Saturday, April 4, 2015

CLEARING DAY


Well, here is another project about to be scratched off the list.  It's been on the list every weekend this year but it's been too wet.  This isn't one we'll be doing personally, this one we're hiring out.    


It's the spot behind the house, technically our 'backyard' at the farm.  In fact, you can see the house, way over on the right side of the above picture.  This area is just thorny brush, trash trees (hackberry for example) and a dead mesquite in the midst of all this. 


Here is a closeup.  Again just brush and vines, much of it covered in thorns and all of it getting really close to the house.  I've tried to clear it, and have done quite a bit actually, but it's to the point where it now exceeds the ability of the tools and equipment we have, and perhaps even my actual physical ability.  

Sometimes, you just have to know when to throw in the towel and hire the big guns so that the job gets done correctly.  So as this posts, we'll be at the farm, overseeing the project. A bobcat, stump grinder, brush clearing machines and a wood chipper will all be involved.  Should be exciting.

This will be a worthwhile investment in the property and besides changing the look of the yard, it will give us new space to plant or use for some as yet undecided project. 

 "After" photos coming later!

30 comments:

  1. Mother Nature wove quite the tangled web there....I can see needing some 'big guns' to clear it.

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    1. Ha, that's definitely a great way to describe it. Yeah, we have to know when to call them in...

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  2. I agree sometimes you need the big guns. I'm good with small landscape projects but when we needed to do the whole yard (it came with just subsoil) I hired out. Especially to do the hardscaping.

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    1. Same here, small stuff we can manage but when the trees get a certain height and the brush gets too dangerous (thorns, dead trees leaning over, etc) it's time to make the decision.

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  3. good thinking on bringing in the Big Guns. Will be able to get the job done in no time at all.
    Not knowing what direction that is but would be nice; towards the back to plant some sort of evergreens, to use as a wind breaker. Fruit trees would also be nice or a small back patio deck, veggie garden, etc.
    Will have lots of possibilities for sure.
    Have a wonderful and enjoyable Easter weekend

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    1. That is the North and yes, with it open it will be more wind on the house. Trying to think of some windbreaks or something. Not sure we'd use a deck back there but fruit trees are a great idea too. Thank you!!!

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  4. Can't wait to see them. I really is too much work. On our fifty acre wood, it never gets done. We are basically trying to hold back the wilderness. Be thankful you can find someone to do the work.

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    1. 50 acres? Wow!! I bet that is a never-ending battle with mother nature, ha. If I can get a head start, I am hopeful to hold it back, ha. This is a great brush clearing company who charge by the day.

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  5. Yes, sometimes it's best to leave some of the work for others to do. We try to do most of the work at home, but when it came time to cut down trees, we hired people. Not something we would want to attempt ourselves. Can't wait for after pictures...

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    1. Yep, big trees, or dead/dying ones, those can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. Plus sometimes it just takes bigger machines, ha.

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  6. i can't wait to see this when it is done! this is the kind of job that will make such a big difference! happy easter!

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  7. A huge job - which will make a very, very big difference. Looking forward to the after shots.

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    1. Definitely a big job and it has made a great difference. Even though it rained Sunday, we just stood there and looked at it, so different!

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  8. Sometimes you know your limitations. It will look good when it is cleared

    Happy Easter! Have a lovely weekend.

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  9. Such jobs you have to get help. Looking forward to seeing it cleared and what you do with it.
    Happy Easter.
    Rosezeeta.

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    1. Yep, it wasn't cheap but for the work done in total, it was worth every penny! Thanks!!

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  10. Having before and after photos are such a wonderful thing. Sometimes it's like throwing away one painting to start on a fresh canvas. Very exciting!!

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    1. Ha, what a great description. Yep, it's like a whole new canvas to create on. Albeit, a muddy canvas as the moment, ha.

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  11. Save those wood chips to season for your garden. Birds like hackberries.

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    1. We saved a small pile. There was SO much we couldn't keep it all (and they'll be back in a month or so do some more). There are still lots of hackberries around, these were just a bit too close to the house.

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  12. Wow, that brush was really close to your house. This clean-up is going to give y’all so much more useful yard space. And it will probably help with the varmit-invasions of your house! Good call on hiring out the heavy equipment.

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    1. Yes, and I thought about that later, the mice and such were probably hanging out in there. The heavy equipment made quick work of it, ha.

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  13. I feel your pain. We have spent the past two weekends doing weed clearing on our 3 acres after the rains. We're discovering that it's a bi-annual job and are deciding if we should buy more farm equipment or just hire the work out.

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    1. well hello!! Yes, it's SO much work isn't it? I use the mower to mow down a lot and then spend the rest of the time clipping vines and waiting for them to die and then pulled them down (found that makes it much easier) but there are some areas I just look at and think "I will NEVER get that cleared", ha. This was a company that charged to just do it for the day. Whatever we asked them to do, they did. It worked out great.

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  14. I can't wait to see the finished pics! Seems like it would be a great spot for a veggie garden....but I think every open space is a great space for a veggie garden! :-) I SO love following your blog! It keeps the fire of my farm dream a burnin'! big warm hugs to you both!

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    1. It's funny you said that, one of the workers, when they were done and we were standing around looking said "vegetable garden!". We do have a fenced in area for a garden so we have a spot for that, though some small edibles back there might not be a bad idea.

      What a sweet comment, thank you! Our dream burned for about 11 years before we made it happen (and if you count me having the dream from years back it was even longer). You can do it, it will happen when it's supposed to. Ours just sort of fell into our laps when we least expected it and we had to figure out how to make it happen and did.

      Warm hugs to you!!!

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  15. 1st Man,

    I so can understand why you would hire out to do this job. It's a lot of work, we have a spot off the side of our house which kind of looks likes your area without the vines. We will need to get into it in the next couple of weeks to clean out. Our area is about 1/2 of yours in size. I can't wait to see pictures.

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    1. It can be overwhelming can't it? I actually got it smaller than it used to be, but made it to the point that it was then beyond my skills, ha.

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