He should have taught those fools how to fell trees. What's the point of leaving a fricking meter tall stump? That's a meter of wasted prime wood material there. They only did it because it was the most comfortable chopping height for them. However, their comfort is of low priority compared to the usefulness of the planks.
A bloody kilometer long rope made of vine and tree bark. That's something else, alright. Must be spirit vines.