Outline and discussion on developing my property to be move in ready. | Page 3 | Construction and DIY projects | Forums

Those different opinions (minus those from trolls) are a big reason for asking for input on forums. You're being helpful and it is very appreciated.

Preppers put a great deal of useful information out there, including for homesteading. They do compliment each other. I've observed about 4 movements which tend to be grouped together. Prepping, survivalism, civilian militia, and homesteading. Often there is cross pollination. But also often, one is confused as being synonymous with one or more of the others. It is no safer an assumption to assume a homesteader is also a hippie. Those tend to go together as well, yet I don't see many civilian militia hippies running about. I prefer to keep the distinctions of things. English is a muddled up language as it is. Preserving nuance is preserving clarity.

You've put finding and utilizing springs back on my radar. If it is something with sufficient yield that I can later develop, I shall.

Yes, the expense of the driveway has been my #1 concern right now.

I've gotten 3 quotes from companies to do it for me. I have quotes from United Rentals (heavy machinery rental) on several sizes of excavators. I have quotes from most of the local quarries for fill dirt, fines, sand, gravel, and clay. And I have 2 quotes for dump truck delivery.

I only see one other option to the long driveway but I don't like it and am pretty sure I'd be unhappy. Everything about buying this property depends on that driveway to the back. Without it, I would loose the peaceful privacy of the back plateau, I would loose the southern exposed hillside that I want to build my passive solar earthbag house into, and without eventually building the earthbag house, absolutely every plan I have for the property goes to heck.

I have 2 major expenses to contend with to be able to move onto the property. Clear a driveway and clearing, and get some kind of building to live in.

I am trying to find ways to severely reduce my expenses on both. So far, that has not gone nearly as well as I had hoped. But when I encounter road blocks, my approach has always been to find a creative solution and to view it as that a solution exists and is just waiting for me to find it. -- I'm still struggling to find said solution.

Based on my quotes so far, diy renting could rival or exceed the for hire quotes which would defeat the purpose. A major part of that is trucking in gravel. There is no way their quotes included enough gravel for proper drainage. Therefore, I don't really trust the contractor quotes. I think they were low balling and planning to take shortcuts.

Not sure what you're asking concerning an excavator, or why you think the one-way bridge would present a problem.

Bulldozer. It is a friend of a friend of a...

I've not talked to them since. I need to try, but its hardly a sure thing. Also, not sure how well a bulldozer would fair downing trees + roots.

The 2 lane driveway is for safety in inclement weather, passing room since backing up along an 800 foot zig-zag driveway doesn't seem like a good idea, and so larger vehicles like trucking in a mobile home have clear passage.

The bridge does not need to be 2 lanes to accomplish any of that.

I also think that while it is an expense, that it will increase property value... which may be a moot point since I don't plan to ever sell or mortgage.

UPDATE

I was able to walk the property after a decent rain and look for springs. I only looked on the south side. I found 4 possible spring locations of which 3 were active at the time. I took video of each. It may be a while before I get around to posting it. I also took video of the stream running at the location of the planned crossing.

As expected, the springs were low yield (and only run when fed by recent rain or thaw). They are not a priority, but I will seek to eventually find use for them.