We’ve posted that we’ve been working on the fence line in the center of the pasture. It’s a tedious process. Through a great deal of trial and error, we’ve figured out the order for the clearing process.
- Brush cut the small saplings, weeds and brambles.
- Chain or pole saw the bigger trees that aren’t attached to the wire.
- Carefully cut the barbed wire and batch it in a box for recycling.
- Brush cut the remainder of the junk between the fence poles.
- Whack the heck out of the now empty posts to prepare for removal. (See instagram video about giant new wrench)
- Decide if the big trees that are left are worth keeping
- Remove fence posts
So far, we’re through step five on some parts of the fence, and not started yet on others. It’s a big job. Over the weekend we removed just about everything but the posts and the big trees from between the two arrows.
It’s pretty effective to set up near our work location during the day and there is a fairly shady persimmon tree right by where we’ve been working. The work area, or our little camp, is a great way to get all our stuff out and then have a place to sit and cool down when it is too hot.
Pulling barbed wire is hard. Even though this fence line is old, there are some spots where the tension is still there so you have to be really careful when you cut it. I had on good gloves and a sharp cutting tool to do the job. I started out cutting the wire into eight to ten inch pieces, but as I went on, I realized I could roll it into little bundles. I ended up filling up this plastic tote almost to the top.
It’s pretty satisfying to see the landscape changing and everything coming together although it’s hard work and by the time you’re down on the farm it’s only 20 minutes before you’re soaked through with sweat. It’s one place where doing things quickly doesn’t mean that it’s better and there aren’t any shortcuts to doing it right or by hand. The bruises that pop up are battle scars of progress, and that’s OK by me.
