When my wife and I bought this place we both foolishly thought about how wonderful life would be living in the country on our own land. What we didn't take into account was the endless hours of maintaining what we had purchased. I knew it would take quite a few hours mowing, I didn't know it would be 20 hours each time the grass needs to be cut. We didn't take into account the months of cleanup necessary from just one ice storm. We didn't take into account the amount of time and money it would take for cleaning up the trash the previous owners had left in the woods. We didn't take into account the cash needed to fix equipment that breaks down along the way. We didn't take into account muskrats, otters, and beavers and the damage they can do to the ponds. Since we purchased this place, I have had to terminate 3 otters, 2 beavers, and countless muskrats showing up in the lake behind the house. When the weather is good, the list of things I need to do is never ending. Tuesday, I spent the whole day putting up a fence around the wife's vegetable garden, mowing and then working on removing a mosquito factory at the back of the property and then a little mushroom hunting. I was out at sunrise and didn't get back to the house until way after dark. But sometimes I do readjust priorities and do something I want to do. Yesterday, I got up and went mushroom hunting again at 6:30 AM. Then, I took my elderly neighbor fishing in the lake. While fishing, we saw a huge beaver on the bank digging the dirt away from a tree and then eating the roots. I brought the boat back over to the dock and walked up and got a rifle. I returned to the boat and manuevered it back halfway across the pond. My neighbor told me that a .22 probably wasn't enough for a beaver that big just as I squeezed the trigger and watched the beaver fall backwards off the bank into the pond. .22 cal hollow points into the head do wonders for ending a problem. After fishing and getting the neighbor some fish (including a 15" crappie and a 2 lb bass), he went home. I then helped my wife move some lilac bushes and sat on snake watch as she picked some wild plant that she loves to eat. My wife has a terrible fear of snakes and when she sees one goes into a catatonic state. I got her back home after she picked two garbage bags full of this stuff and then went mushroom hunting with my son. We found another dozen and were heading home when the thunder and lightning started rolling in. We got to about 300 yards from the house when the rain started pouring down. We were soaked to the skin by the time we got to the garage and as we changed clothes, my wife came out and told us supper was ready. Smoked turkey breasts, baked potatoes, sweet corn, and fried morels. Today it's back to working on the mosquito swamp and cutting up firewood. Sure makes my days off go fast and seem like it's a never ending battle. There's a lot to do when you have your own place in the country and the days of lounging around after work are gone. BUT I WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY!!!!
I wish I had even the chance to have that problem but I can understand where you are coming from. Seems you will never have enough time to get things the way you want them. I wish I could offer help if I lived closer. I love land work, mowing and the labor that gets done. Something so simple but yet makes a huge difference when complete. I could come down and spend a couple of weekends worth of work to hunt them big turkeys you got down there. lol
Having land like that can be great but work also.Our family has land in Oklahoma and we run cattle...that adds to the work but can be easy if it's maintained right.Still have daily rounds checking calves and fences(during hunting season watch for fence cutters).My brother will make his rounds and carry fishing rod and hunt varmints and count deer.Gotta work 5 days like any job to maybe get a couple off but the rewards of having something to call your own is a great reward!
I would love to have every problem you're talking about!!! I used to have 12 acres with a 1 acre pond, so I know what your talking about on a smaller scale .. but I loved every bit of it!!! Maintaining my own land was the most fulfilling thing I have ever done, next to preaching and teaching God's Word ... one day, I hope I am in your "predicament" ... now quit whining, old man :d
20 hrs? How many acres are you mowing?! With my mower I'd be pushing 50 acres in 20 hours. Hey, look at it this way, at the end of the day you can sit back and realize that that corner of earth all belongs to you, and you can do with it as you please.
I mow 12 acres of VERY hilly and tree/flower laden land around the house and then have the campgrounds to mow too. If I had a zero turn I heard it would be a lot less time, but don't have the funds to find out so I use a JD4100 w/60" deck.
I mow 12 acres of VERY hilly and tree/flower laden land. If I had a zero turn I heard it would be a lot less time, but don't have the funds to find out so I use a JD4100 w/60" deck.
Amen... I feel you there. But I wouldn't want it any other way. I grew up on a farm. Then lived in an apartment in my early 20's for 7 years, relaxing in the evenings and weekends. Spent many days days at the pool and just relaxing, doing nothing. And then a couple years ago, bought my own farm. I went from one end of the spectrum to the other, and am glad for the change. Not a day goes by where I'm not working on something. It's a good feeling of self graditute. I don't have 20hrs of mowing though! lol Actually I made my mowing area smaller this year, and am letting the rest grow up tall.
It sounds like you have to much lawn. You need more food plots or CRP areas. 20 hours is insane. What are you mowing with a hedge trimmer? Beaver have to go and so do geese. They put too much nitrogen in the water which isn't good for the fish. Otters, mink and other assundry critters are on the do not land here list if you want to have a good fishery. It's the bad and tough love part of trying to raise fish.
I mow with a JD4100 w/60" deck. The land is very hilly and it takes time to navigate the hills and trees. Then I have to maintain trails also which takes quite a bit of time. Best I can figure, I mow about 30 acres. If I didn't mow the 12 acre campground, it would cut a lot of mowing time, but my son and his friends use the campgrounds pretty frequently and I take pride in keeping it nice. I have food plots planted too in areas I don't mow. I just cleared out an area to put in an archery range too. On top of that, I am also working on the 90 acres I am to be picking up soon. Getting the land to where you like it takes time and effort and the wife and I take pride in having a place that is pleasing to the the eye. I have had many friends out here that state that our property is like a state park with nicely groomed areas and wild areas. My days off are spent working on the property and I love every minute of it.
I grew up on 90 acres, and loved it! I just bought my first house, and moved away from the 90 acres (ok, only 1.5 miles, lol) and onto 2.06 acres. I'm SUPER busy with house things, but I miss working the land. Heck, I have 2 acres of lawn and I'm already letting .5acre of it grow up. May plant a food plot, too:D Once people get over this insane notion that their land is worth $10K/acre because gas was discovered in the area, I will be shopping for my own piece.
I am employed on a strange schedule, Friday is my Monday and Monday is my Friday. After my Friday comes Mowday, then Woodday, the Choreday. After Choreday, I can't wait to get back to my place of employment for some rest! This week, I put in from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM two of the three days and today, it was 6:00AM to 6:00PM. I have the yard done and the campgrounds ready for campers, but I'm dragging butt and I think I'll head off to bed.
