Wolfe's Neck Farm in Freeport is offering Chainsaw Safety Classes this Spring and Summer
The class is for adults ages 18+ and run from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Instructor: John Cullen
Attendees Per Class: 6 minimum 8 maximum
Cost Per Attendee: $60 Click here to register now

John Cullen, retired from Bowdoin College and a teacher for five years with the Certified Logging Program, will be instructing, "I have been cooking and heating with wood since 1979, I was self-taught with the chainsaw until taking the formal training 10 years ago. I was amazed at how much there was to learn even after 20 years experience as a wood cutter and part time logger." John is active with the Maine Organic Farmer's and Gardeners Association in the Low-Impact Forestry Program.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment for assessment at the class. Class size is limited to 8 participants, so pre-registration is required. Class will not be held if minimum numbers are not met.

Level "A" Chainsaw Training - Offered Friday, May 4; Saturday, June 2; Saturday, July 14
This class is for those people who are thinking of buying a chainsaw, thinking of heating with wood, are heating with wood and wish to cut their own, just started using a chainsaw or some combination of the above.  This will be a safety and basic introduction to using a chainsaw safely and homeowner maintenance.

We will cover Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), proper starting technique, proper filing technique, reactive forces on the saw, compression and tension (how not to bind up your saw!) and tools of the trade.

All students must have a helmet with eye and ear protection, chainsaw chaps and steel toed boots.  Some PPE will be available to share.  All students will start the saw and work on bucking up wood that is already on the ground.  We will preview topics in Level B, including directional felling, the open face notch, bore cut, use of wedges and information to know before felling a tree. Click here to register now

Level "B" Chainsaw Training - Offered Saturday, May 5; Saturday, June 16; Saturday, July 28
B level chainsaw training will review all aspects of A level.  All students will be expected to have their own set of PPE (steel toed boots, chainsaw chaps, helmet with hearing and eye protection and a properly tuned saw.

Topics covered will include:
Overview of directional felling
Information before felling a tree-hazards, lean, escape route, hinge and cutting plan
Open face notch
Bore cut
Use of wedges
Limbing
Trail maintenance issues

All students will have the opportunity to practice the bore cut and open face notch and all students who feel ready will drop a tree.  We will also preview C Level topics such as hazard tree management, spring pole management, and different ways of handling a tree that gets hung up.  Yes, despite the best of instruction, one may occasionally hang up a tree! Click here to register now

Level "C" Chainsaw Training - Offered Sunday, May 6 and Saturday, June 30
C Level chainsaw training will review all topics covered in Levels A and B.
All students will be expected to have their own set of PPE and a properly tuned and sharpened saw.
In our third level, new topics will include:
Hazard tree management
Spring pole management
Ideas on dealing with hung up trees
Dealing with more difficult trees
All students will use their own equipment to safely drop a tree.  We will try to find more difficult trees on which to practice, so that the student will be dealing with side and back lean issues. Click here to register now

For more information on the chainsaw classes, please contact Wolfe's Neck Farm at 865-4469.

Click here to register now for the Chainsaw Safety Classes

Friday, May 4 - Level A
Saturday, May 5 - Level B
Sunday, May 6 - Level C
Saturday, June 2 - Level A
Saturday, June 16 - Level B
Saturday, June 30 - Level C
Saturday, July 14 - Level A
Saturday, July 28 - Level B

Participants are expected to wear a complete set of PPE and bring a safe and tuned saw. We will do a quick review of filing, so bring your files and guides as well. Each participant will work with his/her own saw if it passes a safety inspection. If not, participants will use the instructor's saw. Please bring everything you own and use when operating your saw. Helmet, boots, files, chaps, eye protection, ear protection-everything and anything.