Breaking new ground. What a PITA.

   / Breaking new ground. What a PITA. #22  
Can you imagine doing that with a single mule? Long ago when I was young dumb and full of C#@ I tried clearing virgin land. the plan was to start with the trees then the stumps then the roots then the rocks. The only mechanized tool I had was a chain saw.
I never got past the trees.
Then you weren't so dumb after all...(y)
 
   / Breaking new ground. What a PITA. #23  
I never got past the trees.
My grandfather used to tell me about how he would take a digging bar and make a hole under a stump which he would fill with corn. He would then put the hogs in that area and let them root out the corn to loosen the stump. He related that to me as I "helped" him remove some apple stumps with a 1/4 stick placed under each one. Grandpa said it so it must be true.
 
   / Breaking new ground. What a PITA. #24  
When you think about it a lot of the old ways has been lost, our grandfathers and our fathers had it hard and everything they did was done by a hard way. I learned so much working with my dad and watching how he was able to achieve what almost always seemed impossible. I don't ever remember him giving up.
 
   / Breaking new ground. What a PITA.
  • Thread Starter
#25  
Your T-B-N PROFILE does not show a 47-hp tractor. (kioti ck2610hst)
I thought I edited that I ordered the 26Horse tractor but the 47 horse one came in and supply chain issues made the advent of the smaller un unlikely. So I got the bigger one.
 
   / Breaking new ground. What a PITA. #27  
When you think about it a lot of the old ways has been lost, our grandfathers and our fathers had it hard and everything they did was done by a hard way. I learned so much working with my dad and watching how he was able to achieve what almost always seemed impossible. I don't ever remember him giving up.
Have to add women also. Growing up, grandparents lived next door on farm. I can remember my 5ft ,98# grandmother remove a tree stump! I have her garden tools they look like made for a child...and I'm not talking small trees either. Working 1-2 days almost nonstop.
 
   / Breaking new ground. What a PITA. #28  
My grandfather used to tell me about how he would take a digging bar and make a hole under a stump which he would fill with corn. He would then put the hogs in that area and let them root out the corn to loosen the stump. He related that to me as I "helped" him remove some apple stumps with a 1/4 stick placed under each one. Grandpa said it so it must be true.
Your grandpa was a smart man.
 
   / Breaking new ground. What a PITA. #29  
I once had to tackle a tough job that included lots of saplings that had taken over a well compacted gravel road bed.
But I was prepared.

I quickly DIY'd an oversized clamp on 12 inch 'tooth'.
Used a1 inch old truck axle as my 'tooth' and fashioned a dual clamping device much like U see for clamp on trailer hitches, and centered it on my FEL bucket between my teeth.
I'd drive that sharpened axle (tooth) under the root balls, curl my bucket and out would pop the root balls mostly clear of any soil.

While my bucket did have a tooth bar I knew the compacted road bed would resist and as well I'd otherwise have created a mess.

That 'tooth' worked best on poplar and cedars but also handled maple saplings.
Most of that overgrowth was in the 4-6 foot range.
 
   / Breaking new ground. What a PITA. #30  
Back in the old days we had a 1 bottom breaker plow. Very high clearance for trash. Single bottom to stop plugging between bottoms. Where I live was all forest, logged over early 1900s. When we clear anything now it’s get the big stuff - like mid sized dozer to wipe stumps and roots off into a windrow, 30” blade offset disk to chop it up deep. You’re in Jersey- isn’t snow coming soon or does it melt in a day and plunge onward?
 

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