How to extract a tree from an old stump...

Some weeks nothing exciting happens out our way. In fact, some weeks no cars even go past our gate. Other weeks, my husband gets a mad glint in his eye, and we all know we are up for some entertainment. Last week - first chance to make use of his newly acquired blasting certificate. That's right - a Blasting Certificate. Yes - he is special. So is his brother, who completed the course with him.

A typical day in the countryside.....

Okay - so a big old stump out the back of the farm 'needed' to be blown up. "But wait", cried the gardening wife - "There is a lancewood and a putaputaweta tree growing in the stump. Try and get them out so I can replant them". Er! "Let's just wait and see what happens", says husband to wife. (See the trees growing in the stump, below).

BEFORE! See the two trees growing in the stump?

The Blasting Brothers prepping the hole

BOOM

That piece in the middle of the dust debris is larger than a
human, and flew about 100 metres away!!

After sending onlookers a long long way away up a hill, the blast duly happens. The stump is blown sky high, with some huge chunks (larger than human size) landing over 100 metres away. After lots of excitement and yahooing, we make our way back to the stump site. A huge hole is now where the stump was, and hallelujah - there are my trees, about 30m away, COMPLETELY INTACT!!! One tree sustained minor injuries, but they were both fine. Couldn;t believe it!!

AFTER! The hole where the stump once stood.
We had been up on the skyline behind to watch the blast. 

Sam holding the two salvaged trees - roots intact

They are now planted down at the pizza oven, and we even planted the lancewood in behind an old stump we had moved there previously, just so it felt at home. George, of course, thinks this is a marvellous new business opportunity - how to extract trees from tricky places!!! Me - well I'm just happy it all ended well, with no limbs (human or otherwise) blown off. Told you he was special... Rx