questions about Grant Schultz's admirable practices

Hi Grant,
* I was inspired by seeing your electric Allis G a while back (we're in the process of saving up for one), and have also been planning on doing one of your fall courses. We put our flags in the ground last year with a laser level, I want to use the contour points to eventually get to a 3D model of the ground for better keyline planning.
So my question is: can you name the software packages (desktop, phone, etc.) you use for contour mapping to prep for keyline tweaks?
(I'm experienced in many 3D modeling software packages, so go ahead and get technical with details if you like.) [I originally sent this question via the Versaland.com contact form on Wed, Apr 23, 2014 at 5:51 PM - any props for that, hahaha? ]

* I'd suppose that your young tree protectors are probably chosen for scaling their cost, but how do you deal with deer eating new leaves that make it to the top? [Is it simply volume, volume, volume?) We're not scaled up to that level yet; the ~30 decent sized trees we planted by hand this April are currently on watch for getting their tree cages extended taller when we see leaf-munching.]
http://www.versaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/10612802_738598914837_2653325439413486663_n.jpg

* We're doing some row crops between our keyline rows, and as we scale up, we're planning to cultivate between rows with machinery (ideally a G). For the places the machinery doesn't cultivate between plants (in the row), do you have any rule of thumb for when it becomes impractical to manually weed there, based on full-time people per acre, or something similar? (The pricing context is CSA shares, if that's a helpful factor.)

I sure hope we win the course ticket - my family is only an hour away from you, so this is the only course where my wife could go in person because we could avoid lodging costs!
Thanks much!!

- Just noticed that your replies in the thread "Bone sauce, Grant?" answered the deer question, thanks!
https://permies.com/t/49782/large-farm/Bone-sauce-Grant

M Barkau wrote:Hi Grant,
* I was inspired by seeing your electric Allis G a while back (we're in the process of saving up for one), and have also been planning on doing one of your fall courses. We put our flags in the ground last year with a laser level, I want to use the contour points to eventually get to a 3D model of the ground for better keyline planning.
So my question is: can you name the software packages (desktop, phone, etc.) you use for contour mapping to prep for keyline tweaks?
(I'm experienced in many 3D modeling software packages, so go ahead and get technical with details if you like.)

* I'd suppose that your young tree protectors are probably chosen for scaling their cost, but how do you deal with deer eating new leaves that make it to the top? [Is it simply volume, volume, volume?) We're not scaled up to that level yet; the ~30 decent sized trees we planted by hand this April are currently on watch for getting their tree cages extended taller when we see leaf-munching.]
http://www.versaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/10612802_738598914837_2653325439413486663_n.jpg

* We're doing some row crops between our keyline rows, and as we scale up, we're planning to cultivate between rows with machinery (ideally a G). For the places the machinery doesn't cultivate between plants (in the row), do you have any rule of thumb for when it becomes impractical to manually weed there, based on full-time people per acre, or something similar? (The pricing context is CSA shares, if that's a helpful factor.)

Software for keyline planning:

When it comes to actual contour mapping there are several ways to start:

Prepare yourself this about to get uncomfortably nerdy...

The most important question is "Do I want to georeference my design? e.g. Do you want to be able to design your entire site on a desktop in 3D space, and then be able to go out on your site and ACCURATELY reference a point to begin install - "the swale begins here!" Picking a tree as a waypoint is notoriously inaccurate - and those of us planting out whole fields need to rely on something else - few people today have surveying skills.

A design created on a software package is only worthwhile if you can accurately transfer it to a site. This is more challenging on some sites than others. Huge gap in 2D GIS vs 3D+RTK GPS geolocation

When working with elevation and building swales or moving water in a Keyline pattern, elevation data must be accurate, and we use RTK GPS technology accurate to within 1cm from space. Your cell phone or a handheld GPS are good to about 3ft accuracy horizontally and 30 ft vertically - not good enough. RTK is a highly-accurate GPS...and repeatable.

For all the fancy 3D modeling I hire a contractor who uses both AutoCAD Civil 3D and most importantly the versatile and expensive Carlson Software

FREE LiDAR MAPS

If all you're looking for is good quality elevation map for your property (say 2 ft contours), odds are there are some publicly available ones. Here's a current map as of July 2015 of where maps already exist, are currently being mapped and where you still only have the sucky 20' contour ones (the yellow areas)



Check out the The National Map Viewer and Download Platform

and the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP)