One Big Scoop (Thks to Harv and others)

[Carl_NH]

T,

It's easy to make all you need is a drill, tape measure and a skilsaw.

Oh, paintbrush too.

 

[Carl_NH]

Thanks again for the idea and kind words Harv.

Really was a design-build activity as I got into it, making changes on the fly - overall a fun project..

I tested it with the compost and got it half full - the backend got a bit light even with the BH on - so probably the best for wood and leaves, but the occasional bark mulch no problem.

Pics will come when the leaves come down!

Carl

 

[njrqs]

<font color=blue>My new caretaker </font color=blue>

Huh /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

You rich enough for a caretaker??

Or is this some other yanky custom that I am not aware of.

Only grand old rich people here have a caretaker !!

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>You rich enough for a caretaker??</font color=blue>

The only thing in my wallet these days is the inside of my wallet.

My tractor property is a far piece from where I live and I only get up there a couple weekends a month, so we have to have somebody watch over the place. We had built a second house (converted my dad's old tractor barn -- ironic, huh?) to house a caretaker for my mom, but since Mom passed away last year, we re-defined the caretaker's duties from nursemaid to handyman. The original gal did a fine job with Mom, but she just plain wasn't qualified for the new job, so we had to let her go and recruit some new talent. Found a dandy, too. I'll probably be posting pictures of what the new guy has accomplished up there already. That would be another thread, though.

Oh -- you're curious about the financial aspects. We advertised a work-for-rent deal. "The more you can do, the less you pay." The new guy runs his own tree and landscaping business, is the son of a carpenter/plumbing contractor and was raised with tractors -- orange, no less.

Jackpot!!! He and his family now live on our property for free, and things are getting fixed, trimmed and landscaped like I never dreamed. He understands that the tractor is my beloved pet, and he saves all the tractor chores for my visits.

Looking good so far.

Sorry for the sidetrack, Carl. Hope I don't get moderated.

 

[Carl_NH]

Harv.

This is a conversation thread and forum to allow each person to express their thoughts and wisdom objectively in the light of the original article. I elected not to comment on the caretaker aspect since we each have our own ways of living and for individual reasons. You know the NH motto - Live Free or Die /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

My personal objective was to share with you and other TBN members the experience and satisfaction in building this with the insight gained from your original post and their feedback.

I firmly believe one good thought or idea shared can spawn more creativity in the forum overall.

Carl

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I've kind of gotten something of a part time caretaker myself and don't quite know how it happened.

A guy who works for me part time (on top of his "real" job) needed to pick up some stuff out at my barn enough times I just cut him his own key for the place a couple months ago. Since then he's asked a couple times to use the barn to do something of his and I'm always fine with that.

He called me this morning to tell me he'd gone out there on his own and used the 20 horse garden tractor to mow around the barn "one last time for the season" then took the mower deck off and put on the snowblower, wheelweights and tire chains. In mowing, he needed to move the dump truck and decided to mount the 8' snowplow on it while he was there. He just wanted to know if I had some clips somewhere for the pins for the plow. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

He, too, knows that the Deere is my baby and I'm the only one who plays with it. I'm not so sure some kind of a deal like you have set up wouldn't be a good idea with him and his wife. They're in an apartment now and just love being out there whenever I have anything going on. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>I've kind of gotten something of a part time caretaker myself</font color=blue>

Tell ya what, Gary -- this is a significant topic for me right now, so I went ahead and started a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.countrybynet.com/forums/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=homesteading&Number=4144&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=1&fpart=&vc=> new thread</A> on it over on CBN. Seems like the more appropriate place.

 

[Thomas]

Be most interesting to see how it would work for snow removeal??

 

[Carl_NH]

Thomas,

I don't think I will do snow with it since it's too big to manuever around the space I have to deal with. Adding 4' to the front of the FEL makes for wider turns, plus I don't think the box would stand up unless it's light and fluffy snow. 90% of our storms are the heavy wet stuff or mix of sleet and snow

I use a combo of the FEL and back scraper blade, and mostly the scraper blade when we have less than a foot which is most storms here on the coast.

Carl

 

[cisco]

Cool, something else to build for my 5 ' wide FEL. I've already a platform, with 3' rails, so my wife can prune/trim the many trees she loves (FEL lifts to about 8 feet, wife is 5"6", so she can get aways up most trees - yes, the unit is stable - I tried it out first, walking from side to side in the platform, & with the platform, small chainsaw, pruner and wife, the weight is about 800 lbs below FEL capacity). My wife used to be appreciative of what I can accomplish with the tractor, but wouldn't get near it - now, she reallly enjoys working with the tractor - sure is safer and quicker than the extension ladders she had used, and the small Stihl (8 lb) chainsaw makes quick work of stuff she used to have to handsaw through.
Now I've an alternative to using my pickup bed for transporting limbs, debris and the like. Thanks a bunch.