Struck black gold this morning while digging....

[Tractor Factor]

I'm clearing out a section of woods up near my tractor shed, and for a while now I've been noticing a large mound, covered with scrub growth and leaves. I figured it was some fill left by the town years ago when they were working on the road, which is right next to this area. Anyway, I dug into it this morning to find that it's a pile of beautiful black top soil, about 20 cubic yards worth:



So I started digging it out and making a new pile:



I thought about it for awhile and finally remembered that the guy who excavated for this house and yard 30 years ago (my in-laws lived here then) stripped the area, piled it up here and then only reused half of it. In 30 years the woods grew up around it and it was forgotten...amazing what you can forget in 30 years. So...nice surprise! I'll have to search for ideas on building a soil sifter...I can use all of it.



Only then did I remember that he also pushed this rock here...ha, my little BX thinks it's a bulldozer.:laughing:



Kubota, Husqvarna, Stihl...and my favorite basketball team? You guessed it, the Syracuse Orange.

You know, only on Tractor ByNet could a guy post pictures of piles of dirt and know it's appreciated by his tractor brethren.

 

[Thomas]

Nothing like getting jump on spring cleaning.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I have a pile like that in one corner of my property. It's the top soil off my side acres. It had grown up with briars and trees and other trash plants. It's been there about 5 years and I've tapped it from time to time for bucket loads. My brother knows it's there (he lives between it and me) and "asks" for a scoop ever now and then. I've been moving it for a few days to fill in for my hillside garden. I pull it down with my BH and then scoop it up with my front bucket. Sometimes I back drag it with my RatchetRake before loading and then I backdrag with big teeth down on RR when it's in the garden. Pulls out the roots and rocks great. Will add some pictures of mine later.

 

[LBrown59]

1*I'm clearing out a section of woods up near my tractor shed, and for a while now I've been noticing a large mound, covered with scrub growth and leaves. I figured it was some fill left by the town years ago when they were working on the road, which is right next to this area. Anyway,
2*I dug into it this morning to find that it's a pile of beautiful black top soil, about 20 cubic yards worth:
3*I'll have to search for ideas on building a soil sifter...I can use all of it.
4*You know, only on Tractor ByNet could a guy post pictures of piles of dirt and know it's appreciated by his tractor brethren.

2*Youre right that's a gold mine.
I had a landscaper haul me in 30 yards [ 6 truck loads ] of nice top soil.
I got it free and free delivery too because they needed a close place to dump it and I just happened to have it.
I priced 30 yards of top soil at 2 different places.
1 wanted $1000 the other $1200.
~~~~~~~~~
Re: Dirt Screeners Flat or Trommel
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/i...reener_ltr.gif

I really like this screener.
Soil Screener
Soil Screener next to screened pile of topsoil/compost
~~~~~~~~~~
3*Here is the 1 I really like pictured on TBN.
4*Ya got that right.
Here are my 3 dirt piles .
The first one is indoors even .

 

[amg280]

I got that same farm boss chain saw. What a beast. Also got an fs90 trimmer. Love all stihl products.

 

[Tractor Factor]

Nothing like getting jump on spring cleaning.

Boy, there's nothing like being out on a beautiful spring morning, just breathing the air and hearing the birds...makes you feel young.

Sometimes I back drag it with my RatchetRake before loading and then I backdrag with big teeth down on RR when it's in the garden. Pulls out the roots and rocks great. Will add some pictures of mine later.

I have no idea what a ratchet rake is, but something tells me I need to find out.

2*Youre right that's a gold mine.
I had a landscaper haul me in 30 yards [ 6 truck loads ] of nice top soil.
I got it free and free delivery too because they needed a close place to dump it and I just happened to have it.
I priced 30 yards of top soil at 2 different 1 wanted $1000 the other $1200.

Forget gold and oil, that humble layer of topsoil is the greatest natural resource this country has!

Here all 3 of my dirt piles .

Nice dirt!!

I got that same farm boss chain saw. What a beast. Also got an fs90 trimmer. Love all stihl products.

Ah, very perceptive of you, amg. :thumbsup: Great tool, model 290. Saw a thumbs up mention here at TBN this past week of model 291 ($500!!). I have to check out that trimmer. Why can't we make stuff like this here in America?

 

[TripleR]

I love those Stihl products, have the trimmer and pole saw. My shoulders are shot, so I gave all my old saws to my sons and got a 180, 210 and 250 with "elastostart", can't beat them. If I need something bigger, I call my son and he brings a 660 down.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I heard an expression a few years ago and it has more meaning every year. That thing is "cheaper than dirt and dirt ain't cheap anymore".
A Ratchetrake.

 

[Tractor Factor]

Ok, yeah, Ive seen one of these demonstrated on You Tube. Ratchet...duh, I was picturing the hand tool.

 

[scootr2d]

A Ratchetrake.

Those teeth kinda remind me of a P-40 Flying Tiger

 

[peterc38]

I priced 30 yards of top soil at 2 different places.
1 wanted $1000 the other $1200.

Wow, thats pricey, I can get 30 yds here for $480

 

[Tractor Factor]

Wow, thats pricey, I can get 30 yds here for $480

Duh, that's because Ohio top soil is much higher quality than Maine top soil (which is only good for growing potatoes ...not that there's anything wrong with potatoes).

 

[devildog1]

"I got that same farm boss chain saw. What a beast." I have the exact same saw, best I've ever had, must be 25+ years old. Cut many trees and logs for firewood over those years, not so much any more. But still use it once or twice a year, always starts right up and cuts like a bear.
DevilDog

 

[Baby Grand]

Maine has topsoil !?!

 

[The Haymaker]

I once dug up what I though was Jimmy Hoffa.... but then, I don't remember him wearing a dog collar......

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Here's mine partially exposed then part way removed to garden after working on it with Ratchetrake and BH to knock the top down to scoop up with the FEL.