Starting Over!

I have a small farm that was recently hit by a tornado. I lost lots of big beautiful trees - Mostly Walnut trees - I had them logged out and now the tops are laying all over my property! What a mess I have here!

With much thought I have decided to tackle this as I did when I first started clearing the land...Just rope off a section and go at it! I have been feeling very overwhelmed when I look at my yard and property - but now feeling a bit better that I am coming up with a soulution.

I am basically starting all over here! I have giant rooted stumps now that are laying toppled over and limbs and mess galore!!!

I am trying to come up with a plan - I think since I am starting over I am going to do some things that I have always wanted to do.

I want a inexpensive, attractive fence around my front yard
I have a really ugly woodworking shop in my front yard that I want do something with
I have a place that a swimming pool used to be - need to do something with that
Need something creative to do with the giant rooted stumps sticking up until I can get them removed
I need some landscaping down the front of my house
On and on and on.........

You get the idea!! LOL!

I would appreciate any advice and help along the way as I tackle this project - more like LOTS of projects!

First I have to get some area roped off to begin my clean up! Off I go........

Cathy so sorry to hear about your tornado damage! How awful! As you tackle each section just post a picture of it, and we'll help you out section by section. I'm a beginner but that doesn't stop me from making suggestions ;) good luck!

I'm sorry to hear about your damage. At least you've turned it around into getting to do something you've always wanted to do to it.
I assuming if the pool "used to be there", then it's probably above ground. But if it's not and it's below, maybe you could fill part of it in and turn it into a koi pond.
There are sites like craiglist and freecycle that you could maybe find cheap fencing.
Posting a picture of your yard now might help with suggestions.

Yes the pool was an above ground - now flattened!! I have put a pic on here....be prepared...It is not pretty! Mother Nature hated me that day!! LOL!

This pic is just one small part of my yard...I lost a total of 18 trees....but this is pretty much what my whole yard looks like!

Thanks in advance for all the help!

So sorry for your loss. The power of a tornado is unbelievable unless you have been through it. I hope your home was spared!

I had a similar problem with a large tree up-ended in my woods. The root/ stump is on its side and is about 15 feet tall and covered with dirt. I wanted to pull it back into the hole, but it is much too heavy. At least in the woods I can work on it slowly and it is not in my front yard.

Will your insurance pay for a tree service?

So sorry about your loss Cathy. Thank the Lord you are alright! If your walnut trees are big enough, you may be able to sell them for timber. It would give you a little money for some of your yard projects. Good luck.

Maybe this would work for your tree stumps:

You could put some of that walnut wood to work...
-trellises of all kinds
-fences: maybe not the big one across the front of the yard but an accent fence here and there or little fences around beds
-stumps to put plants on or in
-posts for fenced in vegetable garden
-garden arches or gates made with limbs or lumber from tree
-depending on how handy you are in the wood shop - lumber for raised beds

Sorry about the nature event. I admire the positive approach you're developing. Hang in there !

"Creation is action"

~Sharon

Thanks everyone for your well wishes!! Yes I did sell the logs out of them already. We did file an insurance claim. I do burn wood so will cut as much of the tops as I could for firewood.

I love the stump idea! Yes I will have to get creative on those....they are huge!!

I am looking for some sort of fence idea to use up some of the tops.

I am taking into consideration all your ideas!! Thanks again gang!

I will find the post I started on turning a log in to planter. The jest of it is to hollow it ot add dirt and plants. Would work with stumps as well. Using a chain saw go as deep as possible cut drain slots toward the bottom add cheap perrinials and enjoy. from destruction comes beauty. Mother nature at work with a little help. I think it is in beginner gardning or flowers. Any way I will find and bring it to the top of the forum. Check the beginer gardening questions forum. Send me a pm and I will let you know what is planted and about what I paid and how they are growing. Just an idea. Sorry to hear about your damages. Hope no one was hurt or God forbid worse. Good luck.

This message was edited Jul 7, 2009 11:21 PM