Farming, Gardening & Homesteading

Discussion in 'Survival and Wilderness Skills' started by Delkancott, Dec 1, 2016.

  1. RocketmanDane

    RocketmanDane Member

    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    3,907
    Location:
    Here and there...
    I’ve had to cut down close to 30 or 40 small trees or large bushes the last couple of days… The previous owners of our land let everything grow uncontrolled..

    Picture Rhododendrons that can only be tamed with a chainsaw and a pole saw. I use the chainsaw to cut back and locate a main branch. I then have to reach in with a pole saw to cut it off…

    The good news of it all is that I am starting to open up a nice sunny area for next years garden :)
     
    Strigidae and ASH like this.
  2. RocketmanDane

    RocketmanDane Member

    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    3,907
    Location:
    Here and there...
    Recent new property owner lesson…
    NEVER underestimate the importance of a GOOD weed eater..

    IMO.. A Stihl even “medium duty” weed eater beats most any weed eater you can find!

    I was able to clear in a hour a area that was #1 Un Mow-able and #2 would have taken all day with my old weed eater!
     
    ASH likes this.
  3. ASH

    ASH Member

    Messages:
    1,505
    Likes Received:
    2,128
    Location:
    Outer Space
    I bought a used Stihl FS250 with the handlebars about 5 years ago. That thing is a beast, and with a good harness or shoulder strap you can let the weight hang on the strap and just steer it with your hands.
     
    RocketmanDane likes this.
  4. jeeter

    jeeter Member

    Messages:
    763
    Likes Received:
    1,129
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Changolandia
    I've pretty much given up on gardening for this year, since the soil in my backyard is pure crap. For now, I'm building raised garden beds and using lots of compost to enrich the soil.
     
  5. anomad

    anomad Member

    Messages:
    161
    Likes Received:
    296
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    NC
    Have you guys tried a weed whacker with a brush cutting blade? I have a decent Echo, but it doesn't handle anything woody very well. Been kicking around a bladed model with bigger balls or some kind of walk behind unit.
     
  6. ASH

    ASH Member

    Messages:
    1,505
    Likes Received:
    2,128
    Location:
    Outer Space
    Yes the ones with circular saw teeth or chainsaw cutters will mow down some saplings. The little 4 bladed ones are good for tall grass. Instead of slinging grass clippings everywhere, the grass just lays down.
     
    anomad likes this.
  7. Theo

    Theo Member

    Messages:
    417
    Likes Received:
    583
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    ocala FL
    grass gator with metal blades has worked well for me. I use it with my 2 stroke echo.
     
    anomad likes this.
  8. Delkancott

    Delkancott Member

    Messages:
    2,522
    Likes Received:
    4,206
    Location:
    SEMA
    I have a Shindaiwa weedwhacker that will dismantle small trees with ease. One of my favorite two strokes so far in my life. It just works. That said, Stihl makes great stuff.
     
    ASH likes this.
  9. RocketmanDane

    RocketmanDane Member

    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    3,907
    Location:
    Here and there...
    @anomad
    I’ve been looking at those attachments for a while. Haven’t pulled the trigger yet thou.
    I have seen a few times a head that looks almost like a wire brush wheel. Has at least 4 wire strands that supposedly destroy brush and small trees. I’d be interested in seeing how they actually preform..
     
    anomad likes this.
  10. DiscoveryLover

    DiscoveryLover Member

    Messages:
    781
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Charleston, West Virginia
    Booberries
    [​IMG]
     
    anomad and Zeek like this.
  11. anomad

    anomad Member

    Messages:
    161
    Likes Received:
    296
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    NC
    @DiscoveryLover are those wild or cultivated? We don't have wild blue berries down here. But there has been a bumper crop of wild black berries. I eat handfuls on my walks. Maybe defeats the purpose? LOL I've been mowing and weed whacking around a few patches since last year to promote their maturity.
     
  12. DiscoveryLover

    DiscoveryLover Member

    Messages:
    781
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Charleston, West Virginia
    These are from some of my plants I planted the past few years.
     
    anomad and Zeek like this.
  13. RocketmanDane

    RocketmanDane Member

    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    3,907
    Location:
    Here and there...
    I am starting to learn how bad raccoons can be for your garden…

    My Neighbors all have sizable gardens and the raccoons are destroying them…

    It’s got to a point they have multiple heights of electric fence some barely above the ground to keep them out.

    Looks like we might be having a Holler hunting party :)
     
    ASH and Justin Bohnett like this.
  14. RocketmanDane

    RocketmanDane Member

    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    3,907
    Location:
    Here and there...
    It may not look like much.. BUTT due to the rain from the last 2 hurricanes I have finally been able to scrap off 3-4 inches of packed gravel and you can now see the MUD below for my new garden!

    You can really see in the right top of the 2nd photo where I have finally broken through. What’s nice is at that level I can use a flat shovel to “peel” the last inch or two up exposing the rock free soil!

    So far it looks like we can get at least a 25 by 20 garden in to start.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2021
    Justin Bohnett and Strigidae like this.
  15. anomad

    anomad Member

    Messages:
    161
    Likes Received:
    296
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    NC
    A tractor would make short work of that task. Something to think about... Beg borrow steal.
     
    Adventurer likes this.
  16. RocketmanDane

    RocketmanDane Member

    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    3,907
    Location:
    Here and there...
    @anomad
    I Agree, my neighbor doesn’t know it but I am going to go buy him a couple cans of diesel for his tractor tomorrow.

    I know He doesn’t mind helping out folks with his tractor but I know he gets annoyed that no one offers to cover the fuel.
     
    anomad, Adventurer and ASH like this.
  17. anomad

    anomad Member

    Messages:
    161
    Likes Received:
    296
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    NC
    Sometimes the gesture is enough. Sounds like you know what to do!

    Tractors sure come in handy if your property didn't come well manicured.
     
  18. Wisdom

    Wisdom Member

    Messages:
    723
    Likes Received:
    1,048
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South
    461B7368-7A04-43B1-BADE-8C9BC80C90BA.jpeg A few Corn brooms made from last years harvest. The long handle is walnut the shirt one is sassafras. Just harvested this years crop. Should have enough for 3-4 brooms.
     
    Strigidae, DiscoveryLover and ASH like this.
  19. RocketmanDane

    RocketmanDane Member

    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    3,907
    Location:
    Here and there...
    I cannot seem to catch any of the local garden eating raccoons..

    Just these little guys..

    [​IMG]
     
    Strigidae likes this.
  20. Andy the Aussie

    Andy the Aussie Administrator of the Century Staff Member

    Messages:
    12,766
    Likes Received:
    18,541
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Australia
    Yummy !!
     
    Strigidae likes this.

Share This Page