Limb everything and drag out the logs. Stack the brush in pile(s) and burn them. Cut the stumps off as low as you can get them. A bush hog isn't going to have a problem going over them even if they stick up an inch or two. Just make sure you cut them nice and flat so you don't puncture a tire. That will get everything under control. Then you can start working the stumps down. I wouldn't dig them because it will just make a huge mess. Grind them or let them rot.
Here's the photo we look at to keep us motivated to knock more of those trees down… from the porch, before we started knocking any down.
Stinny, the first question that comes to my mind is why the hurry? Like you stated, you have lots of years left in you and the boys have even more. Why not set some goals to have so much done per year rather than try to do a lot at once? In addition, for removing stumps, the absolute easiest way to remove stumps is to leave them fastened onto the tree, or vice versa. Then if the trees aren't too large, a medium sized tractor with a front end loader can push a tree over quite easy. A larger tractor or dozer can do it even easier. So, if this was my lot, that is probably what I'd do. In addition, you have lots of trees down already and I would get those bucked up first before tackling the rest. You have a beautiful place there and it can be made to look even better but rushing things in an area where you want to go to do some relaxing to me would take a lot out of the enjoyment of the place. One other thing I noticed is that the tree looks really close to the chimney. Has that been a problem or will it be in the future? Good luck and be sure to have some fun while you are doing this. Also don't try to work the boys too hard and take the enjoyment from them. One thing I learned (wish it had been sooner) is that sons need dad to spend time with them; when they are young and even when they are grown men.
Why in the world do you want to cut all the trees and plant grass? Looks like a really nice piece of land. Thin the trees so that they will grow into good lumber/trees. Just clear around home to keep the bugs down and bit of breeze. We need to preserve our forests. And keep a home for wildlife/plants. Every little bit makes a difference in keeping necessary corridors/acreage available. Cut what you need, as you need it. That will let trees grow and put on wood for you, so in the long run you'll have more. Eventually, leave at least some woods on the property. Just my two cents.
When I moved here and had my house built, it was all woods. I wanted a garden space. I cut down the whatever was burnable and put it in a wheelbarrow and pushed it back to the house. Then I hired someone to some in and strip it down by removing all the tree stumps and just push everything around to level it out. All the roots just pushed into one long row at one edge. Then I hired someone else to come in and grind up the garden space so I could till and plant in it. That row of stumps etc. has disappeared. You would never know it was there. Took 20 years to do it, but it is gone. I stopped gardening there and a lot of brush grew back. I have since cut that back down. If I had a John Deer like you have, I would trim the logs and pull them out. I would never tackle anything like that again, but back then, I was young and willing to do about anything I could to get my wood and have a garden. It is a wonder I didn't kill myself doing something stupid. My sons came and cleaned up the second mess I made and told me never again cut and drop without clean up before the next cut!
Wow… just… wow. You sure you haven't known me for like 50 plus years? Your observations are spot on. I made sure that the 2 guys were involved enough in the build of the cabin so they would really feel like it's theirs. I know my son does feel that way and in time, so will my son n law. My hurry up thoughts are more wishful thinking anyway, because even though the guys are crazy about the place, they just don't have time right now in their lives. So, it'll probably go along almost exactly as you, and a few others, have suggested. My big push was in 2011 with the build. I pre-cut and hauled all of the pieces of the floor, walls and roof rafters 100 plus miles each trip. We did 16 trips all summer and fall. And, the guys were there every weekend. I was and am impressed. Young guys usually have better things to do on every good weather weekend. Any time we're up there we enjoy it, that's for sure. We're all just a bit impatient. Oh well. Thanks for your thoughts. You made my night… along with so many other guys on here. This site is quite a find.
Don't know where you're from but I can tell ya, trees disappearing on this property, or the thousands of acres around it here in Maine, isn't even remotely a problem. Our lot is about 8 acres. If we don't clear this old field enough to be able to knock it down at least once a year, the cabin will still be nice, but, just in the woods. The view is why the cabin is there. There is a pretty good slope too, so planting the grass is mostly to prevent erosion. BTW, we're not the first ones to think that keeping this area cleared was a good idea… around 150-160 years ago, a house stood on the exact spot where the cabin does now. There are the remnants of an old stone foundation under the gravel pad, now under the cabin. In fact, I cut a 14" yellow birch down that had grown up thru the middle of the stone foundation. The area we're working on also has stonewalls around it from years back. Cool spot. Been in my family for most of those 150 years. Now I know it's not like this all over, as far as tree numbers go. My brother lives in Colo and it's mostly scrub fields and a few softwoods around him. No water. Having too much tree and alder growth is our problem. Every tree dropped will eventually get burned either at the cabin, son's house or mine, that's for sure.
Here is some good information about Maine forest. We have way more trees now than we did 100 years ago. http://www.forestsformainesfuture.org/forest-facts/
hey Stinny, I've heard some crazy stuff goes on up thar in them Mainer woods, you sure that ain't a body bag in the lower right corner of that second cabin pic?
Don't knock all patch cuts, they can be quite good for the overall health of your forest and it's residents. The succession of growth as it comes back in will attract a lot of different critters that can't thrive in a more mature evenly aged forest which this former farmland probably is. Although I would be less concerned with getting it stumped out and turned into a field. Let the raspberries grow on the high side of the hill. Mow a section of it every year so there are always some mature ones. Let some bigger saplings come up on the downhill edges. Then keep you eyes open as everything from song birds to moose start to show up. I found an old grouse nest in the raspberry thicket directly behind my camp a few years ago when I was cutting it back. Seeing those old egg shells and knowing that I helped give them the cover to make a start in life was payback enough for my efforts. And it's fun to pick berries with the kids too.
Stinny, that is a beautiful cabin and piece of land! Great history to go with it as well! you've received lots of sound advice so I will put my two cents in as well.....I like the idea of having a small clearing (I.E. front lawn) at the cabin, lets you see traveling wildlife and also that breathtaking scenery. And I'm going to agree with Backwoods Savage, I'd take a weekend with the boys up there at camp, get a notepad, sit down and discuss the "need-to's, want-to's, and such". Then, make a schedule over the next year or several years and take one job on at a time. First and foremost, I'd get after those downed trees and buck them up, before the ticks and skeeters start out. Now, if the snowpack is lite, is the time to get after that stuff. Then, come spring, maybe get after some of the stumps. By late spring/early summer, have the "junk" heaped up in a pile for a July 4th bonfire......and you'll have that clearing ready to plant by late summer/early fall......
It's very true. I've flown over an awful lot of them hoping REALLY HARD that the engine didn't quit. There are 2 things Maine has plenty of (maybe more) … water and trees.
BWS had a great post but if you were my age you might want to hurry. Heaven in deed, spent some time in Maine around Mars Hill and Danforth for work, nice place to enjoy the out doors.
When bought my place the previous owners had basically let the woods encroach on all areas of the yard. Cleared it all with a brush cutter and beater mower With a good bicycle handle brush cutter you could cut lanes 3-4' wide pile the brush access all felled wood and continue opening each lane until they meet. Don't bother making one big burn pile - small ones save drag time. If it's not too rocky the old beater mower can be turned into a bushhog/brushcutter - just cut a notch in the front of the deck to whack down saplings. If you planned on renting a tractor/bushhog again I'd just back it into brush with the 3rd link raised and bring a whole bunch of shear pins(unless you can get a Kingcutter) with me you could have it cleared in a day. Cut any firewood into the longest pieces you can lift and throw them on the bushog deck and drive them to a processing area If it's mostly maple laying in there I wouldn't count on it being worth much as firewood - even off the ground it starts spalting within 6-8months
