What to do with 1.5 acres of sloping field?

cougkid · #1 07/02/08, 02:23 PM

I have 1.5 acres fenced that I would like to do something with. It was blackberries until I mowed and fenced it last summer. Goats have been keeping it down, but now I want to do something with it.

It is a pretty gentle slope, southwest facing, so I thought I might put in a vineyard. Seems like this would be appealing to the next yuppie that buys this place.

Your thoughts?

Michael Kawalek · #2 07/02/08, 04:50 PM

Hi CK
If it were mine, I'd look at a combination of orchard trees, grapes, and maybe some garden space at the bottom of the slope. How's the soil, water availability and temperatures in your area?
Michael

ericjeeper · #3 07/02/08, 04:50 PM

Are you in Alaska? Florida? or where?

CowgirlGloria · #4 07/02/08, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougkid

It is a pretty gentle slope, southwest facing, so I thought I might put in a vineyard. Seems like this would be appealing to the next yuppie that buys this place.

Your thoughts?

If you are wanting to sell, then I would not go to the expense of putting in a vineyard. A yuppie *might* find a horse pasture appealing, but even that is a long shot. I can't see a yuppie wanting to take care of 1.5 acres of vineyard. So your investment in the vineyard would not be recouped by the sale. For sales purposes, I'd just keep it grazed down.

If you aren't wanting to sell, then plant whatever appeals to you and your dreams for the property.

FreeRanger · #5 07/02/08, 05:24 PM

Personally, I would put it back into blackberries. REALLY, if that grows there naturally, have you priced blackberries lately? As transportation cost continue to grow, locally produce fruits are going to be in demand.

You don't say where you are so it's hard to give any GOOD advice. Why don't you put your location in general in your profile so people know where you are talking about when you post on the forum?

anette · #6 07/02/08, 08:18 PM

if you dont want blackberries, i would leave the goats there a little longer

pheasantplucker · #7 07/03/08, 09:10 AM

pineapples

MoGrrrl · #8 07/03/08, 09:25 AM

I'll see your pineapples and raise you some mangoes.

Seriously, I would have liked the blackberries. Keeping it grazed is a good idea. You might also consider starting a 'small' orchard to give the idea that it could be expanded. Maybe a dozen fruit trees appropriate for your area. I'd value cherries, Italian plums and pears over peaches and apples, but that's me.

It's hard to predict what would appeal to the one buyer who would eventually buy your land.

Callieslamb · #9 07/03/08, 10:31 AM

small fruits - if you are in an area for people to come and pick their own.
They will give you a faster rate of return, if return is what you arelooking for. Other than that- a nice meadow so you can continue to raise an animal or two?

hotzcatz · #10 07/04/08, 01:27 AM

Is is possible to get the blackberries organized neatly? Since they already want to grow there, give them a fence to keep them tidy and let them go.

Pink_Carnation · #11 07/04/08, 12:18 PM

Well I am guessing that Cougkid is in Western Oregon or Washington and that is why the blackberries must go. With that in mind I would say blueberries and fruit trees. If you are worried about what appeals to the next buyer I wouldn't do anything since that implies that you are thinking of selling soon. Many yuppies won't care about a vineyard and if they do they probably have prefrences for what variety of grapes they want.