How do you mow waist high grass?

[jimmysisson]

Yeah, but how do you mow waist-high grass?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Yeah, but how do you mow waist-high grass?

NOT with a rented finish mower anyway.

 

[Captinjack]

My 75 acres of heaven is at the end of the "holler" and while near to the WV State University, I'm topographically isolated enough that if you can see my place you're either tresspassing or in an airplane. The property forms a bowl with a ridge-line going around the skyline and the property line extends over the line of sight all around. A pond is at the bottom and I'm the headwater for the stream running down the hollow.

I don't have to get permits for "nuttin" and don't have a mail box nor an EMS identification placard that all the other residences do. Heck, if my place caught on fire while I was not there, no one even would notice! It also is a lot easier to clean up if it burns completely to the ground.

My access road is almost 1/2 mile long and 175 ft. of elevation increase. It legally is a county road, however, it "slipped" down the mountainside years ago and they refuse to do any maintenance what so ever. Suits me just fine as I'm at the end now and there is no thru traffic.

My cabin was built in 1916 and has been abandoned since about 1960. I bought the place 24 years ago and have been slowly fixing up the place. We now have a septic system, water system, telephone and power. Just bought my first tractor last labor day and wonder out loud how I ever got by without one before. I now can make it up the hill under most weather conditions.

Some of the neighbors don't know my place exists. I have left the front door open several times for over a month and return to find not a thing out of place. Times certainly are changing but I expect it will be just like it is for my lifetime. The peace and quiet are absolutely theraputic!

Property taxes are going up continually, but still are so low that 10 hrs labor at work will pay them.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

My 75 acres of heaven is at the end of the "holler" and while near to the WV State University, I'm topographically isolated enough that if you can see my place you're either tresspassing or in an airplane. The property forms a bowl with a ridge-line going around the skyline and the property line extends over the line of sight all around. A pond is at the bottom and I'm the headwater for the stream running down the hollow.

I don't have to get permits for "nuttin" and don't have a mail box nor an EMS identification placard that all the other residences do. Heck, if my place caught on fire while I was not there, no one even would notice! It also is a lot easier to clean up if it burns completely to the ground.

My access road is almost 1/2 mile long and 175 ft. of elevation increase. It legally is a county road, however, it "slipped" down the mountainside years ago and they refuse to do any maintenance what so ever. Suits me just fine as I'm at the end now and there is no thru traffic.

My cabin was built in 1916 and has been abandoned since about 1960. I bought the place 24 years ago and have been slowly fixing up the place. We now have a septic system, water system, telephone and power. Just bought my first tractor last labor day and wonder out loud how I ever got by without one before. I now can make it up the hill under most weather conditions.

Some of the neighbors don't know my place exists. I have left the front door open several times for over a month and return to find not a thing out of place. Times certainly are changing but I expect it will be just like it is for my lifetime. The peace and quiet are absolutely theraputic!

Property taxes are going up continually, but still are so low that 10 hrs labor at work will pay them.

And now that the secret's out, you'll have a WALMART by years end.

In the grand scheme of things, YOU are the wave of progress.

 

[daTeacha]

It's interesting to note that people tend to move to country to get away from the city, then turn around and try to bring many parts of the city with them. Not only that, but once they are out in the country in their brand new location and often brand new house, they begin to decry the influx of other people from the city who build houses and ruin the countryside.

The thing that rankles me personally is that I have a not so old (10 years, maybe) house in the country that I've been trying to sell for 2 years with little luck, yet people are building new houses left and right.

The big thing going on here is that farms are being bought by developers who break them up into 5 acre lots to avoid the rules that apply to smaller pieces of ground. This ends up putting 20 homes on land that could hold 50 or more on smaller lots, leaving the other 30 looking for their own 5 acre plots and eager to destroy more farmland to get it.

It's an ongoing problem with no easy answer. While it's better for the land to have people live in dense clusters, it's better for the people to have more personal space around them.

Just to add fuel to your fires, if you guys check the statistics you will find that any residential development, even one house, costs the surrounding community more in services than it provides in taxes. The imbalance varies from place to place, but it averages about 30%.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

It's interesting to note that people tend to move to country to get away from the city, then turn around and try to bring many parts of the city with them. Not only that, but once they are out in the country in their brand new location and often brand new house, they begin to decry the influx of other people from the city who build houses and ruin the countryside.

The thing that rankles me personally is that I have a not so old (10 years, maybe) house in the country that I've been trying to sell for 2 years with little luck, yet people are building new houses left and right.

The big thing going on here is that farms are being bought by developers who break them up into 5 acre lots to avoid the rules that apply to smaller pieces of ground. This ends up putting 20 homes on land that could hold 50 or more on smaller lots, leaving the other 30 looking for their own 5 acre plots and eager to destroy more farmland to get it.

It's an ongoing problem with no easy answer. While it's better for the land to have people live in dense clusters, it's better for the people to have more personal space around them.

Just to add fuel to your fires, if you guys check the statistics you will find that any residential development, even one house, costs the surrounding community more in services than it provides in taxes. The imbalance varies from place to place, but it averages about 30%.

Some VERY interesting thoughts there. I hadn't considered the idea of more houses in less space equalling more land left undeveloped. We're seeing massive subdivision developements in our county and the county to our east. This WAS some of the least developed area of the state until just recently. They're mostly 5 acre "lots" with 4000 to 7000 sq ft multi-level homes. They sell in the upper end of the average home price. I don't know where they're finding enough qualified buyers.

The imbalance of taxation vs. services offered is just a part of the pyramid scheme we call an economy. Only way to make up this years shortfall? Build more homes NEXT year. It WILL come crashing down around us someday. Only question is when.

 

[schmism]

Intresting descussion.

Im closing next week on my 4.5 acers in Macoupin count IL.

That county has no zoneing, no established building code, no inpectors of any kind. The only permit required is for a septic system.

So like others i plan on relocating from the big city of St louis, and building a new house (eventually). but unlike others. i also plan on having horses, chickens, goats, a large garden etc.

so while ill be bringing the modern world (of high speed internet and dish TV) with me, i fully plan on living the "rural" life. Even have plans for a home built wind generator and 200-500 watt solar bank.

the house sits at the back corner of the property with nearly 400' of driveway off the county road. closest neighbor is 200 yrds away.

THis is in starc contrast with my house in south city were my house sits 6' from my neighbors house.

 

[scott_vt]

I don't have to get permits for "nuttin" and don't have a mail box nor an EMS identification placard that all the other residences do. Heck, if my place caught on fire while I was not there, no one even would notice! It also is a lot easier to clean up if it burns completely to the ground.

Mornin Captainjack,
Well, I didnt ahve a mailbox either, but after I got a $45 bill for the PO Box I changed my mind quick Bought a used large mailbox for $10, neighbor gave me an unused 4x4 post and I bought a couple bags of quickcrete. I think Im ahead of the deal

Oh, and if the place burns the fire dept will never make it in time, thankgoodness for homeowners insurance

 

[daTeacha]

FarmwithJunk, I was glad to see you said "undeveloped" rather than unimproved. For some reason, a lot of city types equate development with improvement. Personally, I think nature is pretty hard for man to improve on.

The valuations I tossed out came from my involvement with a farmland preservation initiative we had on the ballot here a while back. It was supposed to be a countywide levy to support a state farmland preservation movement with local dollars. It failed miserably, despite the fact that most people around here are proud to say they live in an agricultural county. I guess they just don't want to put their wallet where their words are.

As it is now, anyone with a big enough chunk of farmland can try to enroll it in the state program, essentially selling development rights to the state and forever removing it from being turned into a subdivision. Each person wanting to participate has to fill out an application each year, and the state then selects from the best applications and spends some $25 million statewide each year buying up development rights. It's a slow process when looked at on a statewide scale, but at least it's something.

If any of you guys are interested in stuff like this, contact American Farmland Trust for more information.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

FarmwithJunk, I was glad to see you said "undeveloped" rather than unimproved. For some reason, a lot of city types equate development with improvement. Personally, I think nature is pretty hard for man to improve on.

The valuations I tossed out came from my involvement with a farmland preservation initiative we had on the ballot here a while back. It was supposed to be a countywide levy to support a state farmland preservation movement with local dollars. It failed miserably, despite the fact that most people around here are proud to say they live in an agricultural county. I guess they just don't want to put their wallet where their words are.

As it is now, anyone with a big enough chunk of farmland can try to enroll it in the state program, essentially selling development rights to the state and forever removing it from being turned into a subdivision. Each person wanting to participate has to fill out an application each year, and the state then selects from the best applications and spends some $25 million statewide each year buying up development rights. It's a slow process when looked at on a statewide scale, but at least it's something.

If any of you guys are interested in stuff like this, contact American Farmland Trust for more information.

Without trying to get too political, I'm one of those folks that doesn't like for any government entity, OR private enterprise to be getting involved in the everyday lives of, or our personal rights as citizens. HOWEVER, when it's an effort to LIMIT future developement and "modernization" (in the name of progress) I'm all in favor.

There's a HUGE difference between progress and change.