Cleaning debris from woods

[donaldj]

Hi all,

I am in Michigan and have 13 acres. The property has been wooded since forever, and includes oak, maple, apple, and a few others. There is significant undergrowth everywhere... all kinds of weeds, vine, etc. Your standard Michigan outdoors. =)

While clearing out an area, I came across some piles of debris, namely old building material. Includes boards, plywood, and window frames and glass. I'm sure there are all kinds of nails and stuff too. Probably some jerk contractor dumping here long ago.

My initial thought is to rent a dumpster and use the FEL to go in, dig under most of this junk, and scoop it into the dumpster. My concerns are that I'll be dumping a lot of earth that way (but dont want to run over glass and nails) and I might find more debris piles as I clear more. This is also a bit of a ways where I can have a dumpster delivered.

My initial idea is to...

1. Continue clearing the areas I intend to, being more careful to look for debris.
2. Flag areas that have lots of debris and save those areas for later.
3. Once the whole area I want to clear is done, go back and do all the debris piles in one FELl swoop (see what I did there?)

Anyone have a better approach to this? Known way to handle finding, clearing, and disposing of unwanted debris?

Resources:

• time (no hurry on this project)
• LS XR3135H
• Front bucket
• Pallet forks
• Brush hog 5'
• Rear blade
• Box blade
• Landscaping rake
• Subsoiler

Thanks,
Don

 

[CobyRupert]

"root grapple" bucket

 

[MossRoad]

Scrape off the top soil next to it, dig a hole, push it into the hole, re-fill the hole, put the top soil back.

 

[Einthewoods]

Scrape off the top soil next to it, dig a hole, push it into the hole, re-fill the hole, put the top soil back.

I might add a step to burn it prior to covering it. I hate sink holes 10 years later from burried debris. Big problem in my area with contractors burying stumps removed from build sites. Burning it somewhat reduces that.

 

[MossRoad]

I don't burn stumps and logs as long as I have room to walk around them, I leave them lay for the critters and to rot on the forest floor to make new soil. But I will bury human made debris. In the woods, I don't care too much about sink holes. But you're right, burning it will certainly reduce it to near nothing and is a good way to get rid of it as long as it's not toxic stuff.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Hi all,

I am in Michigan and have 13 acres. The property has been wooded since forever, and includes oak, maple, apple, and a few others. There is significant undergrowth everywhere... all kinds of weeds, vine, etc. Your standard Michigan outdoors. =)

While clearing out an area, I came across some piles of debris, namely old building material. Includes boards, plywood, and window frames and glass. I'm sure there are all kinds of nails and stuff too. Probably some jerk contractor dumping here long ago.

My initial thought is to rent a dumpster and use the FEL to go in, dig under most of this junk, and scoop it into the dumpster. My concerns are that I'll be dumping a lot of earth that way (but dont want to run over glass and nails) and I might find more debris piles as I clear more. This is also a bit of a ways where I can have a dumpster delivered.

My initial idea is to...

1. Continue clearing the areas I intend to, being more careful to look for debris.
2. Flag areas that have lots of debris and save those areas for later.
3. Once the whole area I want to clear is done, go back and do all the debris piles in one FELl swoop (see what I did there?)

Anyone have a better approach to this? Known way to handle finding, clearing, and disposing of unwanted debris?

Resources:

• time (no hurry on this project)
• LS XR3135H
• Front bucket
• Pallet forks
• Brush hog 5'
• Rear blade
• Box blade
• Landscaping rake
• Subsoiler

Thanks,
Don

No advice from me, but don't feel lonesome. Seems to be the common practice for days of old. At least, that's the same thing we found here at our place when we bought in, in mid-Georgia.

Just thinking back, not so long ago there wasn't any garbage services out here in the sticks. And most farmers didn't have tractors with back-hoes. Only choice was to either burn it, or dump it out of sight out in the woods. Our fix is to attack one pile at a time, pick it up and have a trash collector take a load every now and then. Slow process, but if you get any good quick-fix suggestions, I'll be watching.

Thanks for posting this problem.

 

[RNeumann]

"root grapple" bucket

Second this!

Also- can we say FIRE!!

 

[jfh28]

burying debris or burning is illegal around here so I'd go with your method of flagging the piles so you can see what you are dealing with and what size dumpster you may need.......I agree that a grapple bucket is the way to go.........Jack

 

[Sebculb]

I like the bury it idea w/burn first if convenient.

 

[MossRoad]

In a lot of places, recreational fires are permitted.... wrap a couple potatoes in foil and toss them in the fire just in case....

 

[4570Man]

I’d burnt it and if moving is required use a grapple. You could rent a tracked skid steer or just use the rental money for a tire patch if needed.

 

[oosik]

I've dug a rather large hole - 35' in diameter, about 6' deep - out in the center of one of my open fields. I put all the "crap" I find on the 80 in that hole and have at least one big bonfire every winter. My 80 was part of a much larger 1890's homestead and I'm always finding building materials, old rotten fence posts, miles & miles of old "flat barbed" barb wire etc, etc. It all goes in the hole.

BTW - burning any old steel wire, of any kind, increases the rusting and decomposition tremendously.

 

[ch1ch2]

Scrape off the top soil next to it, dig a hole, push it into the hole, re-fill the hole, put the top soil back.

Ditto

 

[aczlan]

In a lot of places, recreational fires are permitted.... wrap a couple potatoes in foil and toss them in the fire just in case....

Or a package of hot dogs and some sticks "waiting for the fire to burn down enough to cook on it officer"

Aaron Z

 

[LD48750]

burying debris or burning is illegal around here so I'd go with your method of flagging the piles so you can see what you are dealing with and what size dumpster you may need.......I agree that a grapple bucket is the way to go.........Jack

So... You are required to PAY someone else to haul it off and burn or bury it?

 

[oosik]

SCHMIDT - jfh28 - burying debris on your own property is not legal in your part of PA??? Lord 'A Goshen - may I die in peace here in Ea WA.

 

[nybirdman]

Unfortunately a very common practice;all of our old farms have junk piles somewhere.Lots of old machinery
and house hold goods.Most will not burn;metal ,glass ect.We filled one large roll-off and still didn't get it all.
Some sort of grapple or hire some-one with a skid-steer if you like your tires!

 

[oosik]

My 80 acres was part of an original 1892 - 360 acre - homestead. About two years after we moved here I found where the old homesteader "relocated" a lot of his unwanted materials. Old metal food, paint, oil etc cans - glass containers of all kinds and descriptions - many earthenware pots and jugs - and the most unusual - almost an entire standard sized pallet of old dry cell batteries. Since there never was or ever has been land line phone service here - I can only surmise they were used to power some type of radio - probably the old couples only form of entertainment.

This 80 acres of mine is so remote - that until I had a driveway built in 1982 - there never has been an official or established driveway to this property. The old homesteader here had a great old Model T and he told of times he would drive it into town for supplies. He had to drive around my little lake, across neighbors pastures and fields and finally would get to the county road.

I've got one small, very old picture of him in his "T". I think he is either stuck in some mud or one or more of the wooden spokes on one wheel may be broken. Hard to tell.

 

[deezler]

Hi Don, I'm right nearby you and had a similar problem on my 19 acres (now sold down to 10 ac). First of all, don't even try to do this work in the summer time, its ridiculous trying to grab garbage up through living plants. Wait till October and it's much easier to see what you are doing. March/April is a good time for this type of work also.

My first thought is to gather the metal - it's worth money to recycle, after all. If you can gather up a good enough pile, get some cash back by trailering it to your closest recycler, or put up a craigslist ad for free metal scrap and it'll go quick.

Any glass, rubber or plastic is obviously garbage. I don't know a good way to gather it besides working by hand, tossing the crap into your loader bucket or other receptacle. Wood, you burn. Thats my 2 cents anyway.

 

[shooterdon]

Burning has a couple of issues. In Michigan....at least my area, you need a burn permit. And it is dry now. If the fire gets away from you, the DNR will be there and expect a fine. If the local fire department shows up, there is a good chance they will charge you for their work as well

My neighbor just had a sizeble hunting camp he needed to get rid of. Called in an excavator to dig a hole and they buried it. They built a bit of a mound up to address any future settling. Depending on your soil and amount of junk, you may be able to use your FEL but the excavator will get deeper quicker and no chance of damaging your tires.