New Florida member- Hello ALL

[Bigfoot56]

I have been reading posts on this site for quite some time. I am finally purchasing a compact tractor so I will at least give periodic reviews on this unit as well any attachments or modifications as a payback to this site. I have enjoyed the many informative posts here!! Having spent most of my working life (30+ years) playing in the dirt on various types of equipment, I may be able to help articulate some useful information from time to time. I previously owned/operated a landscape design/construction business that morphed into site work & grading. Made 20 years in business until the 2008 collapse took me out. I am purchasing a LS 2023H tomorrow with a FEL, tiller, & box blade. I have previously owned/operated numerous skid steer loaders (11), grade tractors (2), & 1 mini excavator as well as various trucks & trailers. I have 20,000+ hours on skid steers, a few thousand hours on the grade tractors, 400-500 hours on excavators, & 300+ hours on articulating loaders 1-4 yard size. I owned a small nursery & have a good deal of experience propagating/growing ground covers, woody ornamentals, palms, cycads, & various evergreen & deciduous trees. I have grown a good size (1/2 to 3/4) acre garden in the past but currently just have some small raised bed gardens. The LS 2023 will be used to clear more growing area, prep ground for food crops & green manure crops, harvest crops, grade, pull trailers, mow, & many other things. This will be one of the smallest pieces of equipment I have ever owned but I believe it is sized appropriately for its intended use. I once had a 453 Bobcat skid-steer loader (2700 lb. machine) & it is amazing what can be accomplished with small equipment. This machine accumulated over 2,000 hours while I owned it. My goal is to set myself up as an organic food grower as an eventual sideline/retirement business. Many business' come & go but good quality food never goes out of style.

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wisconsin

 

[300UGUY]

Welcome from Michigan. Where in Florida are you at?

 

[phiferpharm]

Welcome

 

[mguitas]

:welcome:

 

[bullbreaker]

Welcome 2 TBN ! From way north / east Collier County Fl ...........

:tractor:

 

[mddorange]

:welcome:
To the forum from Alabama. You can always send me some food. Ha Ha. I have about an acre of garden for us and our daughters family with 5 girls.

 

[Bigfoot56]

I'm in Levy County. Lived in Orlando for 45 years. GLAD to be away from that jungle! Never seen Michigan snow or any other. Almost hit 70 today. Thanks for the welcome.

 

[Bigfoot56]

H Doug, Thanks for the welcome. I see you are not to far from me as I'm over in Levy County.

 

[Bigfoot56]

Thanks Deerseeker, Love your quote. For me the day isn't complete unless I've learned something new

 

[Bigfoot56]

Thanks, I'm in Levy county. Quite peaceful where I'm at.

 

[Florida Cracker]

Welcome! Grew up in LaBelle and Immokalee during my childhood. Sure miss living in Florida. Uncle Sam still dictates where I live for the next 5 years. Lots of good info around here.

 

[Bigfoot56]

Welcome! Grew up in LaBelle and Immokalee during my childhood. Sure miss living in Florida. Uncle Sam still dictates where I live for the next 5 years. Lots of good info around here.

Thanks, I've been in Fl all my life. Lived in Eau Gallie, West Palm Beach, Orlando, & now Levy County near Williston. Hopefully this is my last move, I love the area. Indeed there is a lot of good info here, that's why I'm here, to learn & share.

 

[bullbreaker]

Welcome! Grew up in LaBelle and Immokalee during my childhood. Sure miss living in Florida. Uncle Sam still dictates where I live for the next 5 years. Lots of good info around here.

Wow small world I'am about 8 miles south of Immokolee off Immokolee Road. I frequent on occasion the LaBelle Rodeo Fairgrounds for cowboy church / ETC .

 

[Florida Cracker]

I know exactly where you're located! My grandpa's ranch is in Sunniland off Oil Well road and 29! I love it down there! Peace and quiet! Civilization is slowing creeping that way though.

 

[dieselbeef]

cattle today wasnt busy enough for ya fella?

 

[Florida Cracker]

cattle today wasnt busy enough for ya fella?

Which one of us are you talking to?

 

[aczlan]

:welcome: to TBN!
Looks like you will be busy!

Aaron Z

 

[Bigfoot56]

:welcome: to TBN!
Looks like you will be busy!

Aaron Z

Thanks Aaron. I looked at your quote, think I got em all covered except going out in a blaze.--- I see you have some Kubotas. I had an L2650 & then a L2950 back in the early 90's. I had them set up just for box blading with a top & tilt. Took off the loaders, watered up the rears, & did several thousand hours of box blading over the years. Had the shuttle shifts & never had a real problem out of these. I had Bobcat skid-steers & my smaller ones had 4 cyl Kub engines. I used the Kub tractors for grading soft/sandy/sloped areas I couldn't get in a timely manner with my Bobcats. Lotta guys went to track machines but the operating costs were about $10 an hour higher than my rubber tire units way back then. The Kubota powered cats never gave me any trouble either. I had a small biz for 2 decades moving dirt around & graded well over 4,000 homes (with a few employees) and tons of other stuff till 2008 took me out. Miss those days!! I'll eventually turn my little LS into the swiss army knife of compacts. Hopefully it's up for the many tasks I've got to do. I see your in NY, brrrrrr. We had a 68 deg high today & sunny skies, gonna hit 73 tomorrow.

 

[aczlan]

Its 14 tonight, but we have some beautiful snow. I'll take the snow over running AC from April till Nov...

Aaron Z