February 17, 2025 - Hilltop Farm: A Change of Pace

Today was a nice change of pace. Instead of working in the forest I ended up having help moving some soil around to build forest area up a little and also transported the compost into the greenhouse before the snow. Keep safe everyone who is about to get hit with this snow fall!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
A little bit on where I come from:
I am a graduate from SUNY – College of Environmental Science with a B.S. in Wildlife Science
I graduated from SUNY – ESF Ranger School extension with an A.A.S in Environmental and Natural Resource Conservation
Spent 4 years working various public sector seasonal technician jobs around states like Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, South Carolina, and New York until I decided to turn to Private Sector work.
I mostly tackle Timber Stand Improvement projects, with a focus on wildlife habitat features and sustainable growth through thinning treatments and soil-building techniques
I strive to utilize regenerative forestry as my core focus when providing any services.
My hope is that with this channel I can introduce land owners to some basic management practices and techniques that can help them work on their own properties, or know what to look for when hiring a private forester to come work on their land if they want to follow the methods I use for my own work.
Intro and Outro animation created by:
Duncan MacGregor - “Pains Angels”
https://rumble.com/user/KiltedChristian

My Current Equipment Setup:
Tractor: Kubota MX6000 (Hydrostatic)
https://www.kubotausa.com/products/tractors/utility/mx-series#compare

Implements: LA1065A Bucket Loader with optional valve for grapple operation
https://morefarmstores.com/product/la1065-front-loader-w-2-lever-quick-attach-72-bucket/

Attachments:
Land Pride –
Light Duty Grapple SGC 1072
https://www.landpride.com/products/580/sgc10%20series%20claw%20grapples

Grading Scraper GS2584
https://www.landpride.com/products/83/gs25%20series%20grading%20scrapers

Norse –
Norse 350 Logging Wench
https://www.shopnovaintl.com/collections/logging-winches/products/norse-350-logging-winch

Chainsaws:

- Stihl MS 261 C
https://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/professional-saws/ms261cm/

- Stihl MS 271 “Farmboss”
https://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/farm-and-ranch-saws/ms271/
Trimmers:
- Stihl FS 131R with Chisel Blade Attachment (I would recommend upgrading to the FS 251 R for better match of type of forestry work I do, and be sure to buy a shoulder harness system).
https://www.stihlusa.com/products/trimmers-and-brushcutters/professional-trimmers/fs131r/
- Stihl Kombi-motor KM 131R (I would not recommend this for large area sapling/brush cutting like I started out with. There is a sleeve pin that has a tendency to break with the intense use, I would only use it for tree branch trimming with pole saw to trim the trucks up to 16’ for better butt log productions and to have a weed eater with a light brush blade for smaller thickets.
https://www.stihlusa.com/products/multi-task-tools/professional-kombisystem/km131r/