Conference turris::scandia

509.0. "G�rdesg�rdar (fences)" by TLE::SAVAGE () Fri Jun 07 1996 15:51

    From: Daniel Silen <[email protected]>
    Newsgroups: soc.culture.nordic
    Subject: Re: Swedish Country Fences
    Date: Tue, 04 Jun 1996 15:38:39 +0200
    Organization: Algonet AB
     
 Jack Johansson wrote:
 > 
 > When I was in Sweden a number of years ago I took notice of some
 > wonderful fences made of straight branches put in the ground at 60 degree
 > angles.  they are very handsome and I'd like to build one at my home here
 > in Michigan, USA.  does anyone know of a source of information on making
 > them?
 > 
 > thanks
 > Jack Johansson
 > Troy, Michigan, USA
 
    Not really, but I have made some myself.
 
    The fences are called g�rdesg�rdar (pluralis, g�rdesg�rd singularis),
    and is particulary common in the province Dalarna.
 
    The main reason why they are made that way is to find some use for
    young trees on forest-estates (to make the remaining trees get more
    sunlight, and therefore grow faster).
 
    This is how you do them:

    Use trees of medium height (2-3 meters) as foundation (vertical). Use
    small trees (1 meters) as ropes to tie long ones to the verticals:

    remove all branches. With a knife, split the top of the tree in half,
    and try to bend the two parts apart, until completely split apart.
    (If one of the halfs get bigger than the other, bending it more than
    the other makes it shrink again - might be hard the first times to
    get it right)

    Make two laps around the foundation-trees with the "ropes", and then
    put the edge inside the previous loops to secure. (See figure).
    Place the angled trees above the "ropes".
 
 
    From above:         *            *
                 ---------------------------
                        *            *

    (*=foundation trees, -=angled trees)
 
    From ahead:
       | /
       |/
       /
      /*
     / |
    /  |
    
   (/=angled tree,*=rope,|=foundation tree)
 
   Good luck!
 
   /Sillen
   --