I sat down to write this article, wondering . What would be a useful topic for someone who wants to work around the ‘old home place‘? And it dawned on me. What everyone needs before starting a project, and the one thing I didn’t have. Is a good list of useful items that you might need.

Normally these types of lists are full of useful, and very expensive items that most people have no access to. Nor can afford without selling the yacht. There’s no doubt that I’d love to be able to go down and get a diesel powered portable band saw mill. (You paying attention Santa?). Or a new 50 hp tractor with a front end loader , a posthole digger , and backhoe attachment. But these are just not in the budget. There are however some things that you will find affordable, and frankly. Worth their weight in gold while working around the ’stead. For instance;

Every home owner should have a chainsaw. What type depends on what you want to do with it. If your trimming the occasional tree limb or that pesky thorn sapling that keeps popping up in the yard. You might get by with a small electric saw. If you have a rotten giant redwood in the backyard . This obviously isn’t gonna do the trick.

I started our project with my old 14” Poulan chainsaw . But found it really wasn’t up to the task of heavy clearing projects. So I found a good 18” Jonsered CS2145. Which I back up with a Jonsered weed trimmer with a brush blade. Mainly because I got tired of crawling around on the ground to cut a 2” round sapling. Luckily I have a brother in law. Who is a sales rep for Jonsered. So I got them at an affordable price. Which leads me to something else you’ll find invaluable.

A family member or friend that can help get you good deals on equipment. If you have a son or daughter of marriageable age. Or an unattached sister, brother, aunt , uncle, or parent. You might think about setting them up with your local tractor salesman. Or possibly a Sears manager. If not. Be prepared to pay full price.

Another item you’ll find useful is bailing twine. Head down right now to your nearest farm supply store and buy a roll of YELLOW or ORANGE twine. It has to be yellow or orange to be truly useful. It should come in a box with about 2 miles of twine rolled up inside. I know it sounds like a lot of string. But trust me. You’ll use it. While your there you might as well fill out your compliment of ground engaging hand tools. Shovels (spade and scoop), pickaxe, or maddox ( a pick with a wide blade on one side. Good for roots and saplings) , posthole diggers (there’s two varieties that I know of. The standard two handled drive it in and pull out the dirt kind, and a screw in kind. If there’s a remote possibility you might have a rock where you want a hole. Skip the screw in kind.), and if you can find one a 4’ iron bar that’s sharpened to a point.(which works better than a pick when your working down in a hole.). Also if you don’t already have one. Get a cheap lock blade pocket knife. Make sure its cheap. Your gonna ruin it, and definitely make sure it’s a lock blade so you don’t guillotine a finger off.

And lastly. If you don’t have access to a good mule. Invest in an old pickup. Four wheel drive is best. If you’ve read “The journey begins” article on page 1. You’ll know why I say a fourwheel drive is the only way to go. There’s good deals out there now with gas prices skyrocketing. If you cant swing a truck find a trailer. I pull a trailer behind my truck. For the simple fact. The trailer is a lot closer to the ground. So its easier to load heavy stuff into it. Plus if I don’t need or feel like unloading it right away. I can drop the trailer and still use the truck.