had 3 ac cleared how to best use it???

[biggkidd]

Hi all

I just had some land (old cutover) cleared. About 3 acres maybe a little more. Looking for ideas to put this land to good use. I doubt it would be good crop land as the soil seems marginal at best. Looking for ways to best make use of this space. The fellow I hired left quite a few stumps behind. But I still got an ok deal for the $$$ he charged. I would like to use this space profitably. I don't have a lot of time or energy as I have two school age girls and MS. So my health isn't the greatest.

Thanks
Larry






A World Away
2 miles from the grid and neighbors
South Central VA since 08

[karenp]

http://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savor...te_change.html

Check this out.

[jwal10]

I would get something on that before the fall rains. Thin clay soils wash bad. I would plant inoculated legumes with annual grass like ryegrass. You can plant orchards, gardens and berries right into this. Put perennial grasses with it where you want pasture or hay....James

[wannabechef]

Not sure where you are located but generally around this time is the right time of the season to seed, I'd do a rye/fescue mix.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

[FarmboyBill]

Can you plow it? IF so, and moneys an issue, plow, disc and harrow, then sow Sorgum Sudan grass. When it gets a foot tall, plow it under. GREAT GREEN MANURE on the cheap. 3 50lb bags ought to do it. $110

[EDDIE BUCK]

Check with your states forest service about replanting tree seedlings.They have programs where they share the cost of reseeding and the cost of the tree seedlings. My 2 cents

[luvrulz]

Get a soil test from a couple different patches of dirt. Usually free here at the feed store. Then ask your extension agent what will grow best and easiest for your locale...

[biggkidd]

Thank you all for your replies. South central VA is the location. In a small micro climate crossing from 6 to 7 . Think I've got that right. I was planning Rye / fesque for this winter but the weather isn't working with me as its raining about every other day and most every weekend. The weather here is strange this year we have had no real hot weather and more rain than I ever remember. Its been dipping into the high 50s at night already. I think its supposed to warm back up according to the weather folks, but its been a weird one. We had several nights in july that got in the low 50s and days in the 80s which here is very unusual.

I was thinking Colorado Blue Spruce and White Fur for Christmas trees. Not planning yet. But if that's the route I do choose then I was thinking about planting a 1/2 - 1 ac a year. I've got some more land I want to have cleared when I can afford it. Which by the time I fill up this spot I hope to have that done. As you all know a homestead is a constant work in progress, slow progress. Running some animals goats or sheep is another option. Or maybe both trees and animals. Put the animals in the areas waiting to be planted. I know I don't want to bite off more than I can handle. My thinking with the Christmas trees is collage money for my girls and retirement income when that time comes. Besides I think Colorado Blue Spruce are beautiful trees. One thing I forgot to mention is my land is like the hub of a wheel with five hunt clubs surrounding it. I'm the little guy in the middle with 36 acres. With big timber company land all around.

Larry

A World Away
2 miles from the grid and neighbors
South Central VA Since 2008

[Allen W]

I would try to cover it up before winter, rye, wheat, or oats add some hairy vetch for nitrogen, some turnips or tillage radishes for the deer if you hunt. If your going to plant Christmas trees you'll want it reasonably smooth to get over so rough some thing cheap in this fall to hold the soil and next year start working on getting it into better shape.

Mark the stumps with t post or something so you know where they are.

[jwal10]

Cultured Christmas trees are a lot of work, natural are not worth much. Here a tree is sold in less than 10 years and you start over again. If you have a lot of deer, they will ruin a lot of trees....James

[biggkidd]

Thanks for your replies. I do plan to get something on it by mid September. What I put down will depend on coverage / price. I over spent with the clearing. School just started too so money is tight again, it tends to stay that way. Winter is coming up as we all know which means work slows down and more or less stops for 4-5 months. Still have to be here but no money to speak of coming in. I'm thinking rye and or clover for this year. If I'm lucky I can get it fenced by spring. How tall does fencing need to be to keep deer out? I'm thinking electric as I already have a box, ground rods, battery and solar panel. Not to mention plenty of cedar for posts.


A World Away

Larry

[jwal10]

6' will slow them down, 8' MAY keep them out IF you can keep it hot. They will want in bad when that new growth kicks in....James

[biggkidd]

Well that's about what I thought really don't want to go over 5' most fences are an eye sore. Unless you have big bucks and build accordingly. I'll have to look and see just how much cedar I have. Might be able to do a variation of a split rail fence. I've done that before, it looks pretty good. I just took and cut the smaller poles (3"-4") in half length wise & nailed them up with the cut to the post. But that also turns into needing lots more posts = lots more work. OH WELL money or work. Its always work with me. Sitting here I just thought I'll just run 8' posts with rails up 4-4.5' and electric behind and above. Least ways on the front, maybe just high tinsel wire around the rest. I'll have to think about that.
Thanks for the help I'll have to fence it if its Christmas trees or animals or ___ . I was hoping someone would have more ideas how to best use this piece of ground. My oldest daughter suggested cows. Its not big enough for that. If we have animals again I want to feed them year round from what we have grown here.

We are going to measure it tonight and see just how much fence we are talking about. That will also give me a better idea how many acres I have cleared there.

Larry
A World Away

[JoePa]

Christmas trees could very well be the thing to do - you will need to trim them every couple years to keep them nice and thick - but that isn't that much work - it's important that you pick the right kind of trees - and don't plant only one kind just in case some disease comes along - we planted douglas fir trees and they got needle cast - we tried spraying for this disease but it got to be too much - the other thing you want to make sure that there is a market for them around where you live or you can sell to some commerical operation - just don't let the land sit there - plant something so that you get a benefic from the land - even if its trees for fire wood -

[biggkidd]

Ok now I know what I'm working with. 3.25 acres cleared. 1600 foot of wire for each string of fence inside clearing or 1800 if I include the strip of trees down either side. One to the property line one to my driveway. Wow that's a lot of fence posts and fence. I've never fenced an area that big.

Larry

A World Away

[Farmer Willy]

What did you have in mind before you payed someone to clear it? What I mean is if you had no plan, health prevents you from doing much with it, maybe the best would be to seed any bare spots and let nature take its time reclaiming it. You kind of got yourself boxed in now having to save raw dirt from washing off. Fescue is probably the cheapest to seed and get that dirt covered while there is still something to hold on to. Get it covered and take a good long think about what you want before you throw more good money at it.

[biggkidd]

You have a valid point it would seem. Back when I had it timbered I planed to have it cleared. Was planning to just pant grass or hay. Then got thinking about how best to make a little money for later in life. Instead of just adding another expense. When I moved here I wanted this life in the country and still do. I also know I can't handle day in and out of farming the whole place. (if it wasn't all in timber) I have already planted a few fruit trees.

Let me back up I bought this raw piece of timberland with the intension of making a working homestead out of it and living low stress. This was after MS. So moved out here cleared a spot for the camper on the way in, making the road as we went. Since built a small house, cleared about 2.5 acres with chainsaw and small tractor. Needed a little cash sold some timber & planned to turn it to pasture or .... Then a couple years went by things are a bit better and moving forward again.

Thought it may help if I threw a little of the history of the place.

Thanks
Larry
A World Away!!!
Since 08

[Farmer Willy]

I'd get it seeded job #1. If nothing else you or a neighbor could roll grass hay off until it was either fenced for stock (assuming you'd be able to care for stock) or you came up with something that would work for you.

[biggkidd]

Thanks Farmer Willy

If it'll stop raining long enough to get it smoothed down, holes filled etc. I will seed still looking for the best deal on seed / coverage. Getting the money together a little each day. I plan to seed by sept. 22nd at the latest. My only neighbor is 2 miles away and 80 years old. But I will get it done if mother nature will allow. Looked at fence prices today for goat fencing. Not sure yet what I want to do there. Thinking start the first planting of trees on the north side and work south. Start running goats over in the next area I plan to have cleared. Which is west of this area. Eventually I would like to get 15 or so acres cleared. Have about 10 in Christmas trees (if that will work here) and some in fields with the rest for animals.

Would anyone happen to know how long field fencing lasts? Is one kind better than another?

Thanks
Larry
A World Away

[jwal10]

Posts are the most important thing. Poor, cheap posts rot quick and you have no fence.. Putting it up right is next important. Wire will last for many decades....James