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burtonridr
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 01:40pm
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I just signed an offer to purchase a piece of land that was accepted, and we are going to close soon. The property currently has 1 ft of snow on the ground and completely undeveloped.
What am I supposed to do until it thaws out!? I've got the itch to do something. The best I could come up with is sharpen my axe and make sure my tools are ready to go as soon as the weather permits.
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bobbotron
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 02:17pm
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You could always go out for a day, bring a chainsaw and warm clothes, start clearing trees or just go exploring. Start a bonfire. Did pretty much this on my friend's lot that hasn't been started yet, good times. 
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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 02:34pm
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Options:
1. Enjoy - sled, snowshoe, snowmobile, etc.
2. Work - it warms up fast when you are doing yard work. tree work and a warm fire is great
3. Stay away - some times it is frustrating not being able to do more. so staying home and working on a plan is good.
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DaJTCHA
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 02:56pm - Edited by: DaJTCHA
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We spent a year going back and forth to camp before any major construction was started to improve the place. Winter gives you a great chance to see the place without the leaves to obstruct most of the terrain. It was during the coldest months that I formulated my plan for Trout Camp and took trips up to become better acquainted with her! Have fun, be safe and tell us all the stories!
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burtonridr
Member
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 03:38pm
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Quoting: bobbotron You could always go out for a day, bring a chainsaw and warm clothes, start clearing trees or just go exploring. Start a bonfire. Did pretty much this on my friend's lot that hasn't been started yet, good times.
Since I'm going to be using some of the trees for building, does it make a difference what time of year I cut them? I've read so many different opinions on this subject, but would love some input from anyone that has experience.
Quoting: TheCabinCalls Options: 1. Enjoy - sled, snowshoe, snowmobile, etc. 2. Work - it warms up fast when you are doing yard work. tree work and a warm fire is great 3. Stay away - some times it is frustrating not being able to do more. so staying home and working on a plan is good.
I really want to get up there and start clearing brush. I've got an itch to get up there and do something, but I think I should wait until spring so I can stake out the grounds and get a better feel for what will stay and what needs to go. But It might not be a bad option to try and at least clear a spot to park the car.
Sledding would be a blast if we could only get across the creek to the side with the hill
Quoting: DaJTCHA We spent a year going back and forth to camp before any major construction was started to improve the place. Winter gives you a great chance to see the place without the leaves to obstruct most of the terrain. It was during the coldest months that I formulated my plan for Trout Camp and took trips up to become better acquainted with her! Have fun, be safe and tell us all the stories!
Man speaking of trout, I read a water quality report on the creek that flows through the property and it is supposed to be prime trout habitate with lots of fish, I cant wait to get a better look and the creek when it thaws out a little(still partially covered in frozen snow caves).
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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:15pm
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Identify and mark the property corners and lines! Take your property description and survey map and make sure you can find each property corner and any other landmarks "called" in the deed description. Although the snow on the ground may make it harder, find what you can now then come back once the snow melts and find the rest- but do it all before the leaves return. No leaves on the trees makes that process mmmmuuuccchhhh easier.
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Dillio187
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:24pm
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we went winter camping on our land twice over the winter before building the cabin. It was a good experience, while it can get brutally cold here, we went on weekends the highs were in the upper 20's and lows were only 10 or 15.
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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:55pm
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Be careful how long you wait to mark and clear. We waited too long one year and a few short weeks the entire area was 4-6 feet high with brush. Now is a fine time to clear trees/brush and much easier to move them. If you are going to use them just make sure you store them out of the snow and ice.
Good point on walking the property with the survey. It will be much easier to pull a long tape and do other measurements before the view space fills in.
Go at your own pace. Don't think you can get more done than you will. Enjoy!
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 09:13pm
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Definitely go there in the winter. Try to camp there if you can. You will want to choose a building site in the spring/summer and will be a whole season ahead in knowledge ...... otherwise you have to wait next season for this knowledge.
You don't need a REAL good reason to go, just go.
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GomerPile
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 09:14pm
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Cut down trees and brush. The best time to burn is when there is still a layer of snow....less risk of burning down he forest you just bought.
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 09:25pm
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Regarding a good time to cut trees for building materials and if you want to peel the bark off, it's easy in April-June "when the sap is running". Have never tried it in the winter but at some point after summertime it's like glued on.
Don't cut brush yet, unless you KNOW it needs to be cut. It will be SOOOO different in the spring/summer. You may need the brush to hide your car or your cabin. Also it will make a bunch of sharp sticks if you cut it while there's a foot of snow.
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Rob_O
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 11:03pm
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Quoting: burtonridr I've got an itch to get up there and do something, but I think I should wait until spring so I can stake out the grounds and get a better feel for what will stay and what needs to go. But It might not be a bad option to try and at least clear a spot to park the car.
I suggest you take your own advice and don't do too much until you get to know the land
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hattie
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# Posted: 26 Feb 2013 11:39pm
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How about starting to design the building you are going to construct? You will have lots of time to fine tune it and figure out just how much space you want/need and make sure you have places for all your stuff.
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burtonridr
Member
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# Posted: 28 Feb 2013 05:23pm
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Thanks for all the input, I never thought about trying to locate the boundaries before the brush starts growing, thats a good idea
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TheWildMan
Member
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2013 08:26am
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nows a good time to look for dead and damaged/unhealthy trees, when you can find them by looking up (no leaves in the way), look for large dead limbs (widow makers). take a can of bright spray paint and mark these trees with an X. even if you cut nothing till summer you will know where the dead, dying ones are. they often have rot in them but some tend to be dry (elm without bark dries, ash dries, cherry and birch rot, etc.) the better ones to cut first for fuel.
if you can find a forester now (before making any changes to the lot) nows a good time to identify trees and shurbs, foresters can ID them any time of year and advise you what to cut to make the stand healthier and attract wildlife that you want to see (increasing the habiat they like).
as a forester this time of year is good for identifying and measuring stands, locating dead trees, and logging (frozen ground is not disturbed by truck tires or sensative vehetation disturbed by boots, its all dormant)
if you have fruit trees (wild or cultivated and gone wild, such as apple, hawthorn, etc) now is the time to prune branches to increase fruit yeilds next year
if you have maple trees now is the time to start tapping, get some buckets out and a big pot. making sugar isn't complicated, get a book or find an old timer who does it with buckets and have them advise you, arround here there are maple producer associations so there might be some near you.
I hope these suggestions help
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burtonridr
Member
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2013 11:55am
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Quoting: TheWildMan nows a good time to look for dead and damaged/unhealthy trees, when you can find them by looking up (no leaves in the way), look for large dead limbs (widow makers). take a can of bright spray paint and mark these trees with an X. even if you cut nothing till summer you will know where the dead, dying ones are. they often have rot in them but some tend to be dry (elm without bark dries, ash dries, cherry and birch rot, etc.) the better ones to cut first for fuel. if you can find a forester now (before making any changes to the lot) nows a good time to identify trees and shurbs, foresters can ID them any time of year and advise you what to cut to make the stand healthier and attract wildlife that you want to see (increasing the habiat they like). as a forester this time of year is good for identifying and measuring stands, locating dead trees, and logging (frozen ground is not disturbed by truck tires or sensative vehetation disturbed by boots, its all dormant) if you have fruit trees (wild or cultivated and gone wild, such as apple, hawthorn, etc) now is the time to prune branches to increase fruit yeilds next year if you have maple trees now is the time to start tapping, get some buckets out and a big pot. making sugar isn't complicated, get a book or find an old timer who does it with buckets and have them advise you, arround here there are maple producer associations so there might be some near you.
This is awesome info! Thank you so much for sharing,
How would I find a forester?
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2013 12:28pm
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try looking locally under,, Arborist,,
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jaransont3
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2013 01:07pm
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Quoting: TheWildMan if you have maple trees now is the time to start tapping, get some buckets out and a big pot. making sugar isn't complicated, get a book or find an old timer who does it with buckets and have them advise you, arround here there are maple producer associations so there might be some near you.
Great idea! We just ordered a starter kit from the internet. Going to try this out when we go up to the cabin at the end of the month...assuming the sap is flowing. My brothers and i did this a few times when we were kids.
As for the original poster's question.....I would definitely try to spend some time....even if it is just walking the property...to get a feel for the land and the light and such. Will be valuable info when you get ready to figure out where to site your cabin. Do the same in spring and summer if you can.
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2013 08:59pm - Edited by: Just
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burtonridr
Noting like a early spring day to cut a little fire wood .Our stalk was getting low . Great day today in the bush in Ontario .You should try and get to your new land on a day like today !! The spring leeks will be up soon .
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Rob_O
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2013 10:09pm
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Quoting: burtonridr How would I find a forester?
Depends on where you life, if you are in the states google the forestry dept for your state and you will find the person who serves your area. Typically they will come out and do a walk-through with you, write up a management plan and suggest changes to optimize the health your forest... all at no charge to you
If you're up North, I got nothing.
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burtonridr
Member
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# Posted: 23 May 2013 11:35am
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Quoting: Rob_O Depends on where you life, if you are in the states google the forestry dept for your state and you will find the person who serves your area. Typically they will come out and do a walk-through with you, write up a management plan and suggest changes to optimize the health your forest... all at no charge to you
This is good info, I will look someone up. I'm planning to have a logger come in next fall or winter and harvest some trees.
Thank you everyone for the suggestions, I have recently received quotes to have the brush cleared and site prepped for building. I will probably start a new thread soon to share our progress.
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