Hello from Minnesota

[Paul in MN]

Newbie here, but far from new. I've been messing with cars, PU trucks, and tractors since the mid 50's when I got the beginnings of my mechanic tools. I'm a retired science teacher and an active small time farmer. My oldest son and I farm together as I didn't want to be the boss any longer. My shop is a 40 X 85 pole barn currently without heat. I'm in the process of walling off a section with a 9 X 7 overhead door to be a heated workspace. I have been acquiring some of the basic machine tools, and now have 2 lathes, early Bridgeport mill, HD drill press, welders and plasma, and a 3 phase converter to power the bigger pieces. I mess with old tractors of the 40's and 50's, and have a strange fondness for IH pickup trucks of the late 60's. For decades I have collected the pieces I want to restore and now have the time and health to get started, but the city development is surrounding my 5 acre piece and wants to shut me down. So it takes time and energy to fight off the big money folks. Eventually they win, but I tell the pushy developers to talk with my kids after I croak. Meanwhile, I want to enjoy this hobby and the frequent challenges it presents.

So now you know, I'm an ornery old farrt, and I don't plan to change. I hope to share my knowledge where it might be helpful, and will have some questions for you guys (and gals) as well. Thanks to the sponsors for making this forum available.

Paul in MN

 

[Thumper68]

Hello Paul, Welcome to the GJ from the Duluth area.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Welcome from Minneapolis.

You wouldn't happen to live up by Isanti? There just was an article in the Star Tribune today about them trying to annex some surrounding land into the city and the homeowners are resisting.

 

[Paul in MN]

Not in the Isanti area, but rather in the NW corner of Plymouth where they are bull dozing everything to cram in the yuppie mansions on small lots. Some of these goofy new things include a "sport court" where the kids can play basketball or racketball indoors. The article in the S-Trib made a fuss about the established housing needing to pay more taxes for city services like police, fire, road maintenance, etc, but forgetting that these same people already pay taxes which support such services, and always have. It is due to the greater new density that the 2 lane roads need to be rebuilt as 3 or 4 lane, and thus the costs of such "improvements" should be borne by the developers, and not the folks who already paid for roads appropriate for their low density neighborhoods. The cost shifting from the developers to existing properties is criminal in my mind. Our city people know my face from my frequent visits to the city council meetings. Need to stop ranting..... now. Thanks for the welcome greeting.

Paul in MN

 

[Paul in MN]

Thumper68,

Thanks for the Hello. I have friends in Duluth ,an did some RV camping at Buffalo Valley the week before Labor Day. You guys have the greatest RR Train museum, which I really enjoy. In the Twin Cities, we have nothing to compare, but do have a transportation museum in St Paul in the Jackson St roundhouse, but it does not compare to what you have in Duluth.

Paul in MN

 

[Thumper68]

If you took a ride on the Northshore RR you went right past my house.

It's been a few years since I visited the RR museum, I was a volunteer there back in the 90's for a few years before the kids got into sports. I had thought about going back but the thought of greasing any more wheels has kept me away.

 

[Ray916MN]

Welcome to the forum. About a decade ago I used the dog park in the northwest corner of Plymouth to socialize a puppy I had. Always use to think it would be a nice area to live in. Got another puppy this year and went back to the dog park. You ain't kidding when you say they are going wild developing the area. All those nice country places along 47 for sale. Who wants to live on a 4 lane wide boulevard? All I can think when i drive by is how the long term property owners are getting screwed.

 

[Paul in MN]

Hi Ray,

The recently acquired undeveloped small parcel of land on the east side of doggie park adjoins my piece. I try to hide my stash of IH PU's in my west tree line, but when the leaves fall I'm screwed because they become visible to city people who think I have a small junkyard. The city inspector has visited 2 X in the last 6 months and stated that the only vehicles I can have must be licensed and operable, or else put in the barn, and the same for trailers. And then they want me to paint the 2 barns and one shed. None of the other displaced original occupants were so threatened, and some had a hundred years of collected absolute junk. GRRRRRR....!!!!! I have been farming from this site for 45 years, and am still farming mostly rented lands, but the machinery needs to rest here or at my son's place 13 miles NW of here. I am very conflicted, too old to start over and too young for the "rest" home. And I feel strongly that it is totally immoral to doze over good houses. So currently a stand-off.

Thanks for the welcome note!

Paul in MN

 

[Ray916MN]

Hi Ray,

The recently acquired undeveloped small parcel of land on the east side of doggie park adjoins my piece. I try to hide my stash of IH PU's in my west tree line, but when the leaves fall I'm screwed because they become visible to city people who think I have a small junkyard. The city inspector has visited 2 X in the last 6 months and stated that the only vehicles I can have must be licensed and operable, or else put in the barn, and the same for trailers. And then they want me to paint the 2 barns and one shed. None of the other displaced original occupants were so threatened, and some had a hundred years of collected absolute junk. GRRRRRR....!!!!! I have been farming from this site for 45 years, and am still farming mostly rented lands, but the machinery needs to rest here or at my son's place 13 miles NW of here. I am very conflicted, too old to start over and too young for the "rest" home. And I feel strongly that it is totally immoral to doze over good houses. So currently a stand-off.

Thanks for the welcome note!

Paul in MN

Ughhhh.. Sorry to hear about the property situation.

For years we had a horse at a competition barn in Delano. Developer came in and got the city to annex the land around the stabling operation and to put in
utilities and streets for residential development. The ever increasing property taxes sapped the stable of profits and drove them to sell. My hay provider out of Howard Lake is very familiar with the situation as he mostly crops on rented land and keeps getting pushed farther and farther west. Unfortunately as best as I can tell, the game plan of residential developers and cities is the same everywhere. Their intent is to harass and financially squeeze out the farmers and stables with taxes and maximize the city tax base.

 

[HOTFR8]

Welcome to the GJ. Would be great if you added the location to your profile.

 

[willmitch]

Welcome from the 'Range!

 

[HOTFR8]

Thanks for updating your location.

 

[bamendaboy]

Welcome, Paul. Why was I think I was the only from Minnesota here?