First House

[gm2]

So my wife and I are buying our first house. We made our offer, it was accepted. The inspection has been done and the addendum for the fixes was done. Right now we are waiting on the VA appraisal to come back and then it will just be waiting for the closing date. We have to wait until the end of May to close so I will be one year on the job.

Plenty of things to do to the house after we move in but it has 5 acres and it is laid out perfectly to shoot on. From the house to the back of the property is 300yds. I love it.

Double garages under the house which will be nice. The detached workshop has no garage door though, despite it being plenty big enough.

This summer I will be prepping to start a garden, working out if a wind generator is worth it(weather monitoring station to monitor for a year) and finding out how the heck to plow the stupid driveway!

We are excited and I just figured I would share the news with you.

[helomech]

Awesome, congrats.

[Sniper-T]

That's great, congrats!

This is the prefered method of snow removal around my parts...
http://www.quadmoto.com/bilder/produkte/gross/2645R_Schneeschild-Schiebeschild-ATV-Seitenschieber-Swisher_b3.jpg

[gm2]

Sniper,
Yeah I was thinking about that but I am pretty sure we will get a tractor to do the yard then get a snowblower attachment shortly before winter.

[Domeguy]

****Congratulations new home owner**** ��

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

Congrats Guns, Yup, a man's got to have his implements of destruction if he has acreage. Tractor with a loader/w multiple attachments of course, log splitter, bulldozer, maybe a tuff truck to get around on the property? Hell boy the skie's the limit now, you got a place to stand your ground!

[Gunfixr]

Congratulations. The first house is always special.

Sent from my SGP612 using Tapatalk

[bacpacker]

Congrats GM. Exciting times for sure.

[gm2]

So we move in beginning of june and I've started thinking about what needs to be done and what can be done outside.

Gardens are a given and I need to build a bridge to get to the back part of the property as it is split in half by a fairly deep drainage ditch. The propane tank needs re-positioned and other odds and ends things done to the house.

Other than that though I can't think of much that needs done.

Because of the ditch I have 2 1/2 acres in front of the ditch and the same behind it. Was thinking about maybe a food plot for deer and some brush piles for rabbits and such. Just not sure what else I can even do with it. Most of it was never mowed in the back half so there are a few trees and such but I can always get around those. Because of the ditch I decided against getting a larger tractor and just getting a decent sized garden tractor. Rain gathering would be a tricky thing with our winters and not really needed since we have a well pump and a generator. Greenhouse would be amazing but I have to convince the wife. Fencing is expensive but would be very useful.....

Any ideas?

[bacpacker]

Sounds like a nice place. I'm sure you all will be thrilled to get moved in.

Couple ideas for ya. On the back half, how bout planting some fruit trees, Maybe some blueberries, grapes, raspberries, etc. If there are a lot of trees, maybe try a forest garden. Plant different perennial foods all around the area The brush piles and food plot isn't a bad idea either, Maybe some of both. Those things don't take as much day to day work once established as normal gardening. But there is a decent amount of food to be had that will add to the normal gardens.

[gm2]

It is all cleared acreage for the most part. I planned on doing a few fruit and nut trees. I need to add a few blue spruce along the front half to act as a windbreak for during the winter.

I'm all for doing my own food and I will gladly plant and tend almost anything I can get my hands on provided it will grow this far north.

[bacpacker]

If memory serves I'm pretty sure apples, cherries, and blueberries all do pretty well up there.

[orangetom1999]

Gm2,

My Friend out in Tennessee just bought himself a tractor....with front end loader and a backhoe on it.

He lives far into the mountains and down a long country winding lane. He is going to work on the maintenance on his country lane with this tractor.

He also told me last night ..on our ham radios..that he bought one of those four wheelers. I did not know you could put a amall bulldozer blade on the front of them. If I recall the gist of our conversation ....his four wheeler has four wheel drive that you can engage or disengage at will.

It is good to have the proper tools to lower your physical labors...provided you can keep and maintain this equipment.


The fruit and nut trees sounds like a good idea.


Thanks,
Orangetom

[gm2]

Yeah a large tractor would be nice but building a bridge for one to get to the back of the property would be a pretty mean feat. I'm just opting for a smaller tractor. Between the snowblower attachment, trailer and 54" deck, I think I can do the majority of what I need to around here. The only problem with using a 4 wheeler with a blade on it is that you can't really push 2 feet of snow around very well with something that light. This year we got a foot and a half overnight once. maintaining them isn't an issue. I grew up around farm equipment and always took care of it rather than taking it to the shim of a service station we had.

I looked at the local TSC since they seem to be pretty up to date on what does well. Cherry, blueberries, plums, fuji and red delicious apples, are all sold there for a decent price. Not great but decent.

Can't decide on which type of nut trees would be used most though. Acorns would be nice because the deer could eat anything I don't. Which would probably be all of it because of how bitter they are. There is a sweet acorn I saw somewhere but I have no idea how it stacks up. I might plant a few of those on the off-chance and then just hickory and black walnut for the rest.

[realist]

gm2 congrats on the new home. Hope you will grow and prosper.

I have property with a creek running through it too. I stressed over building a bridge so I could get a firetruck into the property. My solution was to put in a large culvert the size of the creek. It worked great but was just a little too narrow for my liking. Sooo I put an extension on it. It was simple to install and there is no maintenance. The front of it is armored with cement in burlap bags stacked like a bunker to channel the water and prevent erosion. On the down stream side I put big rocks to slow the water and prevent erosion. Good luck.

Fruit trees are wonderful and will serve you well for many years.

[Katrina]

Congrats gm, Welcome from one of the trolls down south LOL, sounds like you've been very busy.

[gm2]

Katrina,
I have been very busy and I'm not even a yooper myself so no hard feelings. I was raised a Hoosier.

Realist,
Yeah that's what I think I have decided to do. I have a few high spots in the yard to level out anyways.