[TheForge] A few questions... opinions solicited

[David E. Smucker]

Stone in fill is a hell of a lot of work.  Short lengths of wood so the end 
grain shows is less weight to lift.  But if you have timber on the site then 
getting boards cut (or doing yourself with a band mill) is less work.

You can almost never have too much dirt -- by the time you make roads and 
terracing you will use it all.  One problem is pushing the top soil to one 
side so you can put it back on top.  Remember you best soil will be on north 
facing slopes in the mountains.  South facing is the poorest.  The very best 
soil is the flat break at the bottom of a hill before the creek.  This is 
where the mountain folks always planted the tobacco.  Lots of information 
out there

Dave Smucker
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Vida" <osan at netlabs.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 8:24 AM
Subject: [TheForge] A few questions... opinions solicited


> 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
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