Farm Projects: Clearing Old Hog Pens, Building New Pastures, and Pond Clearing

Hog Pen Cleanup and Pasture Expansion

• 🐷 The old hog pens are being cleaned up as the farm is no longer profitable for raising pigs.
• 🚜 Heavy equipment, including an excavator, is being used to remove posts and scrape the land.
• 🌱 The goal is to bring in topsoil, level the area, and plant grass for new cow pasture.
• 🚧 Old huts will be saved, but the rest of the hog pen infrastructure will be removed.

Pasture Fencing and Land Clearing

• 🚧 A post pounder attached to a skid steer is being used to install new fence posts for cow pasture.
• 🌲 Land that was cleared about three years ago is now being fenced to create more pasture.
• 🪵 Some fence posts, larger than the post pounder can handle, require trimming with a chainsaw.
• 🛠️ A mulcher on the skid steer is used to clear a trail through a logged-over area.

Septic Field Topsoiling and Grading

• 🪣 Topsoil is being spread over a septic field that was installed three months prior.
• 🚜 A Kamatsu dozer is used for grading and spreading the topsoil to improve grass growth.
• ✅ The dozer is praised for its grading capabilities, with two passes making the area look good.

Pond Area Clearing and Log Hauling

• 🌳 Trees are being taken down near the pond to clear the area and gather logs for a tractor-trailer load of hardwood.
• 🪵 An excavator is used to fuel up and take down several trees, including oak and poplar.
• 🪵 The felled trees are cut up and loaded into a dump truck to complete a load for another job.
• 🔥 Caution is taken to avoid piling debris on old ashes due to the risk of reignition.

Future Plans and Progress

• 🚧 The pond area clearing will continue, with plans to remove more trees and fix a dam section.
• 🏡 A berm of trees will be left to maintain privacy from the neighbor.
• 🌱 Additional planting is planned for the future to enhance seclusion.
• 📈 Progress is described as slow but steady, with a focus on working when time and dry conditions allow.