling and machining processes.
TEL collaborates with various organizations (www.ecodesignarchitects.co.za) and private landowners to promote this principle and reduce the need to treat timber with poisonous chemicals and expose people to it.
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