First Serious Project - Clearing 1.5 Acres

[Jim57]

This is my first big project. I am clearing 1.5 acres for a Truck Patch Garden. They have been several plant closings in our area and because some of the people have more than one car and a house payment and other things of value accumalated over many years of working... they can not get help from the county food stamp office. I plan on taking a little over two acres and farming it to grow food to help these people. Hopefully sell some of the produce to cover the seed and cost of doing this. However... even if I do not cover the cost I am still going to do this. I know how it feels to be down and out... I have been there. Who knows... could be there again one day.

At any rate, I am clearing the land of under brush first, the I will cut trees and use for firewood this winter for myself, my dad possibly some elderly people who can not afford to buy wood.

Here is a few pictures of the job. I started today and will continue to post pictures of progress as the job is done. This picture is as I started as you can see it is very thick under growth.

 

[Jim57]

Picture 2 - My wife is taking these pictures so please understand if they might be out of focus. This is a new camera for her. The Orange paint and yellow ribbon is to make sure I do not get on my neighbors property.

 

[Jim57]

another view as work continues.

 

[Jim57]

Seems like she took all the pictures close together. But remember, there is 1.5 acres. LOL all looks the same at first.

 

[Jim57]

Slowly but surely making progress.

 

[RonR]

What implement do you have on in the pics?

That looks like a LOT of work.

Ron

 

[Jim57]

Ok.. This is what I got completed in about 10 hours today. Sure have a long way to go. This is only the left side of the property. I did a lot of this work before my wife got there with her new camera. All in All... I feel like a pretty good days work.

 

[Jim57]

Ok.. Thank you for stopping by, I will continue to post as soon as I can. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated. Looks like this will put my tractor to the test. Not counting farming appoximately 2 acres with it. I might have to up size later on.

Jim Bonham
bsm357@aol.com

 

[EddieWalker]

I've never done the farming thing or even grown a vegitable garden, so I'm interested in your project.

Won't you have to take out the trees for maizimum sunshine?

How will you get water?

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[Jim57]

<font color="blueclass=small">( I've never done the farming thing or even grown a vegitable garden, so I'm interested in your project.

Won't you have to take out the trees for maizimum sunshine?

How will you get water?

Thanks,
Eddie )


Hi Eddie,
Yes the Trees will come out. I wanted to get the blackberry briars out and the undergrowth out so I would be able to log the timber and not have to fight the under brush. It also will help dry up the soil so the rains won't wash it as easy during my progress. When I finish it will be an open clearing and then getting it rooted before I plow it for it to soak up water over the winter. I hope to have it in very good shape by this spring. I will take soil samples to the local college agriculture and have it tested and see what the soil will need if anything. This is virgin soil and never has been cleared since before 1950 that I know of. Maybe even longer since this soil has been farmed if ever.

This property is below my home and it slopes from the top down. I am looking at having some washing problems at first so I intend to do some questioning here on how to prevent erosion as this project goes along.

I have a branch below I will probably make a holding pond in it and be able to use an irrigation pump if the weather does not cooperate and it gets dry. I also plan to buils a small wet weather pond above the area and I will be able to use it to help control erosion and control the water from it as needed.

I also have a waterline coming to this property if needed I will tap into the city water to help. However, I will never trust clorinated water to water a garden. Seems to me that God's Fresh Rain and Run-Off water would be best.

This is a huge project for me and I never thought I would tackle a large garden like this. Who knows... if it works out well... I could decide to add another 3 acres to the 2 acres I am doing. I know that many here do much larger planting and I would appreciate any suggestions or help.

Keep in touch and I will do my best to make this a success.

Jim Bonham
bsm357@aol.com