Cabin fever

Farmwithjunk · Jan 6, 2006

Fall was unusually warm and dry this year. I stayed busy outdoors until mid-November. We moved to a new home, so things shifted indoors at that point. We're just about "complete" inside. (As if anyone's EVER finished with a house) Because of the move, I kept the "winter projects" to a minimum this year. I'm stocked up on firewood. All the equipment is serviced and ready for spring.

I'M BORED. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

So . . . Time to start planning next summer's projects.

#1 on the agenda is to take down the old fence, and put up NEW fence around the back yard. (Currently old picket fence. Plans are to install 5' or 6' tall privacy fence. rough guess, 320' + 2 gates)

Then, I'll build a 12" tall brick retaining wall/flower bed about 3' inside of that same fence. The back yard slopes towards the house some. Retaining wall will catch water and channel it away from the house. (with the aid of corrigated plastic drain line and pea gravel)

Next is the shop. It needs pressure washing and then paint. (Concrete block structure)

That takes care of the big stuff around the house.

Next is to remove all the old barbed wire fence around the 45 (+ or -) acres of pasture and hayfields. I'm a board fence kinda guy.

With hay to tend to, and these projects, (along with a job) I'll be busy as a bee.

Just get me through the next couple months.................

What's on YOUR agenda for next spring and summer?

(Well, this killed all of 5 minutes. Is it spring yet?)

fenneran · Jan 6, 2006

I hear you. Fencing is in our plans as well. The current debate is whether to go with 3 or 4 board fence or split rail (I like one style, she like the other. wanna take bets on who wins? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif) I ran power out to my barn in the fall, but need to tie a line up to the watering tub for the tub heaters, The wire is there (not hooked up), but I need to bury it still. Then there is the shop. It's only built in my head, but the CFO is closer to approving the expenditure /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It will probably be an addition to the little two-story building I use now (essentially doubling the size), which will work out nicely for now (I know, its never big enough, but you take what you can get, right)

riptides · Jan 6, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Next is to remove all the old barbed wire fence around the 45 (+ or -) acres of pasture and hayfields. I'm a board fence kinda guy. )</font>

I LIKE your optimism and encourage you to seek help. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have been removing barb wire now for five months and I am not done yet. See previous threads on barb wire removal.
Another stupid idea from Mike

I am now cutting it into small pieces, letting them roll back into position, those that are rusty just crumble. I then take them to the scrap dump container. The posts get stacked on the burn pile.

I use MS Project for my planning, I have a five year plan on the farm "restoration". It is over 200 line items deep, with milestones, deadlines and resources (not money). So I cannot do earned value. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

HAHAH!
-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Farmwithjunk · Jan 6, 2006

Ive got a rather brilliant plan for getting the barbed wire down. My bro-in-law wants it. He takes it down for the wire.

Now all I have to do is put up with his charming personality while he's hanging out at our place. (Sarcasm indicator flashing RED ALERT)

riptides · Jan 6, 2006

Do like I do with certain people. Give them a list, and go to the other end of your property to work on something else. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I am sure you do that already! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

brownmule · Jan 6, 2006

our list keeps growing,have other field to fence also. olny prob is it use to be a strip mine in the 70's.. we have to borrow a jack hammer {for real!} to drill the post holes. so what would take a couple days to complet takes about a week. gurr.. i figure they should never sink, we had to drill holes for t post also. would like to build a round pen, but after the fenceing ill have setting posts out of my system im sure. may go with the portable type.{thats looking beter and better.LOL need to build a barn/shed on farm land for tractor,hauling them back and forth get old fast. we live about 2 miles from farm, we have a camp up there.cant wait till it warms up to stay, hubby works 4 on 4 off. we got alot done last summer, im looking in to the highland cattle, i think that would be the best breed for there. but it maybe a couple more years, got 100 blue berry plants to get in the ground, and an irragation system as soon as spring is here..have 50 blk berry plant i need to move.aparently i planted them in the deer high way! gonna move them down to the blue berry field. well that should take me up to oct. and squeeze in hay time.. we help a farmer friend get his hay in for him helping us, we put up about 4000 sq bails we use about 1500 i aways have hay left over, but thats much better than running short, R

LarryD · Jan 6, 2006

Based on the responses, you should have titled your thread "Spring Fencing Anyone?" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I've got about an acre to fence that I cleaned and planted last spring. Around 150' that runs along the drive will be split rail. The other 3 sides will be t-post until I complete pushing the underbrush back to the property line then I'll put in a permanant wood/wire fence.

The new neighbor wants to put in a garden on a small piece of ground we share down by my pump house. It's always been a pain to maintain because of rocks and uneven ground so we will turn over the whole area, remove the rocks, till in several yards of horse manure ( takes care of an ongoing project for me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) and I'll plant grass and he can have his garden.

I'll continue clearing underbrush whenever I can and there's always hay to buck, existing fences to repair and of course a couple fishing trips to do. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I started with a 5 year plan but delays (regular job seems to get in the way) forced me to adjust to 7 years until I get into a maintenance mode, like that's gonna happen. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif