Use ‘Tree of Heaven’ Wood to Make This

When I started my farming journey I learned there are two types of farmers.

One type of farmer does everything perfectly, using the most expensive materials and equipment. Everything must be high-end, beautiful, instagram-able.

Then there’s the other kind. Hint. I’m the other kind. The other kind of farmer focuses on function, tries to use materials already on the farm, and absolutely nothing is required to look cute.

Here at Frostin Farms, I like to focus on taste. But that doesn’t mean the trellis that my grapes grows on is some $5,000 high-end thing.

In fact, I have been going to war with the Trees of Heaven that keep popping up everywhere for the last couple of years.

Last year, I gave up in one corner of the yard. They aren’t that bad in that spot. I thought.

This year, by June, even that spot had gotten out of hand. They were full trees by this point.

But I noticed something I hadn’t before.

Wait … this wood is perfect to build things with.

I cut each tree down, removed the leaves and let the trees dry out for a few weeks.

Over the last few days, I’ve been using the wood to make a new grape trellis. —My seedless concord grapes are going crazy. I can’t stop them so I best build something they can climb on.

It’s not pretty. But it will work.

We might have to double up on more Tree of Heaven wood to fortify it a little bit. But we will cross that bridge when we get to it.

My daughter helping me set the trellis in a touch of cement as a final touch.

Now, the next time the Trees of Heaven pop up, I might let them grow in a spot long enough to harvest the wood for my next project.

Though, I also noticed that the wood is bendable while it’s growing so I might train the tree to curve for a curved trellis. Yes!

Now, instead of going to war, I can’t wait for them to grow.