Breaking ground
Return to DiscussionsJust getting a good start on it now. A bit slower than I wanted to, but still have a lot of work left cleaning up new areas and getting them tilled. Also trying to get a mulch collecting rig put together. Started working on a riding mower o do it, but then realized the mower wasn't built in such a way as to make it very good for mowing heavy grass and towing a collection trailer. So switched to doing it with an old 3 blade mower I have for the little kubota tractor, add a vacuum/blower to it and make a trailer to collect the chopped grass. We get a lot of pretty warm weather all summer and it can bake the soil and dry it badly. So I want to mulch everything. And since there's 30 acre of field next door hat I used to mow for hay. I think the huntin club guys wouldn't mind some of it mowed again. I haven't got anything I'd rather be doing than tending to extensive gardens and see if I can grow lots of good stuff to eat and sell some extra. Now that I have a few acres fenced to keep deer out I can go for it without them wiping out my efforts. My naked gardening day comes early medium and late, gonna make it last from early spring till late fall. One day a year isn't nearly enough.
Just getting a good start on it now. A bit slower than I wanted to, but still have a lot of work left cleaning up new areas and getting them tilled. Also trying to get a mulch collecting rig put together. Started working on a riding mower o do it, but then realized the mower wasn't built in such a way as to make it very good for mowing heavy grass and towing a collection trailer. So switched to doing it with an old 3 blade mower I have for the little kubota tractor, add a vacuum/blower to it and make a trailer to collect the chopped grass. We get a lot of pretty warm weather all summer and it can bake the soil and dry it badly. So I want to mulch everything. And since there's 30 acre of field next door hat I used to mow for hay. I think the huntin club guys wouldn't mind some of it mowed again. I haven't got anything I'd rather be doing than tending to extensive gardens and see if I can grow lots of good stuff to eat and sell some extra. Now that I have a few acres fenced to keep deer out I can go for it without them wiping out my efforts. My naked gardening day comes early medium and late, gonna make it last from early spring till late fall. One day a year isn't nearly enough.
I found collecting fresh cut grass is good for the compost pile, not so good for mulching. It gets slimy and smelly and rots down fairly quickly, especially with frequent rains or watering. What I do is let the grass get 8 to 12 inch tall then mow it and let the grass sit in the sun and dry for 4 or 5 days, then I have a "Estate Rake" it is a 6 wheeled side rake that makes nice wind rows for easy pickup. The dried grass when not stepped on stays fluffy and mostly dry and will last all season until tilled in.
I still have my hay making equipment, but thinking of selling it. The old tractor needs so much work I'm almost afraid to start on it. steering, brakes, hydraulics, all going bad. If I could find time to sell all the excess equipment I have I could probably end up with enough to buy a new/used 4x4 tractor with frontend loader. Got the hay equipment, the old ford 3000 tractor, a new holland 555 skid steer, and a nice 45 year old international flat bed truck with only 24,000 miles on it. All of which I could live without easily if I replaced them with a decent small tractor. I have a one ton 4x4 Chevy that is enough truck. The kubota is too small, at only 15 HP. It's just good for mowing and rototilling.
I will try the grass mulch and see how it works. Might have to use it just heavy enough to shade the ground decent without getting too thick.
got the mowing deck repaired, the old 8" trash vacuum running, building a collection trailer using an old car axle and locust an cedar wood sawed on my mill. A little box trailer with screen top and hinged rear door, will mount the vacuum/blower on the tongue with an 8" flex pipe to the mower discharge side.
getting a chilly spell now, with frost tonight. A bit late for it. but another couple days and I should set out all the peppers and maters I got in flats in the greenhouse, plus get some more seeds in. Almost time for the warm weather stuff to be planted. Couple days ago I planted another 4x40 bed of carrots and beets. Second one. The first one is growing nicely.
Been running short on timber to sell, need to do something to make some income, so selling produce is the best option, especially with my great desire to stay home and work clothes free out there. If I can make $5-10K on produce this year and swap all the surplus equipment for a better tractor I'll consider it a successful season.