Clearing some new land

atgreene · May 7, 2011

Last fall my wife and I were able to purchase the land next to and behind us. We had 11 acres, we added another 14+- acres.

The entire lot used to be farmland and had been neglected for years. As near as we can tell, the last it was actively farmed was 60 years ago. At that time it was part of a dairy farm next door. Now I have well over a mile of stone walls to maintain, most of which line the property. My eventual goal is to have some beef critters and a few other animals and have the bulk of the fields for hay.

Here's some pics.

Before. This is what it looked like when I purchased it. The tractor belonged to the previous owner.

And today.

irwin · May 7, 2011

Looking good.. wish I had that Takeuchi 135, got lots of stumps and rocks to dig up (slow work with a small TLB), that skidder looks mighty handy also...

archerynut · May 7, 2011

Looks great.

RPW · May 7, 2011

Take your time, go slow and enjoy your property.

creekbend · Aug 27, 2011

Are you burning the stumps and debris? Or hauling it away? Happy Tractoring.:tractor::tractor:

atgreene · Sep 1, 2011

I plan to have them ground and use the erosion mulch that comes from grinding everything for my business.

Here's a few updated pics from this spring, stumps all pulled on the access road, that area returned to field.

scoutcub · Sep 9, 2011

looks great! I grew up in MA, sure miss all the rock walls.

atgreene · Oct 13, 2011

Here's some updates. I've cleared and stumped over 5 acres. The North (left) side of my property is now all field and growing grass. The rear fields are sowed down with timothy that is just coming in. I still have more to do, but considering this was all woodland last Dec., I've managed to make a heck of a dent.

I lost a whole pile of pics when my droid x 2 decided to die.

irwin · Oct 13, 2011

Very nice. You did some good work.

How do you like the electric mesh fencing.. I've got the same stuff for our sheep.

What do you charge the fence with? 110 ac, or the battery suitcase with solar charger they sell? I've got both (We have horses too, a few acres for them to play,,the fence is wire and tape..) I think I like the suitcase better for the sheep.. more freedom for my set up choices.

atgreene · Oct 13, 2011

We bought this fence for our sheep over 12 years ago. It hadn't been used in years. I fenced 990' with woven wire and use this around the house side so I can move it as needed. I've been using a 110 charger, we have a back-up gen in case we loose power anyway, and I didn't want to mess with batteries. There are times it would be nice to have a solar one though.

scoutcub · Oct 15, 2011

That was some serious clearing.....Looks great! Whole different look once you get the place opened up and grass down.....

Brokermike · Nov 3, 2011

So did you cut all the timber and stump with the Cat 311?

Did you bring in a dozer to level everything or use the backfill blade and skidsteer?

atgreene · Apr 22, 2012

Way overdue with some update pics. Pics ****** rejoice!

Some of the left over wood too big for the mills/chipper. Fellow tbn'r made use of it.:thumbsup:

A visitor.

Burning the brush/stumps.

Screening loam to re-spread.

More screening.

Last fall after roughing it out.

Upper portion last fall near the road after sowing it down.

Spreading screened compost this spring.

This week I power raked the entire lower piece and sowed it down with Timothy.

And my newest addition, or why I'm building so much field.

tlbuser · Apr 23, 2012

atgreene said:
And my newest addition, or why I'm building so much field.

What kind of special order cow gets delivered by boat?

atgreene · Apr 23, 2012

One that the city orders off the island due to an ordinance against it. Friend of mine was trying to prove a point to the city, when they ordered him to remove it I said I'd pasture it for the summer.

DIRTROAD · Apr 23, 2012

atgreene said:
One that the city orders off the island due to an ordinance against it. Friend of mine was trying to prove a point to the city, when they ordered him to remove it I said I'd pasture it for the summer.

You need to update your signature line to include the new temporary resident.

atgreene · Jul 9, 2012

Finally got some more animals. I've been fencing the whole lot as well as part of my original land in preparation for some beef critters. I found a fold of 12 Scottish Highland cattle, 8 of them arrived yesterday. It's been a lot of hard work, between haying, fencing, work at the firehouse and excavating, but it will all be worth it in the end.

Once I finish fencing this week I will have my property lines on 2 1/2 sides fenced with high tensile fence. Approximately 15 acres, still 4 more or so to go. (14000' of 12.5 ga, btw):cow::jump:

Wish me luck!