On this the 4th day of May in the year of 2023 AD, the journey begins.
Today I take possession of just shy of 50 acres - to be christened 7chapels. Its a cold may day with rain, but the sun looks like it will be back tomorrow. There is so much setup and clean up needed, I am sure I will keep warm and busy. I have rented a trailer just to carry equipment, tools, a patio table and of course a BBQ and outdoor sink. Trimmers, chain saws etc. Included in this is a 12 volt pump and gas based hot water shower. In short a bush camp - to let me spend time and clean up there.
I found a older used Kioti Nx 4510 HST as my tractor - which of course will be named "Wile E". This may have been a big mistake purchase, but choice was severely limited after last years"shortages". We will soon know. Kioti seems to be doing really well here currently and it was. I was reluctant to dish out twice the money for a new tractor for 3 reasons
1) Size - I suspect this is the right size ... for now, but I also suspect in a few years,. a smaller may be better. A lot of this depends on the use and that I am yet to discover.
2) Diesel - We all hate combustion engines now, so who knows what will come. Currently electric options are just not worth it.
3) Experience - Mine with tractors is somewhat limited and my experience with limited experience is that you screw up. Rather not do that on a new machine.
Its a bit late for April tasks, but we seasonally a little late this year and I am hoping I have not missed the window. I have been shopping for a 6 ft rotary cutter, but yet to make a decision. If it dries up as being forecast, I should probably cut early next week though, to prevent the early growth of those trees springing up in the fields. I am hoping to get some seed to over seed to add some diversity to the grass and not miss this window. One of these is going to be tillage radish and I am considering chicory (biannual) as well to loosen up some of the clay and at least clover - both as a pollinator and for nitrogen cycle.
I found some sulfur at TCO Agromart and will be picking that up in the next few days. I am starting with just 200kg - way under the recommendations calculators but in part as sulfur leaches. I need to get the sulfur cycle established and working and not overwhelm.
Other tasks this week involve clean up and starting with the layout. Measuring out future fields, wind breaks and picking locations for building etc.