any suggestions?

[PyroDon]

Heres the deal on the south side of our drive I have a section of ground .
It measures roughly 40 ft by 220 ft.
The fence line is set in an old railroad right or way and beyond is a thick over grown field/forest (deer ,coons, all kinds of wild critters)
currently the piece of ground is some what over grown with 6" diameter oak and ash trees along with honey suckle that thinks its kudzu . Ive been cutting the trees for fire wood and burning out the stumps.
I have debated on fencing it an putting a chicken yard in but the poximity to coons and other predators from the jungle next door make me a bit wary.
Im afraid it gets a bit much shade for a decent garden , though surprisingly it does have good soil, if not a bit swampy.
any bright ideas for what to do on it , with little budget ??

[Dexter]

Pond to raise food fish? Particularly if the water table is high enough to get into.
Electric fencing, hot and maintained should keep any predators out of chickens, particularly electric mesh.

[Illini]

What if, in the Spring, you temporarily enclosed the area with electric fencing, ran feeder pigs to clear and fertilize the ground until Fall butchering, and then planted deer-resistant plants(there aren't any deer-proof plants if the deer are hungry enough) when the weather is cooler and before the ground freezes?

Here's a short list of some common deer-resistant plants:

http://www.essortment.com/articles/d...hrubs_1633.htm

Hope this helps!

[wy_white_wolf]

Replant with a quick growing trees and continue using as a small woodlot.

Plant Orchard trees.

[PyroDon]

a detail I forgot to mention the reason Im removing the trees is that the power lines run down that side of the drive and the trees tend to get in those lines .
Im not so worried about deer as the dogs do a good job of keeping them out of it .
Im afraid coons and such would sneak in if I put the chickens there.
I tried using a few goats to clear the vines and such but they were more interested in the apple trees on the other side of the drive.
Pigs would be an option if it werent for the south wind constantly blowing the odor into the house but it may be large enough for two without a major odor problem.
would the excess moisture make it a bad idea as a pumpkin or melon path ?
or would the shade of the 30+ foot trees on the other side of the fence create too much shade in the spring ?

[arcticow]

Blackberries?

[PyroDon]

Originally Posted by arcticow

Blackberries?

You may have a point those seem to grow wild an well there already anywhere Ive thinned the trees

[rambler]

Not to sidetrack your issue, but you said 'in' a railroad right of way, not 'next to' a rr right of way.

Those things tend to not go back to the original owner like they were promised to. Be sure you really do own the land you are working on, should you add good fence or a long-term crop.

Just a random thought.

--->Paul

[ronbre]

i would suggest pigs or goats to root out the honeysuckle and clean it up for you and to manure it..then after that you could plant it to a garden of things that don't mind a little shade..some grapes up an arbor between the trees, some fruit trees under the taller ash and oak trees and a nice row of berry bushes ..then let your chickens loose in there to keep the weeds down, keep it fertilized and keep it manured..should work really good that way.

you don't have to use your own goat and pigs you can borrow some as they should do it a job in no time.

[PyroDon]

Originally Posted by rambler

Not to sidetrack your issue, but you said 'in' a railroad right of way, not 'next to' a rr right of way.

Those things tend to not go back to the original owner like they were promised to. Be sure you really do own the land you are working on, should you add good fence or a long-term crop.

Just a random thought.

--->Paul

the fence runs down an old right of way . We own to the center but the right of way its self is heavy cinders. the track was removed back in the 1950s.
there is an old fence running down the property line.
its fully surveyed and listed on the abstract, ownership isnt an issue .

[Harry Chickpea]

Why not move the drive to the railroad bed and take advantage of the cinders and groundwork?

[Bearfootfarm]

Im afraid coons and such would sneak in if I put the chickens there.

Fence it with 2 X 4 wire and run 3 or four hot wires around the outside so they cant climb it.
Put an "apron " of wire all around to keep them from digging under

[rambler]

Originally Posted by PyroDon

the fence runs down an old right of way . We own to the center but the right of way its self is heavy cinders. the track was removed back in the 1950s.
there is an old fence running down the property line.
its fully surveyed and listed on the abstract, ownership isnt an issue .

That's good. We thought the same on a 5 acre woodlot we own. Turns out the RR retained ownership even after abandoning it for a couple decades, sold it, and got legislators to agree with that, grant special privlidges overturning language in the deeds back in the 1960's. 'Here.' Glad it's not an issue for you, as it turned out to be for us. Land was deeded to us, was only an easement for as long as rr ran here too......

--->Paul

[edcopp]

Convert your poorly managed woodlot into a well managed woodlot. Little if any further investment necessary.