Improving a steep slope with no access for diggers

heya two strategies come to mind, one is grade the area back with a skid steer, then buy coco coir netting the industrial rolls (optional buy useful) and lay these out and secure then we have used wood slabs cut at a diagonal to create stakes then once that out and taunt use a fast growing fescue and compost extract to aid in growth and spray that on for stability that will be last OR create ridge swales like they do for rice fields  and still add in grass seeds with deep roots for stability. you can rent or borrow a skid steer and look up grading its pretty easy to do  

Hi Connie,

With the goal of soil stabilization in mind, and the breadth of the area involved, maybe a geocell grid would help. It has been around since the 1950s, but gotten popular more recently. I posted an explanation and pictures here: https://permies.com/t/374015/Gravel-pad-foundation-concerns  (scroll down to the bottom of that thread to see).

You can stretch out the geo cell web, peg the upper side of it (acknowledging the challenges of getting pegs set in gravel / rocky soil  - I have the same - I say a prayer before I set every peg that it will be a viable position and angle!) and then fill with shredded straw, deep litter bedding from chicken house, whatever compost you have around, shredded comfrey leaves mixed with shredded cardboard... I have used all of those... and then broadcast whatever type of seeds you like.  Someone earlier mentioned growing pumpkins, which make a wonderful very large ground cover that protects the soil from eroding.

Like many of the suggestions you are getting in this thread, it can be done piece by piece. It can be fitted around the random trees.  If you are a solo farmer like me, I can assure it that it can be done with one person. Once you have it in place, soil will begin to build there, and erosion will stop.

Good luck with your project!!

Buster Parks wrote:I'm trying out a technique that might help,

T-posts at the top of my ridge, 2 about ten ft apart. Each t-post has a metal chain attached, the chains run to the bottom.  I'm using branches off my cedars to cross between chains. It's like a rope ladder laying down the slope.  I had to buy the chain and quick links but hope that down the road I can reclaim the hardware without disturbing the logs

Hey Buster - thanks for sharing this idea - this is EXCELLENT.  On my farm there is a natural berm that rises about 20 feet above grade, fairly sharply on one side and slopes more gradually on the other. Getting onto the top of the berm so far has involved scrambling, and I have been considering best pathways to lay out for actual walkways.... and wondering what type of efficient minimum-viable-product infrastructure could be set up to make those walkways work.  Your idea could be a great option.  The property was formerly timberland, and was clear cut 5 years before I bought it. One of my ongoing tasks is clearing up sticks and limbs and slash from the original cutting. I will look into this!  I appreciate you posting it.

I had a similar situation. I have a steep better than 20% slope that I used to grow Christmas trees on. It had been neglected for many years so it became very veiny with grapes. Virginia creeper, raspberries, and other plants I started by having to clear the Christmas trees out, which was a lot of work Once the ground was somewhat cleared. I made an A-frame out of three pieces of 2 x 4 with a level going across the bottom of the A-frame. I started at one end and worked my way across the slope marking each point so that they would be all on the same elevation. I then used a broad Fork to loosen up the soil. The broad fork also helped to dig out a lot of the Virginia creeper and Christmas tree roots. I did about a five or 6 foot wide path with the broad Fork. I then took a rake and standing on the low side of the hill I use the rake to pull the soil down and made a level area. These rows are only about 4 feet wide. once I had the area leveled out I planted trees. I also planted comfrey in there to try to keep the other weeds out. It’s an ongoing effort. I only started five years ago, so it’s still pretty weedy and it’s a challenge every year to clean them up it’s a lot of work, but it looks pretty good right now. Hope this helps.

I don't know what kind of slope you have but we have been experimenting with hugelkultur terracing with good results, here is an example https://www.northshoreagroecology.org/adaptive-hugelkultur-design/