Well, apparently it didn’t take long to figure out when the farming thing was going to get hard!!! Yesterday, we started clearing some fields. Thankfully my sister and brother-in-law came over with the good toys and headed up the work party. They actually know what they are doing, we are learning. 
It’s all fun and games when you think the big green tractor will just mow that stuff down for you – NOPE! My husband went ahead of the tractor with the chain saw to cut the bigger scrub trees – there are NO shortage of those!
Then the “girl crew” – My sister Andrea, Lexie, Candice, and myself – went and dragged all those trees to a pile. Several piles actually because we made alot of progress and had a lot of trees piled up. THEN came the big green tractor to mow down the other stuff with the bush-hog. There was some weed-eatin, some hill climbing, tree draggin, more hill climbin, walking, and more hill climbin. . . you get the picture!
I know it is hard to tell from the photo, but this was all weeds and scrub pines Saturday morning, and by afternoon, we had the beginning of a field again. It was all clear 20 years ago, grazable land. We aren’t cutting down good established hardwoods, just clearing the weeds and the scrub stuff.
Lesson 1 – Next time I am at Lowe’s and think “I think we should get that cooler to hold ice water while we are working” – just DO IT!
Lesson 2 – pack a lunch, snacks, and first aid kit and send it with the guys in the tractor bucket
Lesson 3 – know when to say when – One MONSTROUS migraine later – I will not forget this lesson
Lesson 4 – while one is watching the sugar intake – hard work gives a little leeway in the carb department. If you are working your fool butt off, you can have a bite of ice cream – jus sayin!
Lesson 5 – NEVER touch the muffler of a chain saw – My poor hubby worked most of the day with his thumb in a bag of ice water.
Lesson 6 – Quit a little earlier so you can sit back and enjoy your new view a little longer!
That little tiny speck of field you see in the top middle of this picture took us most of the day to clear. It is a work in progress. Thanks Andrea and Bernie – y’all are amazing!!!
We did finally hitch a ride down the hill on the bucket, settle down and enjoy the kids and some dinner!
brandnewfarmers 