Why does it take so much work to be lazy?

[hdossett]

Been using a "walk behind" mower for a few years now on my four acres. Not as much as it sounds like, I only mow it once, maybe twice a year and it takes forever to do that, but I figure is was good exercise, right! Now I'm just getting too old and tired and the back hurts too much, so, I bought a lawn tractor to help me out and it is great, got the whole four acres done in two days!

What extra work? you ask... Well I have to have a place to store it, didn't I? It was the last straw for the garage! So, now I have started a 12x16 shed.

Hope to get the floor poured in the next week or so, then going on an RV trip for a few week, then get started on the framing in Oct. when the weather is better suited! Looking forward to all the freed up space in the garage!

H

 

[petee_c]

i don't see much grass in those pictures......

 

[zip95864]

i don't see much grass in those pictures......

the john deere is THAT good

 

[Joe B.]

probably why he only has to mow twice a year.

 

[Stuart in MN]

The cost of a tractor plus the cost of a shed would probably pay the wages for a neighborhood kid to do the job for years to come.

 

[Altec]

4 acres in two DAYS? On a riding mower?

 

[darkk]

4 acres in two DAYS? On a riding mower?

On that lot, a piece of cake...

 

[hdossett]

i don't see much grass in those pictures......

As a matter of fact, their is no grass in those photo!

H

 

[hdossett]

The cost of a tractor plus the cost of a shed would probably pay the wages for a neighborhood kid to do the job for years to come.

Problem is, I am the kid in the neighborhood!

When I got back from 4 month trip to AK last fall, cost $175 for a tractor and bushhog to cut the 5 to 6 foot weeds after a good monsoon season!

H

 

[hdossett]

4 acres in two DAYS? On a riding mower?

Are you saying that is fast... or slow?

Probably spent 3 1/2 to 4 hours total on two days a week apart! Added an hour meter for the last 1 acre plus of the easiest acre +, took 1.1 going slow! Two acres were rough and slow because of the way that type of grass grows in a donut shape clump! Make it like riding over scattered bricks.

H

 

[CARS]

Are you saying that is fast... or slow?

Probably spent 3 1/2 to 4 hours total on two days a week apart! Added an hour meter for the last 1 acre plus of the easiest acre +, took 1.1 going slow! Two acres were rough and slow because of the way that type of grass grows in a donut shape clump! Make it like riding over scattered bricks.

H

On my 46" J.D. I mow 3 acres in about 3 hours. (and I have to do that at least once a week!)

 

[SuperSocket]

Are you saying that is fast... or slow?

Probably spent 3 1/2 to 4 hours total on two days a week apart! Added an hour meter for the last 1 acre plus of the easiest acre +, took 1.1 going slow! Two acres were rough and slow because of the way that type of grass grows in a donut shape clump! Make it like riding over scattered bricks.

H

If you are having a hard time cutting the grass it might be a good idea to cut more frequently


And yes, that is super slow

 

[fattogatto]

Are you saying that is fast... or slow?

On a Snapper riding zero turn I do 10 acres in less than 3 hours.

 

[dittle fart around]

When my kids were younger I mowed the little league baseball fields. When I started working on the fields my son and I used push mowers. The league was in money trouble and couldn't fix the old tractor. Second year John Deer had a zero percent deal going so I pick one up. I got paid back the third year and used the deer for the close to the fence stuff then hooked up a 7 gang reel mower for the rest. The league paid for the reel mowers. The lady who was the source of our money trouble went to prison.
Went from forever to mow to 6 hours for 5 fields and and surround areas.

 

[brownbagg]

buy a goat, then you can sit on the porch and relax while the grass being mowed

 

[burleymike]

buy a goat, then you can sit on the porch and relax while the grass being mowed

Not to mention fertilized as well.

 

[hdossett]

OK, after considering goats, neighborhood kids, and letting nature take its course, I decided to pour the concrete. Then decided, while I was at it, I might as well pour a couple of pads for the RV, and why not a sidewalk to the RV?

After all, it just a little more work, a little more concrete, and an extra bottle of Advil!

More photos, and for those concerned about the grass, I still have no grass in the photos!

I'm in the floppy hat, and, the driver even pitched in!

 

[Stevedore]

The excuse to build a shed was worth the price of the tractor, the way I see it. Looks good!

I get my 4 acres done much faster than that. Oh, wait, it's only 1/4 acre. I knew there was a "4" in there...

 

[clkimmel]

buy a goat, then you can sit on the porch and relax while the grass being mowed

With the (non)grass he has, the goat would eat the shed

 

[RTcat]

What's in the mini-silo?

 

[PurdueSD]

In my neck of the woods that entry level JD wouldnt stand a chance against mowing twice a year. It would stall out within the first couple feet. I am sure AZ is a whole different animal.

Think of all the other "****" you can banish to the yard shed now!

 

[bazzateer]

Only mow the grass once or twice a year? I'm moving to Arizona!

 

[Az Scooter]

What's in the mini-silo?

Water.

 

[hdossett]

What's in the mini-silo?

Potable water storage tank (3,000 gal). I haul my water. Neighbor has a well that read 3500 Parts per Billion for arsenic! Lots of salts in local water also, so much in fact, we can't even use it for the trees (or the non-grass)!

H

 

[hdossett]

...

Think of all the other "****" you can banish to the yard shed now!

That's my plan, the JD was just the nudge I needed!

H

 

[gsport]

just over an acre... about 45 minutes if i don't bag and about an hour if i bag.. 48" John Deere rider

 

[hdossett]

just over an acre... about 45 minutes if i don't bag and about an hour if i bag.. 48" John Deere rider

I like the rocks, but, what's all that green stuff?
H

 

[diggerrick]

I like the rocks, but, what's all that green stuff?
H

The green stuff is for skunks to root around in looking for grubs and making a mess. Deer like to muck it up crossing the fields, too.

BTW - good job - I wish I were that motivated and had that much "free" non-mowing time!

 

[gsport]

BTW - good job - I wish I were that motivated and had that much "free" non-mowing time!

can ya say "retired"...... lol

 

[hdossett]

can ya say "retired"...... lol

Yes... and loving it!



H

 

[camarotoolman]

Get a goat and buy a junk car for it to live in, change your handle to uncle billy goat. Just like my uncle.

 

[knight]

If your lawn is an acre or so (or smaller), just buy a couple of robotic mowers. They're much cheaper than a riding mower and they're fun to watch, plus they don't need to be filled up with gas every few weeks

 

[NEVERENOUGH]

Seems like a great trade off. And for anyone that has ever really owned goats they are the pickiest eaters on the planet lol. Mowing in Az is defiantly different than mowing nice grass lol. Looking good my friend keep up the updates.

 

[hdossett]

Neighbor is going the goat route! Started with 2 or 3, now has about a dozen or so! But... he still has them in a pen until he gets a fence built. Concrete block piers every 10 feet with horse panels between them and he plans to electrify it! (don't ask, its too long a story that is still going on) I know he is going to spend several thousand dollars on it.

I figure that $550 for a used JD puts me way ahead! (even with an extra $1,800 (I hope) for the shed) I'm going to like my shed! And BTW, I hate fences!

Neighbor had a few cord of Juniper firewood dumped and is throwing it in the goat pen and letting them eat the bark so it won't be so messy in the house!

If you haven't guessed, it fun living on edge of civilization!

H

 

[hdossett]

OK, got back from Yellowstone and the Tetons and have had great weather!
Got the shed done, all but the paint, anyway! Here are a few of the photos. With the exception of the concrete work and and hour or so of help setting the trusses in place, I did all work by my self! Was actually fun, and I only ran a few hundred dollars over budget!

Here is site prep and form work!

 

[hdossett]

And the Concrete work!

 

[hdossett]

And the framing!

 

[bacpacker]

Very nice. How far are you from Flaggstaff? Went thru there on our way to the canyon. Nice area, looks quite a bit like your area.

 

[hdossett]

Now the doors and trim, and started filling it up!

 

[hdossett]

Very nice. How far are you from Flaggstaff? ...

Thanks!

50 miles west then 25 miles south and about 2800' drop in elevation!

100 miles from entrance of the Grand Canyon (South Rim) going north out of Williams. A bit dryer here, less rain and snow.

H