fishpick
Platinum Member
Every now and again there is a post or two here on the forums that ask the question "is a backhoe worth the additional money"... and there are often 2 sides to the discussion (granted not as polarized as the wirenut thread).
Here's my answer in terms of projects of late - YES - every time.
In the last week or so we have:
* Moved two 12-16' maple trees away from the septic area and into another part of the yard (huge holes to put them in since the backhoe made getting almost all the rootball "easy") They look as happy post move as they did pre move (weeks later).
* Dug two asparagus rows into an "unreclaimed" spot in the field... Bluebird Meadow Farms: The passing of Asparagus Exasperation
* Dug and planted 6 blueberry bushes in what's becoming the "Berry Patch" - Bluebird Meadow Farms: Berry Good
* Moved several large rose bushes for my wife and made a new rose bed by using the backhoe to remove only the sod.
* Ripped several decent sized trees out of the field where I'm reclaiming sections of it for large gardens and pasture - Bluebird Meadow Farms: Of Furrowed Land
SO - did it cost me more money up front - yes it did. Has it paid for itself in real terms yet - probably close - given all the OTHER things it has done over the last couple of years not listed here... but in terms of making me more efficient with limited time - and getting things DONE - it's one of those tools for me - like my air compressor and all those air tools... I never knew I "needed" one... and now - can't see how a lot of my work would get done without one.
Here's my answer in terms of projects of late - YES - every time.
In the last week or so we have:
* Moved two 12-16' maple trees away from the septic area and into another part of the yard (huge holes to put them in since the backhoe made getting almost all the rootball "easy") They look as happy post move as they did pre move (weeks later).
* Dug two asparagus rows into an "unreclaimed" spot in the field... Bluebird Meadow Farms: The passing of Asparagus Exasperation
* Dug and planted 6 blueberry bushes in what's becoming the "Berry Patch" - Bluebird Meadow Farms: Berry Good
* Moved several large rose bushes for my wife and made a new rose bed by using the backhoe to remove only the sod.
* Ripped several decent sized trees out of the field where I'm reclaiming sections of it for large gardens and pasture - Bluebird Meadow Farms: Of Furrowed Land
SO - did it cost me more money up front - yes it did. Has it paid for itself in real terms yet - probably close - given all the OTHER things it has done over the last couple of years not listed here... but in terms of making me more efficient with limited time - and getting things DONE - it's one of those tools for me - like my air compressor and all those air tools... I never knew I "needed" one... and now - can't see how a lot of my work would get done without one.