Brush, Tree, & Vines Mess

Haoleguy · May 30, 2006

My reactive planning is now getting the best of me. You see I thought I was ahead of the game when I knocked down spruce(~20), pulled out the invasive autumn olive(~50), and ripped out those nasty viney things on 5 acres. Now I have several piles. The fire district won't let me burn because there's no dwelling and water source on the land. State DEP says fire district can give burn permit for those with farm status. The town tax assessor says you can't get junior farm status until you sell something over ?$. No provision for someone who is trying to get a farm operation going. Now to the chase I will nicely pound on the fire marshall again before I go to plan B...no not bury it. I'm looking at companies that run a portable brush and stump grinding business...those big grinders that towns contract to use to reduce the brush waste at the local dump. Any thoughts on this avenue..good choice?....how costly should I expect this to be for grinding and removal? Anyone in CT or RI have experience with these companies in our region?..Many thanks in advance.

Haoleguy · May 30, 2006

My reactive planning is now getting the best of me. You see I thought I was ahead of the game when I knocked down spruce(~20), pulled out the invasive autumn olive(~50), and ripped out those nasty viney things on 5 acres. Now I have several piles. The fire district won't let me burn because there's no dwelling and water source on the land. State DEP says fire district can give burn permit for those with farm status. The town tax assessor says you can't get junior farm status until you sell something over ?$. No provision for someone who is trying to get a farm operation going. Now to the chase I will nicely pound on the fire marshall again before I go to plan B...no not bury it. I'm looking at companies that run a portable brush and stump grinding business...those big grinders that towns contract to use to reduce the brush waste at the local dump. Any thoughts on this avenue..good choice?....how costly should I expect this to be for grinding and removal? Anyone in CT or RI have experience with these companies in our region?..Many thanks in advance.

Highbeam · May 31, 2006

You'll still have a huge pile of hog fuel. I would find a convenient place to stash all those piles. Surely you have a corner somewhere that is less suitable for crops or animals. Wait until the permit issues are dealt with and then burn them.

Can you have any fires? Even "recreational" ones? Here, my recreational fires can be 4 feet in any direction. Not that I limit my piles but if you get a good hot 4 footer going and keep feeding it so that it stays pretty small then you can burn an amazing amount of slash over a longer period of time.

I would just pile it real tight, tall, and clean in an out of the way place that can be used for burning. My first ever official permit was easily allowed and authorized a pile 50 feet in any direction. Now that's a fire.

Highbeam · May 31, 2006

You'll still have a huge pile of hog fuel. I would find a convenient place to stash all those piles. Surely you have a corner somewhere that is less suitable for crops or animals. Wait until the permit issues are dealt with and then burn them.

Can you have any fires? Even "recreational" ones? Here, my recreational fires can be 4 feet in any direction. Not that I limit my piles but if you get a good hot 4 footer going and keep feeding it so that it stays pretty small then you can burn an amazing amount of slash over a longer period of time.

I would just pile it real tight, tall, and clean in an out of the way place that can be used for burning. My first ever official permit was easily allowed and authorized a pile 50 feet in any direction. Now that's a fire.

KentT · May 31, 2006

I just paid $425 an hour for a Vermeer 365 horizontal grinder and an approximate 30,000lb trackhoe to feed it, in Tennessee. I don't know who does this in the CT area, but I've seen track-mounted grinders in south-central MA, so I know they're around.

You'll be surprised at how fast they can grind a huge pile. Here's some pictures:

http://www.simpletractors.com/subsite/making_mulch.htm

KentT · May 31, 2006

I just paid $425 an hour for a Vermeer 365 horizontal grinder and an approximate 30,000lb trackhoe to feed it, in Tennessee. I don't know who does this in the CT area, but I've seen track-mounted grinders in south-central MA, so I know they're around.

You'll be surprised at how fast they can grind a huge pile. Here's some pictures:

http://www.simpletractors.com/subsite/making_mulch.htm

hudr · May 31, 2006

Why not bury it? I just had a couple of big piles buried. Of course, I had also just spent roughly $2500 on dozer work on my 55 acres. But the contractor brought out his JD trackhoe, dug a hole and used his D6 cat to push the piles in, packed them with the trackhoe and dozer and then covered them up. I would say each hole was close to 15 feet deep. I don't think I'll ever have to worry about any of those persimmon trees sprouting up. So unless the property is laced w/ utilities, I vote for burying w/ heavy equipment.

hudr · May 31, 2006

Why not bury it? I just had a couple of big piles buried. Of course, I had also just spent roughly $2500 on dozer work on my 55 acres. But the contractor brought out his JD trackhoe, dug a hole and used his D6 cat to push the piles in, packed them with the trackhoe and dozer and then covered them up. I would say each hole was close to 15 feet deep. I don't think I'll ever have to worry about any of those persimmon trees sprouting up. So unless the property is laced w/ utilities, I vote for burying w/ heavy equipment.

Highbeam · May 31, 2006

I have a little problem with both burying and creating huge pockets of ground mulch. Two problems really, settlement and insects. WOn't the ants and termites just go crazy in those piles? Won't those huge piles of mulch decay over time? I'm all for even mulching and reincorporating the mulch into the soil over the entire area but it seems concentrating the material would make pockets of rotting bug food.

I would love to have that grinder come out and make me a huge pile too. I would then distribute it over the land.

Highbeam · May 31, 2006

I have a little problem with both burying and creating huge pockets of ground mulch. Two problems really, settlement and insects. WOn't the ants and termites just go crazy in those piles? Won't those huge piles of mulch decay over time? I'm all for even mulching and reincorporating the mulch into the soil over the entire area but it seems concentrating the material would make pockets of rotting bug food.

I would love to have that grinder come out and make me a huge pile too. I would then distribute it over the land.