The Last Hundred Feet

The pasture fence may actually qualify as the most overwhelming project of 2013, which was completely unexpected because the pasture fence that MysteryMan and I put up at Memorial was pretty uneventful. It took a weekend or two, and then like magic, “hey look, a pasture fence!” No big deal.

So, I might have underestimated fencing in an area that a.) is twice as large, b.) is located on hills instead of nice flat land, and c.) already has actual donkeys in it that are escaping pretty much every day. Plus my brain has never really been able to grasp the fact that doing anything with twice the work and half the manpower is actually going to take significantly longer than the first time around.

In reality, I thought this project may never end. Particularly on those days when my neighbor would call me and tell me my donkey was standing in the middle of the road, playing chicken with a school bus. (Luckily I’m on a dirt road, and the school bus drivers are used to going slow and watching out for livestock.)

So, installing the final 100 feet of fence this weekend was no small accomplishment. I borrowed my neighbor’s tractor, which works amazingly well as a portable toolbox.
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It also made quick work of repositioning the last 10 T-posts that were in the wrong spot.

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And solidified my belief that in 2014 I need to buy a tractor. One with a post-hole auger. Or, you know, I could keep doing this for all of eternity.

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I bought that post hole digger a full decade ago when I tackled this fence which was my very first “big” house project. Never would have guessed than ten years later, I’d still be digging an unending string of effing post-holes.

Both my mother and my neighbor were instrumental in most of the installation of this fence, but I found it fitting to tackle the last roll of fencing on my own…

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Goodbye clothesline fence…

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(Can’t believe I got away with that shit for as long as I did.)

UntitledSo. Many. Clips.

I still have about a dozen to put in, but the fence is secure for the moment. And, you know, pretty much done. That’s 250 lf of split rail, 9 4×4’s, 2 6×6’s, 45 T-posts, 550 lf of wire fence, and 135 fence ties that had to be individually secured. So… not that surprising it took a full month to get this done, actually.

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I need to trim down some of the 4×4’s a do a little general clean up, but the donkeys are now fully contained (as far as I know.)

And while, yes, this was a long, somewhat-expensive pain-in-the-ass project. I get donkey hugs every day.

UntitledTotally worth it.

13 Responses

  1. Wow. Great job!! I wish I had the DYI knowledge you have. I read your blog and live vicariously though you, I love fixing things and the concept of having a farm, but I don’t think I’d be very good at it. My inspiration ebbs and flows…. mostly ebbs XD

    I LOVE your indoor coop!!

  2. Kit. If there is a Tractor Supply near you, go buy one of these… http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/clip-bender?cm_vc=-10005 This is the best thing for putting fence clips on T-posts. We have done hundreds of feet of both wire fencing and barbed wire on both our fencing on our 10 acre farm, and on our daughters fence around her almost 5 acres. It will SAVE YOUR FINGERS AND YOUR SANITY (once you get the hang of it)!! $12.99. Worth ever penny!

  3. Definitely get a tractor. We made it a whole three months before getting ours. I think with the fact that you know your neighbours, you might be able to find a decent used ones (it’s amazing how tractors hold their value). The biggest feedback I hear is people wish they went bigger. We bought the smallest (basically a step up from a riding lawnmower), and it’s done what we need it to so far. Ours has a mower deck, front end loader and rear mount snowblower. (I really want an auger). I can see a bigger one being helpful, but again with your connections, you might be able to find people to help you whenever you need heavier equipment.

    Good job on the fence too. I can’t believe you dug all of those holes by hand.

  4. Years ago when we purchased our property, we purchased a Kubota tractor. Julia is right, within a few years we traded up to a larger, more powerful Kubota. The benefits of having a tractor are many that you just don’t realize at first. You’ve found that it’s handy for “carrying” your stuff from here to there. It also will pull out bushes, dig post holes, dig trenches, haul debris in the bucket AND the arms of the bucket (great to get plywood from the barn to the house). The bucket also acts as a “ladder” when you raise it up. Just climb right up it! Lower and tilt the bucket and you can smooth gravel or land.

    In other words, GO GET A TRACTOR! Just don’t run it into the barn or mailbox, like I may have done. 🙂

  5. Oh my goodness! That was a lot of work! I bet you will sleep easier knowing your buddies are safe!

  6. Looks like a fun project! I have pulled out more fence than I have installed. If you can’t swing the power auger, get a hand auger instead. Something like this; http://www.amazon.com/Seymour-AUA2-Adjustable-Auger-Handle/dp/B00002N8OE/ref=lp_128069011_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1384439442&sr=1-1. It works much easier than the style you have, although rocks can still be a pain. In addition to the clip bender, you might want to invest in a pair of fencing pliers. More tools! Plus they are very helpful for installing and removing fence.

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