Another Homestead Thread

[Mathieu18]

Like the idea of chronicling this process and appreciate the advice I see from others on other threads. So I don’t hijack someone else’s I decided to start my own…

Back in February we closed in 9.3 acres in Brunswick County. It’s an irregular shaped lot that was cut for timber maybe 9 years ago. They cut the trees and ran so getting this ready for a homesite, horse pasture and crops is going to be a process. But we’re not in a rush and it’s an awesome change of pace from the daily grind, so looking forward to it.

Early shot after I started cutting a trail up the lot line on the 60’ right of way along the road.

 

[Mathieu18]

And some work early this week. Spent Monday opening up that path to a 20’ drive, plan to put a small ditch in then a 12’ drive. Have plenty of grading to do though from old equipment tracks.

 

[Mathieu18]

Quick update… I originally rented a brush mower. Damn thing tried to kill me via exhaustion in about an hour. Fortunately the cutting clutch started slipping so they brought me a tracked flail mower. If you think you need one or the other, go flail. It’s worth it. Rest of the day was a good day, was able to open up a drive about 500’ to the existing clearing in the middle.

Holding pattern now. I need a tractor with a FEL & box blade to level ruts, push back and old firebreak then get crusher run /crushed concrete delivered for a drive. Have a couple leads but ended up needing a tractor sooner than expected so it’ll be a lull for a bit.

 

[TRaGiK]

Have a couple leads but ended up needing a tractor sooner than expected so it’ll be a lull for a bit.

I was fortunate enough to get a tractor the second or third week we moved into/onto our property.

Once you have one, you'll wonder how you went your whole life without one. You'll also develop a SEVERE allergy to shovels and wheel barrows. 🤣

 

[Mathieu18]

Yea I should have planned to get it sooner and wouldn’t dream of tackling it with a shovel. Thought I’d take longer to just clear and would do tractor work later but now that I’m in it I see that was flawed.
Also given the state of the world, starting some crops doesn’t seem like the worst idea. We’ve tried at home but everything is sand, so nothing really grows but pine trees. The land is high in clay but it’s much better than where we are now. Fortunately there’s an acre in the middle that’s a surrendered easement, so it just needs cut and tilled but I had to get there first.

 

[Oneofsix]

Where did you rent the flail mower from?

 

[Mathieu18]

Where did you rent the flail mower from?

A to Z Rentals, looks like they're just around Wilmington and Charleston.