Cleaning Up Substantial Yard Debris

[MapleLeafFarmer]

would you consider buying run flat tires and a grapple for your existing tractor? sell when finished.

also around here if they have 80 acres like you they would dig a big hole and fill with all your "junk" somewhere way out of the way. Cover and keep excess fill for other projects. (burn down in winter also common before covering. Don't know though if legal in your area or if any of your "valuables" could be toxic.

long run probably cost very little or nothing in the long run versus time and money to haul off site..

I have a root rake grapple like this one a nd would be well suited to "rake" a field of junk and dump in big holes.
junk yards and metal recycling depots often use run flat tires like these.

 

[jyoutz]

Big roll off dumpsters and lots of hand work

 

[PlasterProspector]

Plaster - I forgot about this tool. I used this just this last week to burn the underbrush along the fence line along one of the public roads making up our farm boundary. It did not burn the brush. Once burned, I could see the bottles, shoes, etc. that had been thrown there over the years. I think the brush might have burned if I held the flame to it long enough. I also think if you used a weed trimmer (remove the string and put on the circular saw), if you cut the brush just above the debris, and let it lay for 6 months, it then would burn handily. As it was, the branches were too far away from each other to get a good burn going. I used about a gallon of propane an hour, working the way I described. The mfg. says with my unit (a six footer), to get a 100 lb. propane tank. I used 40 lbs, and it will work fine for my purposes which are primarily maintenance of the fence, not cleaning up the fence line.

https://flameengineering.com/pages/choosing-the-right-torch?gclid=Cj0KCQiAieWOBhCYARIsANcOw0zZ2tIg60a-3k5QgAan8u2PpuQ20MgVIZFBHiXyKLvE3G0a3zUvN3gaAuICEALw_wcB

Those are VERY cool but I think my wife would lose it if I started trying to blowtorch the garbage.

would you consider buying run flat tires and a grapple for your existing tractor? sell when finished.

also around here if they have 80 acres like you they would dig a big hole and fill with all your "junk" somewhere way out of the way. Cover and keep excess fill for other projects. (burn down in winter also common before covering. Don't know though if legal in your area or if any of your "valuables" could be toxic.

long run probably cost very little or nothing in the long run versus time and money to haul off site..

I have a root rake grapple like this one a nd would be well suited to "rake" a field of junk and dump in big holes.
junk yards and metal recycling depots often use run flat tires like these.

View attachment 728474

Everybody recommends the dig and bury method. Considering it's old agricultural land and a multigenerational family property, that and I'm a bit crunch, I'd rather just pick it all up. Small stuff can be raked into the top soil season after season but that'd be the extent of it. Those run flats are real cool though. How well do they perform?

 

[Have tractor did travel]

Those are VERY cool but I think my wife would lose it if I started trying to blowtorch the garbage.

Everybody recommends the dig and bury method. Considering it's old agricultural land and a multigenerational family property, that and I'm a bit crunch, I'd rather just pick it all up. Small stuff can be raked into the top soil season after season but that'd be the extent of it. Those run flats are real cool though. How well do they perform?

I understand about the wife. I waited until she went shopping, tested the "burn" in an area where it couldn't spread to the nearby woods, and "went for it". I also burned 2 days after a snow, so the ground was still wet - the snow had melted, but the ground was wet.
And I'm with you about not wanting to bury the debris. I don't know what a "crunch" is, but I didn't want to defile the earth. This also is a multi-generational farm. The former occupants may have been too infirm to deal with their debris, but I'm able. There is an end to it. I don't pick and haul every day, but I'll be finished by the end of our 2nd year here.
Where are you in New England ?

 

[PlasterProspector]

I understand about the wife. I waited until she went shopping, tested the "burn" in an area where it couldn't spread to the nearby woods, and "went for it". I also burned 2 days after a snow, so the ground was still wet - the snow had melted, but the ground was wet.
And I'm with you about not wanting to bury the debris. I don't know what a "crunch" is, but I didn't want to defile the earth. This also is a multi-generational farm. The former occupants may have been too infirm to deal with their debris, but I'm able. There is an end to it. I don't pick and haul every day, but I'll be finished by the end of our 2nd year here.
Where are you in New England ?

Sorry, I meant crunchy, as in a crunchy granola type. I'm in Southern Vermont in a pretty desirable area but the property fell into disuse and was then absentee landlords to a series of scumbag over thirty years who just trashed it. The house is being renovated in stages but it's really rough. I wish I could say it has good bones but it's seen so much neglect.

It's good to talk to somebody in the same situation. Where are you located? Any special precautions you take for punctures? I've got R1s so I can nervous about everything.

 

[rademamj1]

Some landowners live remotely, and are not always present for many years to protect access, so people will dump. The best time to attack the hidden junk on land problem, is wait until fall to early winter, when the trees and brush do not hide as much of the debris.

Rent a dumpster, and then use a tractor with a grapple or bucket, to pickup and move debris to the dumpster. When its full just call for pickup. Most landfills will not allow rubber tires and refrigerators, so these cannot be put in the dumpster. You may have to recycle the tires, and pay extra fee for landfills to take old refrigerators. This may take a few years , but be persistent and the junk will all be gone. I had this problem, and after 18 dumpsters, about 95% of the junk is now gone.

 

[PlasterProspector]

Some landowners live remotely, and are not always present for many years to protect access, so people will dump. The best time to attack the hidden junk on land problem, is wait until fall to early winter, when the trees and brush do not hide as much of the debris.

Rent a dumpster, and then use a tractor with a grapple or bucket, to pickup and move debris to the dumpster. When its full just call for pickup. Most landfills will not allow rubber tires and refrigerators, so these cannot be put in the dumpster. You may have to recycle the tires, and pay extra fee for landfills to take old refrigerators. This may take a few years , but be persistent and the junk will all be gone. I had this problem, and after 18 dumpsters, about 95% of the junk is now gone.

Yeah, I definitely see this as a long-term issue. It's a disappointment because I'd played around with the idea of starting a campground but it's frankly a little embarrassing when people pull around back. So I'm just going to chip away.

The remote junk in the middle of the woods is what bugs me the most. The property is big enough that I have a tough time knowing what's going on in it. When I find active deer stands I just put a No Trespassing sign on them. I really resent having to wear orange on my own property during hunting season when we're posted.

 

[rademamj1]

Plasterprospector: As the landowner, you have changed the rules for your land, and it won't take long for everyone to realize that. Most of the junk on my property dated back to 1940 to 1970 when centralized landfills managed by the county were simply not present. I suspect that's probably the typical case for most junk on property today.

During the early part of the pandemic, dumpster costs dropped to $350 for a 14-Cubic yard dumpster, good for one week rental. For me, requiring 18 dumpsters, I spent total $6300 to haul 95% of the junk away. Loading takes about 3 to 4 days per dumpster.

 

[Have tractor did travel]

Some landowners live remotely, and are not always present for many years to protect access, so people will dump. The best time to attack the hidden junk on land problem, is wait until fall to early winter, when the trees and brush do not hide as much of the debris.

Rent a dumpster, and then use a tractor with a grapple or bucket, to pickup and move debris to the dumpster. When its full just call for pickup. Most landfills will not allow rubber tires and refrigerators, so these cannot be put in the dumpster. You may have to recycle the tires, and pay extra fee for landfills to take old refrigerators. This may take a few years , but be persistent and the junk will all be gone. I had this problem, and after 18 dumpsters, about 95% of the junk is now gone.

rademamj1 - I tip my hat to you. 18 dumpsters would have been an overwhelming amount for me. Our land fill takes tires, but $2 for passenger tires, up to $35 for tractor tire on rim. Metal I took to the recycle place and sold. I went there so much, they started to unload my truck for me.

 

[Jchonline]

Hey folks, I moved onto about 80 acres and the first five of it have been used as a junkyard for all kinds of miscellaneous debris and junk. I've got tires, washing machines, broken bottles, rotted mattresses, three sets of crutches (?), rotted old furniture with nails sticking out and so much more. It's been accumulated by poor stewards over the last thirty years and most of it is so small I've only been able to use my tractor as a glorified wheelbarrow while I hand load the FEL. I've already done two 30yd dumpsters for just the easy stuff. Now that the leaves are off the trees I can see that it's so much worse than I imagined. It's a million tiny pieces of junk seemingly everywhere in the brush. I've already had two punctures in the last few months.

Anyone have any experience cleaning up this sort of thing before? I bought a metal detector and a magnetic sweep but it feels like I'm picking needles off a pine tree. Would a skeleton bucket be useful or maybe some other attachment? I looked into hanging magnets and magnetizing my bucket but my terrain is so uneven.

Yes. Bulldozer or large excavator with steel tracks. Load it all out then bring in fill and regrade it with said bulldozer.

 

[Jchonline]

The issue is that everybody threw the stuff into the woods and bushes so I have to take a chainsaw and a hedge trimmer to even find the stuff, to hand load it, to brush hog it. The pastures are pretty clear. Nobody bothered to use the massive fields to throw stuff away so it's all in bramble and tall grass in the front five near the house.

If wooded then excavator is the best choice. Maybe even a mini ex would get the job done…put it in piles then bring the dumpster close to transfer.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

1 acre of my property was used as a scrapers junk yard. It was the cousin of the guy I bought it from stuff. Luckily when I bought the place they hauled most of the metal scrap off and helped me clean it pretty well. After they were done I had a party where I bought some beer and made a big pot of chili and invited a bunch of friends. Filled up a couple good sized trailers that day. Also once I got the tractor I scraped some of the little stuff off the edge of the ravine, then used free fill dirt to cover the entire area and fill in the ravine a bit. Some areas still show the scars of this sorted past in the form of glass, spark plugs, plastic bits, spoons, etc. I guess I got lucky they wanted the scrap metal, I might still be working on it if I had to do it myself. Good luck!

 

[Diggin It]

Have any of you checked with your states to see if they have programs to help?

 

[rademamj1]

Have any of you checked with your states to see if they have programs to help?

That's a great question. I often wondered about this. Texas will help the landowner with environmental cleanup, if proven the junk has been deposited by State of Texas or any of its agencies or contractors and subcontractors, regardless of the year the junk was placed.

In my particular case, it appears to be a landowner living remotely, who allowed private dumping for a fee, probably as source of additional income. Worse yet. As I clean the junk up and beautify the property, my county tax office has been increasing my taxes based on the cleanup project.

 

[Have tractor did travel]

I'm in Southern Vermont in a pretty desirable area but the property fell into disuse and was then absentee landlords to a series of scumbag over thirty years who just trashed it. The house is being renovated in stages but it's really rough. I wish I could say it has good bones but it's seen so much neglect.

It's good to talk to somebody in the same situation. Where are you located? Any special precautions you take for punctures? I've got R1s so I can nervous about everything.

I also in a desirable area. 50 miles from Wash D.C. in the county with the highest per capita income in the nation. Google Lucketts, VA. I paid about 10% more than I thought this place was worth, but the real estate market over the past 18 months, like a rising tide that lifts all ships, left me in good shape. The trashing of this place was done by the son and daughter of the original farmer and the tenant herdsmen they leased the pastures and barns to as they got too infirm.. For the original farmer, I have a great deal of respect. House is all oak beams and studs. Barns all oak. i see in the wood lot the stumps from which he cut the tress to haul to the nearby saw mill for rough cutting.
I've never had a flat tire. I stay away from wood (with nails). I only use one burn pile for wood with nails, and as I'm adding more debris, I stay away from the pile - no nails for me. I have industrial tires.
When was your house built and what makes you worry the bones are not good ? What do you have to do to the house ?

 

[Have tractor did travel]

Worse yet. As I clean the junk up and beautify the property, my county tax office has been increasing my taxes based on the cleanup project.

Doesn't that just torque your Jaw ? I can't think of anyway around it. All good deeds get justly rewarded.

 

[yanmars]

I thought it was, no good deed goes unpunished.

 

[Have tractor did travel]

It's a disappointment because I'd played around with the idea of starting a campground but it's frankly a little embarrassing when people pull around back.

Plaster - Before "retiring" to this farm, I owned 3 RV parks (at one time). If you want to run anything by me, do so. I see some on this forum mention Private Message me. I don't know how to do that, but maybe you do.

 

[PlasterProspector]

If wooded then excavator is the best choice. Maybe even a mini ex would get the job done…put it in piles then bring the dumpster close to transfer.

It's young growth and bramble mostly. The woods themselves are pretty clean. I'm just clearing the vegetation to find the junk right now. It's all useless nuisance growth anyway.

That's a great question. I often wondered about this. Texas will help the landowner with environmental cleanup, if proven the junk has been deposited by State of Texas or any of its agencies or contractors and subcontractors, regardless of the year the junk was placed.

In my particular case, it appears to be a landowner living remotely, who allowed private dumping for a fee, probably as source of additional income. Worse yet. As I clean the junk up and beautify the property, my county tax office has been increasing my taxes based on the cleanup project.

This actually is a good idea. I reached out to the state to see if there was anything to help offset the costs of environment cleanup.

I also in a desirable area. 50 miles from Wash D.C. in the county with the highest per capita income in the nation. Google Lucketts, VA. I paid about 10% more than I thought this place was worth, but the real estate market over the past 18 months, like a rising tide that lifts all ships, left me in good shape. The trashing of this place was done by the son and daughter of the original farmer and the tenant herdsmen they leased the pastures and barns to as they got too infirm.. For the original farmer, I have a great deal of respect. House is all oak beams and studs. Barns all oak. i see in the wood lot the stumps from which he cut the tress to haul to the nearby saw mill for rough cutting.
I've never had a flat tire. I stay away from wood (with nails). I only use one burn pile for wood with nails, and as I'm adding more debris, I stay away from the pile - no nails for me. I have industrial tires.
When was your house built and what makes you worry the bones are not good ? What do you have to do to the house?

That sounds wonderful. How great as well that you can still see the stumps the wood came from.

The original house was near the turn of the century and is honestly holding up really well. The additions over the years have had some issues. Needs new a new roof, new chimneys, whole interior renovation. That's the good half.

The other half was a house they hauled in by wagon from a neighboring town in the 20s and attached to the existing house on a separate foundation with an earthen basement. Foundation is screwed from poor drainage and had caused the juncture where the two were physically attached to sag, causing decades of leakage and rot. Rot so deep you can take a piece of siding off and get elbow deep inside it. The ceiling between the first and second floor of the addition drops a piece of plaster every week. The people who littered the place with garbage were the ones maintaining it. The attached side is a down to the studs, then replace the studs, gut job in need of everything, including a new foundation.

Thankfully the original side is nearing completion on renovation. We're doing it in period style with as much salvaged hardware as possible.

 

[dirttoys]

Like several have said above, get something with tracks and a blade or good grapple/bucket and make piles.

I think there is room to disagree, but, I would try and get all the brush, junk, and even some top soil, kind of scorched earth. then put it back how you want it, without worrying about running over nails, rebar, etc.

If you do it with an x, and the conditions could work, just burying all of it, isn't all that bad if not in a wet land, or near a water table.

Good luck!! I have done some of this, and where I am, unfortunately the best course has been scrape and load a dump trailer, and haul it off, time consuming, but, it is all gone.

Best,

ed