Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Think of it as a giant chainsaw with wheels

Remember the post I wrote about a month ago about how I was going to rid my pasture of juniper trees, 
even if it took the rest of my life? Referring to the little trees, I said, "Maybe by the time I'm done with those, 
I will have won the lottery and can afford to hire a lumberjack or twelve to come in and thin out the big ones."

Well guess who won the lottery. Sort of. The lumberjacks arrive today!

Let me back up. In September 2009, I heard that the area soil and water conservation district might someday get funding 
for locals like me to thin their acres of invasive juniper trees. I applied for the funding, a guy came out and counted my trees, 
and that was the last I heard of it. Then I wrote the post about trying to get rid of the trees myself. 
Then two weeks later the phone rings, and it's the guy who counted my trees 2-1/2 years ago, 
calling to tell me the funding finally came through. How cool is that? 
 
The lumberjacks dropped off their ax yesterday and will be here bright and early today to start chopping.



Think of it as a giant chainsaw with wheels, otherwise known as a "masticator." 
I'm told it sort of drives over the trees, spitting out variable-sized pieces in its wake..."which break down at different rates 
so as not to inundate the soil with nitrates. It is very good for grass yield as it spreads the chips very far as opposed to
an even layer of chips from a chipper." Whatever. All I know is my pasture is going to be freakin' awesome in a couple of years!



Smooch: H-y-d-r-o A-x. What does that spell, mom?
Me: Heaven on wheels.


The transporter and foreman (a.k.a. Lumberjacks #1 and #2) dropped off the machine late yesterday.


What's not to love about a machine that has a stump grinder and rotary ax? 
And I can't believe they left the keys in the ignition.



Sadly, I do not have enough feet with which to operate it. 
Makes me wonder if Lumberjack #3 is an octopus.




Me: Smooch, you're going to have to crack a smile if you hope to be the official spokesmodel for the Hydro Ax. 

So this week's posts are likely to be filled with pictures and videos of the Hydro Ax in action. (Dad, stop drooling.) 
Not the usual fare, but the most excitement that's happened around here in a long time.


36 comments:

  1. Boy o boy, I'd say that's pretty exciting Carson! What a machine!!!! Congrats on getting that funding.

    By the way, are the moths gone?

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  2. Pat, the moths are gone. Amen to that.

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  3. As we say in Georgia WooHoo!!!! Looks awesome. Deborah in Atlanta. Love your blog with or without axs and other power tools.

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  4. Wow. Talk about sending in the big guns! Can't wait to see what it can do!

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  5. Will it take care of the locoweed as well? That would be a big plus...

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  6. Oh, and will you leave a few of the bigger trees for shade for your tree huggers? Or would they just start another colony?

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  7. D'ya think y'could maybe get a shot or two of Lumberjack #1 or Lumberjack #2 in action. Just as a favor to an ol' lady?

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  8. Good for you ! I'd like to see a video of the Hydro-Ax in action. Gotta love big yellow machines and lumberjacks ! I'm with you on the foot pedals. A golf cart it isn't.

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  9. Gotta love the engineer that designed it! He must have known that an octopus would be driving it.

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  10. I've never seen such a machine. Does it work for cedars as well? I know from PW that OK is trying to keep cedars in check as well. There are new inventions all the time. I love new inventions.
    Best always, Sandra

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  11. What is the problem with the juniper trees? Do they just take up "grass space" or do they do something bad to the soil?

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  12. That's awesome for you..you'll have a great pasture when those pesky things are gone!! There's a huge problem with the Junipers up here too, and ONDA keeps filing suits to stop eradication...I'm all for the environment, but common sense has to be used.

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  13. Diane from NC5/8/12, 6:43 AM

    Good for you Carson....Can't wait to see the photos of the Lumberjacks...:) Guys who drive that kind of "thing" have to be cowboys at heart.

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  14. "You can't handle the chainsaw"...eh......teehee, I couldnot resist that ;p
    I would be cooking a man friendly lunch for them lumberjacks.......

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  15. Power tools. *insert Tim Allen Grunt here*

    I'm glad the program came through for you - you have a lot of work on your hands on a daily basis, so to get all of this done at once (and by someone else) is fantastic!

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  16. I can't believe they left the KEYS!!! They don't know you very well do they - LOL. Resist, resist I know you can do it.

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  17. Hot dam......yeah for you. How exciting that you have a chance to have less of those pesky junipers. We love heavy equipment here at Casa de Cuckoo. Both the grands make us go way outta the way to watch big yellow or orange machines do the work they do so this will be another great incentive for them before school. Thanks Carson, you really do make our mornings easier. Oma Linda

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  18. How cool! Congratulations on the funding! It sure came at the right time. You, Smooch and the others will be pooped by the time the lumberjacks leave. I can't wait to see the end results.

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  19. Junipers are the worst! *shudder*

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  20. You gonna put on a purty dress and fix them fellas some viddles? ;) (or should we wait to see if they're worth putting on a dress first?)

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  21. We say "woohoo" in CO, too! Take videos of that giant machine doing it's thing and of the Lumberjacks, too ... all of them! How exciting! Hugs ... Marcia

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  22. I can't WAIT for the next posts !! Am thrilled for you, Carson !

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  23. Looks like fun. Looking forward to the pictures and videos.

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  24. Awesome! I love this kind of stuff. I'm really surprised you didn't start it up and try it out.

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  25. Estella from Co.5/8/12, 8:48 AM

    Had it up here on a friends' ranch and it was just toooooo good to be true. The ranch looks like a park now....they left shade trees every so many feet. I'm sure you will be just thrilled with the results. Hugs to all hint hint hint videos of you and Lucy riding

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  26. My older dog would go insane if there were lots of junipers about. She has to smell each one she finds on our walks. Hasta la vista junipers!

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  27. Dave Gibbons5/8/12, 9:25 AM

    But... But... But... What's going to shield your herd from the north winds and the summer sun?? I can see some three-sided shelters being needed in the pasture. Aren't such shelters called "pole barns" or is that something else?

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  28. Carol in N. Colorado5/8/12, 9:28 AM

    I'm surprised you didn't try starting up the tree eating machine. It would have been too much temptation for me. Can't wait to see what the rest of the week brings. Will you need to lock up the gang while lumberjacks work?

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  29. I googled Hydro-Ax and there was a You-Tube video of one at work. Maybe a bigger one or different attachment than the one at your house? If you haven't seen it, you have to watch it. A M A Z I N G !!! All I can say is... Don't get too close!

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  30. Cool!!!

    (love the comment to Dad) LOL LOL LOL

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  31. I like June's comment about getting a couple of photos of the lumberjacks on duty! HeeHee! I wonder what the herd is going to think of all that racket!? All I know is good riddance to the junipers!

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  32. Big wonderful news! And, yeah, pix of the lumberjacks would be cool - you could make a calendar with them! I croaked out a gutteral laugh when I saw your tiny print comment to your Dad. Mine was a grader operator in the Seabees in WWII - mostly in the Philippines. He continued working with heavy equipment after the war, eventually having his own company. We took camping vacations, usually in the West, and Dad had to stop at every work site he saw! He would have been there with your Dad, drooling!!

    Nancy in Iowa

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  33. I have been a lurker for a while (love the blog) but the word lumberjack (AKA: possible hot sweaty males) has brought me out of hiding. Yes, I am aware this makes this whole comment sexist and wrong but hey it is a blog about asses. : )

    Enjoy the big machines.

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  34. I'd love to be there to watch. I'm going to have to go to YouTube when I leave here to find the video of one in action. Can you put links to videos on your Twitter feed? I know next to nothing about Twitter, but some of us will have trouble waiting until morning for a video. I bet your paying job isn't getting as much attention today. I don't see how you could stay indoors at all with all that action going on. You were super smart to apply for the funds; lots of people would just assume they'd never get anything and shrug their shoulders. Congratulations! Think of all the time this frees up for you. You can ride Lucy instead of getting rid of junipers.

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  35. If you need a spare driver.....

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  36. Sandy from Edgewood, NM5/9/12, 10:11 AM

    NO WAY..... you are lucky!!! Now, go buy a lottery ticket for real!!!

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