Mark Shepard on machinery

Mark,
I've read nearly all your website, and am very interested in implementing permaforest on my 20-50 acres of farmland.
My question is what type of farm machinery (tractors, implements, etc.) are needed to convert, maintain, and harvest for a permaforest farm?
What is done by hand and what by machine? What is an approximate cost of the machinery needed?
Thanks for your website and book! Hope to visit your farm this year!

Hi Bonnie...
My equipment list includes:

40HP tractor
flail-chopper mower
subsoiler
front end loader, bucket and forks
mouldboard plow for making swales (this might not be the appropriate tool for your site... Slope & soil will determine what you need to use)


These are the essentials for the Perennial part of the system and eventually will need to include a straddle harvester for hazelnuts and a sweeper for chestnuts.

For growing annual produce I have:

disk harrow
springtooth type cultivator
PTO powered seed broadcaster
Mechanical transplanted

Total ballpark cost of the equipment for the perennials is probably around $50,000.00.
I also have all kinds of other equipment kicking around. I'm currently looking for a bulldozer...

Keep an eye on our website http://www.forestag.com/book.html or my facebook page for updates on when tours and courses will be held...

Hello Mark,

After watching your inspiring video, I am curious about how you harvest so many different plants all growing together. Are they harvested manually or with some sort of mechanization?