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How To Clear Land - Excerpts Back to Table of Contents
This is the story of how I cleared a large parcel of land that had become choked, over many years, with weeds, brush, vines, invasive plants, and nuisance trees. All this undergrowth and overgrowth I toppled, plucked, piled, lifted and moved on my own during long weekends over the summer. It occurred to me how valuable it would've been if I'd known in the beginning, what I know now, about clearing land. But despite all my research into various equipment and the features of each, I found very little information about how to go about it…
How To Clear Land - Excerpts Back to Table of Contents
Not long ago, about 60 acres of land in my hometown came into my possession. It was part of a larger parcel that had been in my father's family since the 1920's. We moved there to live year-round in the 1960's. After I moved away, I still visited regularly. I would have been happy to have things go on that way indefinitely. But things change, and recently the needs of my parents caused a review of the situation. What resulted was the proverbial homestead downsizing. We subdivided the house and several acres of land from the rest of the property and sold it. In time, a portion of our remaining land came to me. It held some attractive topographical features, such as rock outcroppings, rolling pastures, some lakeshore, and even about 25 acres of woodland. Over the years, the land had gradually changed, too, just as we had. I had long known where the "nice spots" were, but with time they had become overgrown…
How To Clear Land - Excerpts Back to Table of Contents
This is a fairly close rendition of what somebody said to me while working on the land last summer: "I know what you're up to... you're on a mission to reveal your land. You want to show it off by uncovering its natural attributes." Yeah, that sounds about right. Some country landscapes catch your eye as you pass, and without explanation, hold your attention...
How To Clear Land - Excerpts Back to Table of Contents
Most parcels of land have some positive attributes. Before I began clearing my land, I took inventory of it, just as I would any other asset. You should, too, if you own land and are planning to clear some. You should take stock of more than just how many acres it is, or how many feet you own on the town road. I've noted every significant potential feature, elevation, slope, boulder, and depression on my land I could find…
How To Clear Land - Excerpts Back to Table of Contents
Before I bought a backhoe, other attachments, and developed my, "How-To-Clear-Land-All-By-Your-Lonesome" methods, I didn't know much about it. I knew my feelings about my land and what it had to offer. I knew it had gone to seed in a big way. I had seen other beautiful country landscapes and wanted to reveal one on my land. But I did not know whether it would realistically require one person, or twenty. I didn't know whether you could get it done with a chainsaw and a burning permit... or a dozer and a dump truck. And moreover, I didn't know if it would cost a little or a mint… As much as I enjoy watching this equipment at work, I needed to develop a more affordable and less destructive approach. Despite the fact that I was a fledgling in the world of heavy equipment and land clearing, I did know something about what I was after. Thus, I began to draft my Land Clearing Methodology Checklist. My preferred land clearing technique would:
OK, this became a tall order as I added more and more bullet items to my list. In fact, it required several months of investigation, research, shopping, and equivocating to settle on a course of action…
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1. Preface -
The Reason For This Book
2. Before We Get Started -
A Little Personal Background
3.
Introduction
- A
Mission To Reveal The Land
4. Land Attributes -
Inventory of Positive Features
5. Looking For A Method -
One Man Operation And Little Less Destructive