First Serious Project - Clearing 1.5 Acres

[Jim57]

That is if I know how to use these correctly. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Jim57]

Last Picture for now.

 

[Jim57]

By the way, the plowed area I was speaking of was plowed a couple of weeks ago when I first came up with this ideal. Unfortunately we had has some real heavy down pours in thunder storms... some washing and believe it or not this land must be producing already. ROCKS that is.... I have moved more rocks some very large and it seems that it grows them over night. I hope to use the moldboard plow to make a way for water to go rather than run straight down hill. Any suggestions on erosion control would be helpful as you can see this has a pretty good slope to my land.

Thanks in advance.

Jim

 

[Jim57]

NEWS FLASH!!

The gentleman that is going to clear the land of large trees and stumps is going to donate the trees and some labor and equipment to make firewood to help the elderly in our area along with the ones I am helping that burn wood. He found out the plan I had and called me a few minutes ago and told me of his plans to help me help others. That was very nice of him. God works miracles in many different ways. There are sure a lot of good people in this world. Here and other places. This gives a man hope and faith in human kind. Really opens ones eyes to see that not all the world is bad and restores HOPE!

Thanks Larry, I know many people will be warm this winter for your help.

Jim Bonham
864-647-9810

 

[Taylortractornut]

Jim start at the top and plow with your turning plowhoriontally with the hill. Throwing your furrow uphill. And work your way downhill lik you may even want a terrace in the middle of the hill to. that would alsom make a nice center ledge to rase the squashand other plants on. Another thing to do is at the top of the garden make and arch shaed berm arond the top and past the sides on each end o allow the tractor room to manuever. that way the only water that runs through the garden is that which lands on it. We hobby farm about 10 acres most years we didnt do very much this year though because of work and a divorce. I hav a friend thats in his sixties that has a small area to farm and its all hillside buts is in a halfcircle on a bank. its next to the highway and theres a state storm drain at the bottom. He usualy has a plywood plate he blocs the drain with in dry years and catches and holds a small pond of watter ontop of the ground and irrigates with that. He plows with his little 8 in and a 3 bottom break and throws the dirt uphill. It dosent look as pretty as plowing on flat ground but then he goes back to the top and plows and throws it all downhill. hat make the soil stay in one place and the furrows look better. while they dry before discing. If he was to only plow it downhill his soil moves further and further down. He has a few terraces in it but its also steeper than your set up. He also grows potatoes in stcked up layers of soil filled tires. At the end of every growing season we let the fescue and other grasses take over the gardens and grow to stop erosion and also make a cover crop. we turn it under again and disc it often running the tiller over it to then let it sit a week or so then sow it for turnip greens and mustard greens. Also a few rows of rasises of some broad cats into them. The green grass turned under into your garden will help and build up topsoil. We usually have the left over greens on it till the next spring.

 

[Slamfire]

Here's some help on terracing:

PDF file

 

[Jim57]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Jim start at the top and plow with your turning plowhoriontally with the hill. Throwing your furrow uphill. And work your way downhill lik you may even want a terrace in the middle of the hill to. that would alsom make a nice center ledge to rase the squashand other plants on. Another thing to do is at the top of the garden make and arch shaed berm arond the top and past the sides on each end o allow the tractor room to manuever. that way the only water that runs through the garden is that which lands on it. We hobby farm about 10 acres most years we didnt do very much this year though because of work and a divorce. I hav a friend thats in his sixties that has a small area to farm and its all hillside buts is in a halfcircle on a bank. its next to the highway and theres a state storm drain at the bottom. He usualy has a plywood plate he blocs the drain with in dry years and catches and holds a small pond of watter ontop of the ground and irrigates with that. He plows with his little 8 in and a 3 bottom break and throws the dirt uphill. It dosent look as pretty as plowing on flat ground but then he goes back to the top and plows and throws it all downhill. hat make the soil stay in one place and the furrows look better. while they dry before discing. If he was to only plow it downhill his soil moves further and further down. He has a few terraces in it but its also steeper than your set up. He also grows potatoes in stcked up layers of soil filled tires. At the end of every growing season we let the fescue and other grasses take over the gardens and grow to stop erosion and also make a cover crop. we turn it under again and disc it often running the tiller over it to then let it sit a week or so then sow it for turnip greens and mustard greens. Also a few rows of rasises of some broad cats into them. The green grass turned under into your garden will help and build up topsoil. We usually have the left over greens on it till the next spring. )</font>

I thought this could possibly be the way to begin to plow. I have a lot to learn but I look forward to doing this. Most all my gardens I have ever had was on level property. My Grandmother use to farm a much steeper area and it never washed. Unfortunately I lived over 300 miles away from her and did not get to learn how she did it and she has passed on now. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I hope I inherited her green thumb on hilly property. I did on level property.

I had planned on making an area on each side (left and right and across bottom to be able to drive my pickup down sorta like a road but no gravel for access and a place to manuever my tractor. I also thought this would help in not allowing the soil to wash. Should I take the topsoil off these areas of road or should I just leave it as is?

Thank you for your expertise and instructions.

Jim Bonham

 

[Jim57]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Here's some help on terracing:

PDF file )</font>

Thank you very much. I was sure I would have to make terraces but I had no ideal how to do this. I printed this information and if I am smart enough I will be able to do it as it teaches. This will be very helpful and I appreciate all the help I can get.

Thank you for your time and expertise.

Jim Bonham

 

[Jim57]

Raining again today /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif ... I know this will sound like a silly question but here goes. How do you know when it is too wet to plow? Can you tell by feeling the soil or do I need a moisture meter? I know the wiser farmers can answer this. Please help me out.

Thank you in advance.

Jim

 

[Slamfire]

When the furrow won't turn over, it is too wet, or you are goin' too slow, or your plow is too rusty....this ain't rocket science, its an art form. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif