[TheForge] A few questions... opinions solicited

[Andrew Vida]

Excellent Folks (am I laying it on too thick?),

We *may* close on the property tomorrow, which has my small reptilian 
brain racing ahead to other considerations for the homestead.

First order of business, after getting a job so I can pay for things of 
course, will be an outbuilding.  I've mentioned that I have enough stone 
on the property to build a small city.  I was thinking of putting up a 
pole barn with rubble infill.  Does this sound sane?  I'm thinking it 
may not be, given I'd want at least 12' to the eaves and at least 1500 
ft^2 to start, though 4X that would be much preferable.  My plans for 
the space are pretty boiler-plate-ish: smithy, machine shop, cabinet 
shop, jeweler's studio.  In short, metal hacker's heaven.  I guess the 
only real reason I'm considering that option is because I'm still a bum 
w/out a job.

Second:  There are only about 3 level acres out of the 100, maybe as 
much as 4 or 5, but definitely not more than that.  I have been thinking 
about terracing the mountainside for gardens.  The seller, John, told me 
that an excavator would make short work of this.  My questions are:

	1 what to do with the fill?  I can use some to dam the creek, but that 
would be a pittance compared to what I think would be left over.
	2 Could the terracing could be done such that the side is rearranged 
using most of the material?
	
	3. How wide can/should they be?  How tall?  Do retaining walls have to 
be built or is vegetation sufficient to keep the area stable?

Unrelated question:  anyone know of a good source for parts for a CASE 
125B excavator?

	Many thanks, as usual.

	-Andy