I Bought 42 wooded acres and its a mess.

[City Farmer]

Waiting really sucks. My plan, if it all works out is to clear about 5-7 acres towards the front but far enough off the road so nobody can see my house. Then start chipping away at the clean up. About 30 Years ago there was a go kart race track there(only in the front 150') Its all over grown but some of the asphalt is still there. That would the best job for my 9yr old, spend his days clearing and filling holes instead of playing video games. Now that we don't have ANY tv (canceled the cable) he's desperate for something to do.

 

[wmonroe]

Sorry to hear about the distant relatives ruining your plans. Just remember there is usually a good reason stuff happens, even though it is hard to see at the time.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

When my dad had land cleared many years ago, the tops and stumps were just pushed into piles along the edge of the woods. We cut firewood from it while it was still good enough, but it didn't take too long for the stuff to just rot away.

 

[lockhaven]

until wood is split so that it dries it will rot. Wood does not dry with the bark around it, bark is water proof. Just look at an old fence board, all dried out cracking but not rotten and 1 inch thick. Take a limb 2 inch thick if it has the bark on it rotten in a year with no bark just like the fence.

 

[forgeblast]

There are gardens called Stumpery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia you could use them to landscape.

 

[Tororider]

I am not too far from you over here near Ann Arbor. Lake St. Clair has some great smallmouth bass fishing and walleye fishing, and I would love to Sturgeon fish in the river. Good luck with getting this all sorted out.

 

[Cranbrook Hill]

Hi everyone, I bought 42 wooded acres last week(I close Thursday or Friday of this week) and need a little help/guidance on the best way to attack it and clean it up. Any and all input is greatly appreciated so thanks in advance. The good, its ALL hard wood (mostly oak, maple and a lot of standing dead ash) its completely wooded from one end to the other, 35 minutes from work, 2 miles from the St. Clair river/lake (thats where we fish and boat all summer). Now for the bad. At some point there were loggers in there and they made a horrible mess of everything. They took all the big oaks 4'-5' diameter and left everything they didn't want. Most of the trees are mature 10"-20" round. I have a lot of time, in a few years I plan on building the last home I'll ever live in. In the mean time, I think I have to go in to the fire wood selling business and I'm not sure on how to do that. I have a small dozer Case 350B, Ford 4400 TLB, Ford 3000 to get me started. I'm thinking my 2wd tractors will be ok because the land is completely flat. I think a grapple and a fire wood processor is in the near future. FWIW here's a few pictures from this afternoon. There's piles and piles of wood like this everywhere , some huge oak logs are already cut, stacked and sorted. Piles of 8'-10' long 12"-20"dia already stacked.

I don't know how good you are with running heavy equipment but here is the way I would attack your project: buy your self an older excavator like a cat 120e or something in that price range (should be able to buy a decent one for 15000 to 18000 bucks) do all your clearing and brush removal with the hoe. Then put salvageable wood aside and pile for future use: ie firewood sales, have a sawyer come in and mill for you. You can clear the property the way you want and are able to turn it into your own "park". Built your house using your own lumber (timber frame??? maybe) for trim etc, use the wood for outbuildings sheds and shops. Use your hoe for foundation work, trench for water and other utilities, build your roads using hoe and dozer and your done in no time with your project. rather then spending the next 15-20 years slaving away on your tractor use an excavator and enjoy your place. when your done with the hoe sell it and be done with the project. just my 2 cents.

 

[carmedic]

By widow makers I'm assuming you mean dead limbs falling?

 

[City Farmer]

I finally heard back from the realtor and she's been in contact with the sellers attorney. They still have my deposit but have no idea how long the process is going to take for them to force sale. Our purchase agreement expired on Dec. 23rd. She said she'll keep my deposit and keep me updated as things progress. I'm trying to stay positive but without a written agreement, they can pull the plug anytime and return my deposit. I gave them an option which they were surprised about, I told them to deed the "hold out" seller their 5%(2acres) of the property and I'd still be willing to pay their asking price. Maybe that will give them some ammo when they head to court.
@ cranbrook hill, I've seriously thought about an excavator. "If" it all goes thru, my plan is to go at it with the equipment I have. I took some TBN advice and talked to a DNR officer. He said there's a REALLY good chance I'd be able to get them to do some clearing and put the pond in for me all for free. It would be wood duck habitat. I have no problem with duck houses and having them come out to manage and make suggestions on how to create animal habitat. If that doesn't go through and I'm not making the progress I'm expecting with my equipment. I'll rent a 20-25ton ex. for a week, run it 24/7 with my brother and buddy to wrap it up.

 

[City Farmer]

By widow makers I'm assuming you mean dead limbs falling?

Yep, He's talking about the dead trees leaning against other trees all over the property. If your not looking up while walking/working its a good way for the Mrs. to get some early life insurance. I'm not giving her the satisfaction. Sometimes they're straight as an arrow for 40' and the top 20'-30' is just waiting to come down.