It was time for a change of tact, and to exchange my gardening fork for a saw and some loppers, and head to the bank of the brook to coppice osiers. Osiers are, in essence, willows that are grown to have particular characteristics, specifically very pliable branches that are used in construction, specifically basket making. Coppicing is the process by which all of the branches are removed, but the trunk, often only about a foot high, is left, so the branches can regrow. When we coppice entirely depends on the weather, and other factors that affect how quickly the trees grow. Often, half a year or more is left between coppicing sessions, but this does not, of course, limit the times we can coppice; there are always more trees to coppice. In this first time, the longer, six foot sticks that we acquired were being sold to a scout troop, but they do, of course, have many other applications. Coppicing, in a way, could be compared to harvesting fuel for a biomass power plant. Although you are doing damage now, the trees will always regrow, and so you are harvesting a renewable resource that has lots of applications. Each tree has a trunk that is a foot or so high, and lots of thin branches - no more than two inches thick, protruding from the top. Thinner branches are dealt with with the loppers, and the larger ones are handled by the saw. Those long enough will be turned into, for example, six foot staves, practical for more sturdy construction, while the smaller ones can be used in things such as fence building or traditional style basket making. I am yet to see whether this will surpass either of the other activities, but I have high hopes.