What equipment should we request in our soil-improvement grant application?

We are applying for an NMDA Healthy Soils grant, to start assisting our land so that it can be productive for us (and also recover from our disturbances of the past 5 years of infrastructure building). So far we have mainly just been building our house, but this year we are finally ready to put more of our time into land restoration and growing. We had to turn down our first approved grant 3 years ago, because we realized we had bit off way more work than we could chew, at least until the house was built. We don't want to make that mistake again!

We are ignorant land managers and don’t even know what tools make the most sense, although we have started to make up a list just based on googling as best we can, guessing at our needs. We need to make sure that these tools will make the job doable for two (game) retirees working mostly alone. I am so sorry about the ugly URLs but I couldn't get the URL button to work properly and then lost the whole message and had to start over, so it is what it is...

QUESTION:
Here is the list of equipment we are most unsure of, and where we most need your help! (Each item must be <$5000). Where I included links, do those items make sense? Where I did or didn’t include links, do you have suggestions?

Small dumper loader for moving wood, biochar, compost, mulch reasonable distances over hilly ground MechMaxx 1100 lb dumper loader tracked gas with bucket https://mechmaxx.com/products/500kg-loading-tracked-mini-dumper-transporter-with-high-lift

Wood chipper MechMaxx 5-inch wood chipper https://mechmaxx.com/products/5-inch-e-start-kohler-408cc-gasoline-engine-powered-wood-chipper-model-gs1500

Building bags to catch and transport wood chips https://www.homedepot.com/p/DURASACK-200-Gal-Heavy-Duty-Builder-s-Bulk-Bag-White-Outdoor-Polypropylene-Construction-Trash-Bag-BB-40CTN/315038578

Temporary irrigation for establishing critical area plantings ??

Tree bags ?? 2.5 gallons https://www.amleo.com/leonard-mini-arborrainhydration-system/p/AR02

Water wagon ?? Smart watering cart https://www.amleo.com/smart-water-cart-flat-free-wheels/p/SWCFF

Gravity fed irrigation from 55 gallon water tanks?? What do you recommend?

Hand-pushed compost spreader this bigger Compost spreader https://www.mkrittenhouse.com/us/mini-topper-top-dresser?utm_source=google_shopping&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17191347485&gbraid=0AAAAAD_raT3Rcq3gQQDpyLlbDa6bvF8Ab&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvOjKBhC9ARIsAFvz5lh5oEXENd8xTVBg7zwGzFgL_IImQrHZra0DsiRYjYxXtF7J0pnThxkaAnN9EALw_wcB#prod_id=28383

or this smaller Compost spreader https://landzie.com/product/landzie-36-tow-behind-spreader/

Hand-pushed no-till seeder https://www.johnnyseeds.com/tools-supplies/seeders/six-row/six-row-seeder-second-edition-6758.html?_gl=1*1ts2b6z*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiA3-3KBhBiEiwA2x7FdKoR4O6IvwMT4_m6omrT6wb7mrpUBhZ-odqR5b0AOeJhcPFI3zQE9xoCJHcQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAAD_WiV0i9yyfW_RNdvgfWeMXCsZNf

Cloches/fencing to protect critical area seedlings

Biodegradable erosion control cloth to protect critical area seeds on steep slopes

Chicken tractor https://farmandyard.com/products/chicken-tractor-mobile-chicken-coop?variant=42566463258804&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping¤cy=USD&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20973291795&gbraid=0AAAAACk_o2Yoc6R3D3lMIDig6Jpkuwn5f&gclid=CjwKCAiA95fLBhBPEiwATXUsxJf8Xvqu5jlm53U95liEr7DdVeZjJYIpZR3WOlTFVLAVSAW0G2gWERoCLXgQAvD_BwE

FYI here is a list of the other supplies we plan to request, but are more familiar with, or they aren’t “gear” so I am not asking here.

Ring of Fire biochar kiln Ring of Fire kiln

IBC tote or 55 gallon drums for temporary gravity-fed irrigation away from infrastructure

Materials for Johnson-Su composter

Purchased compost for first year (since JS won't be ready)

Gutters for outbuildings

Water tanks for rainwater storage

Native seeds for critical planting areas (repair our disturbances in natural areas)

Cheaper erosion control seeds for temporary use on steep disturbed slopes that will be disturbed again

Cover crop seeds for growing beds

Native seedlings for moderate slopes

Pollinator seeds for new septic trench drainfield

Hedgerow plantings for above and below the septic trench to protect it

We have chainsaws, garden carts, 4x8 trailer with sides, wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, etc

Below is background for those who want all the deets:

BACKGROUND
Our land: NW New Mexico (Colorado Plateau). Rolling land at the base of a mesa, going up big ridges and cliffs and onto the mesa top. 10-14” of rain per year, USDA zone 6. Rolling to vertical – no 10x10 level flat area except on mesa top which is mostly inaccessible. Lower land is sandy loam crisscrossed by intermittent arroyos. Lots of sheet erosion everywhere, and gully erosion especially in disturbed areas. The undisturbed arroyos are quite healthy meanders, but there is potential for sedimentation within the channels as well beyond the scope of this grant. Open pinon/juniper woodland with native shrubs and sparse grasses/forbs. Waves of piñon die-off have been through this area; about 50-60% of our piñons are dead.

Our grant focus area: 5 acres at the bottom, in our main farmstead area. We have a house, greenhouse, outhouse, two chicken coops, tipi, pit dug for 2nd outhouse.

Growing areas within the grant focus area & timeframe: 90’x15’ greenhouse (not part of grant), two 90’x8’ backfilled berms along each side of the greenhouse, 30’x30’ separate planting area.

Critical planting areas within the grant focus area: <1 acre total but scattered around the 5-acre focus area. Some backfill steep areas around the house and the slope down from greenhouse. Disturbed areas around farmstead and camp areas exacerbating sheet erosion and gullies. Septic drainfield.

Grant focus & requirements: NMDA Healthy Soils Grant. No earthworks (we will seek funding for earthworks through NRCS/USDA separately). Durable good maximum $5000 per line item. Total grant maximum $25,000. Grant runs 14 months from July through following August.

Our proposed grant activities:

Cut dead pinon for fire mitigation. Cut green branches below 3’ near structures for fire mitigation.

Use deadwood for brush berms on contour to slow sheet erosion, brush structures in small new gullies to slow gully erosion, biochar, and mulch for planting areas.

Build a Johnson-Su Bioreactor (compost won’t be available until 2nd season of grant).

Plant native seed & seedlings, edible hedgerow plants, pollinator plants in critical areas as described in above list.

Plant edible milpa-style cover crop on growing areas.

Use chicken tractor to spread the wealth.

Treat planting areas with compost, inoculated biochar before planting.

Use green branches and/or woodchip mulch for brush mats over newly seeded areas on gentle slopes.

Capture rain from all outbuildings and store in tanks for irrigation.

I am surprised such a grant would be available for such a small area.
The list is too great to go through, but a lot of it seems over the top for the area you have planned.
Are there any people near you who can share experiences with and give you a better idea of what will work for you?
Some photos here will help others make suggestions perhaps.

Thank you for your reply, John!

The small area is for the first year of the grant. In our grant application we will put it into the context of our longer term goals -- water retention and infiltration on ~25 acres of the similar lowland rolling area, and on ~16 acres on the top of the mesa. The state is very supportive of small-scale operators looking to help the soils (even in city yards); it is a huge need. We were awarded this same grant for $8000 3 years ago for similar work.

Our issue is that we had to turn down that grant, partly because we realized the labor we had signed on to was unrealistic (doing pretty much everything by hand).

My most pressing questions are which machines are a good compromise to fit our work… alleviate a lot of the labor of doing it all by hand, while still being a bit gentler on the land than renting heavy machinery (photos of terrain below; all hilly, open woodland, criscrossed by dry arroyos).

Has anyone used a MechMaxx Loader Dumper? Does it seem like a good fit for our work?

Is a MechMaxx 5" Chipper a good type to get for moving around for chipping on-site on hilly ground?

Will a push compost spreader like this one or this work over rough terrain like ours and make that job easier? Will we even be able to distribute fine wood chips in that way in addition to compost? (They seem most marketed for use on lawns, so not sure if they would work for our application.)

Do hand-pushed seeders work for no-till seeding over open rolling ground? It seems like it would save on (the expensive native) seed over broadcasting, and save on labor over hand planting. Are there other similar seeders you would recommend?

What have others done for irrigating new plantings until they get established, over a large area far from infrastructure? I am mainly concerned about planted shrub seedlings, since native seeds will come up whenever they are ready. Would tree bags work for that? I was imagining our pickup with an IBC tote on the road, loading the 20 gallon rolling water cart to roll out to individual shrubs and filling up the water bags…??

Are there other options for those jobs that we haven’t thought of?

Thanks again!

Kimi, pleased to hear about the grant y'all have. The Dynamic Duo!  I predict great success  

My only suggestion if on the chook tractor.  When I have predators kill our birds, they usually came under the sides. That metal "floor" would not keep out possums, raccoons,  skunks, but it might curtail a fox.  If your area of NM has similar predation you would be wise to beef up your protection for your birds

Sending y'all best regards, Rico

Thank you for your thoughtful reply, Rico!

So far we have only had a problem with bobcats, but you are right, they could sure reach in and do major damage through that floor.

If we wrap that floor with an additional layer of, say, chicken wire, would that give the chooks enough room to scratch and forage without hurting their feet?

Otherwise I guess we will need a way to securely anchor it down which partly defeats the convenience of a chicken tractor…

Kimi, that looks like desolate country.
I have seen the runoff and the damage it can do in similar country, and I wonder if 'city' style works will help out there.
I wonder if some of the African experiences at rehabilitation will work for you, small steps and projects all over the place.
Even some of the activities of earlier people in New Mexico.
Low walls made of local rocks, ravines filled with low rack walls situated closely to each other to hold water and slow its speed down.
What vegetation are you planning to compost, there does not seem to be much around?
EQUIPMENT
- That seed dispenser I have seen good results with them.
- the chipper I have used and they are good, if you can catch the residue on a tarp its easier to move around.
- the loader I believe would be a slow waste and potentially break down, or tracks slip off.

In Australia we could use an old tray truck or ute with a flat bed with dropsides and just drive around with that.

I think you are correct, a full metal floor is not great for birds. But could you improvise with wood? Maybe some 1 x 6 around the four sides, attached to the frame, that would be a critter deterrent of sorts

When I kept 50 plus birds in 6 long tractors, I moved them about every 10 days.  I used a combination of cinder blocks, oak firewood, and roofing metal to guard the 4 sides, but from the exterior.  Yes, it was more work, but saved many lives of my little velociraptors.  That extra time for relocation paid off.
You might be better off moving them at longer intervals regardless,  not sure, but with rocky soil in NM that approach could behoove the soil project.

Kimi, I sincerely hopes this works out for you.

I don't know if I can be of much help, but my husband and I have been frustrated with insufficient funds to obtain truly helpful equipment. Someone already mentioned your goals and that would be a good place to start. I think if you browse our earthworks forum, you'll get an idea of what goals people have and what equipment they use to accomplish them.

My wish list includes something for making large swales and perhaps pond. There are options for this, but we've never been able to afford any of them. These kinds of earthworks are excellent aids for irrigation of larger areas.

Two invaluable pieces of equipment for us have been our portable saw mill and our WoodMaxx chipper (ours is a WM-8M). These have been some of our best investments along with our workhorse farm tractor.

Kimi Iszikala wrote:Do hand-pushed seeders work for no-till seeding over open rolling ground? It seems like it would save on (the expensive native) seed over broadcasting, and save on labor over hand planting. Are there other similar seeders you would recommend?

My experience is no on a hand-push seeder. For the best results a grain drill would work better. Broadcasting does work, but a lot of seed is lost to birds, critters, washing away by rain and wind, and non-germination. Germination rates are much better for seed that is covered with soil. If you want to use the cover crop method of improving pasture, a crimper / grain drill combo would be ideal.

That doesn't answer all of your questions, but I think you're on the right track by asking good questions and doing your research.

Hi Kimi,

Nice project and beautiful land!  I was looking through your list of equipment and I see some things I like and some things I might add.  I like the Mech Max items.  I have just recently seen them pop up online.  They look good, the specs and close up views of details make them look like they are solidly constructed.  The prices are definitely attractive.  Any of the items you listed look like they could be put to good use.

If I were in your shoes I would be tempted to acquire a small tractor.  Specifically I would want it for the bucket and its ability to tow.  One of the Mech Max items I am looking at is their dump trailer.  I can see it being filled with a lot of wood chips, towed to its proper location and dumped.  Then those could be spread with the bucket.  I know that a tractor is a significant investment, but even a small, subcompact tractor will do wonders, much more than pull its weight.  And the loader & bucket will be the most useful d attachment that you are ever likely to acquire.

I am thinking about that dumper cart and while I am sure that it can be put to good use, I am pretty certain that a tractor loader will carry a larger, heavier mass than the dumper ever could.  I have used mine extensively.


By all means, if you think differently, then definitely follow your own intuition.  I have given my thoughts and if they are helpful, then great!  But if not, then use your own judgement.


Good luck,

Eric

John C Daley wrote:
I have seen the runoff and the damage it can do in similar country, and I wonder if 'city' style works will help out there.
I wonder if some of the African experiences at rehabilitation will work for you, small steps and projects all over the place.
Even some of the activities of earlier people in New Mexico.
Low walls made of local rocks, ravines filled with low rack walls situated closely to each other to hold water and slow its speed down.

Thank you for your reply, John!
I'm not sure what you mean by 'city' style...?
I'm in full agreement about the erosion control type structures you mention. Brad Lancaster style earthworks and low-tech water slowing. It is all very labor-intensive, so we are trying to figure out how to help ourselves manage it... 2 folks, not much available labor around, getting older...
The earthworks aren't mentioned in my earlier email or in the grant, because this particular grant specifically prohibits their funds to be used for earthworks, which is why we are taking the smaller step to put brush berms on contour. We are separately working with the US Dept of agriculture on different grants that would allow that type of earth moving, and that would pay contractors (if we can find one), or pay for machine rental, if needed. We have plenty of rocks but don't have the physical ability any more to spend months hauling boulders...

John C Daley wrote:
What vegetation are you planning to compost, there does not seem to be much around?

We plan to build a Johnson-Su bioreactor which mainly wants carbon inputs. If we can get our wood chipped finely enough, we might use that. Otherwise we could haul in Ponderosa pine "sawdust" from a nearby sawmill -- it's big sawdust / tiny wood chips; like 1/8". Our nitrogen inputs will mainly be chicken manure. And we plan to add biochar to inoculate it as the compost breaks down.

John C Daley wrote:
EQUIPMENT
- That seed dispenser I have seen good results with them.
- the chipper I have used and they are good, if you can catch the residue on a tarp its easier to move around.
- the loader I believe would be a slow waste and potentially break down, or tracks slip off.

In Australia we could use an old tray truck or ute with a flat bed with dropsides and just drive around with that.

Thank you so much for this feedback! That is the exact kind of info we need. We do have a pickup and a jeep and a flatbed trailer. Our issue is that our land is too contoured and treed to get them into the areas where we need, and I think the big vehicles will trash the land too much. On the other end of the scale, we have wagons, garden carts, wheelbarrows, etc that can get in anywhere more easily, but require a lot of muscle labor to haul them around. We were wondering if the loader would be a compromise between the two, but it might trash the land too much too, and be a pain to work with...

Anyway, this is all very helpful! Thanks again.

Rico Loma wrote:I think you are correct, a full metal floor is not great for birds. But could you improvise with wood? Maybe some 1 x 6 around the four sides, attached to the frame, that would be a critter deterrent of sorts

When I kept 50 plus birds in 6 long tractors, I moved them about every 10 days.  I used a combination of cinder blocks, oak firewood, and roofing metal to guard the 4 sides, but from the exterior.  Yes, it was more work, but saved many lives of my little velociraptors.  That extra time for relocation paid off.
You might be better off moving them at longer intervals regardless,  not sure, but with rocky soil in NM that approach could behoove the soil project.

Great suggestions, Rico! That sounds doable, to protect the chicken tractors from the outside and just move the protections along with the tractor. Thank you!

Leigh Tate wrote:Kimi, I sincerely hopes this works out for you.

Thank you for the kind words!

Leigh Tate wrote:I don't know if I can be of much help, but my husband and I have been frustrated with insufficient funds to obtain truly helpful equipment. Someone already mentioned your goals and that would be a good place to start. I think if you browse our earthworks forum, you'll get an idea of what goals people have and what equipment they use to accomplish them.

My wish list includes something for making large swales and perhaps pond. There are options for this, but we've never been able to afford any of them. These kinds of earthworks are excellent aids for irrigation of larger areas.

Have you looked into USDA's EQIP and CSP programs? I don't know much about them, but did just put in an application, so we will hopefully be learning more soon. Our NRCS officer who came out to evaluate our land for this little healthy soils grant, was encouraging about us applying for their cost sharing programs, which will pay for contractors to come out and do that type of earth moving work, as long as they are willing to follow NRCS engineering requirements.

Leigh Tate wrote:Two invaluable pieces of equipment for us have been our portable saw mill and our WoodMaxx chipper (ours is a WM-8M). These have been some of our best investments along with our workhorse farm tractor.

Green with envy! We have been dreaming of a portable saw mill (one day), and that chipper looks like a beast!

Leigh Tate wrote:My experience is no on a hand-push seeder. For the best results a grain drill would work better. Broadcasting does work, but a lot of seed is lost to birds, critters, washing away by rain and wind, and non-germination. Germination rates are much better for seed that is covered with soil. If you want to use the cover crop method of improving pasture, a crimper / grain drill combo would be ideal.

Is there any manual equivalent of a grain drill, do you know? The ones I find online look like they need to be pulled by a tractor. I don't think we could really make use of a tractor on our land; it is too steeply contoured, too many trees and shrubs, and it would tear up the land, I fear. We would love a little bobcat or skid steer, but I think we are unlikely to get them either before we die...

I wonder if it would work to mix seed in with compost and distribute it with a compost roller, or broadcast with the compost mix, and then cover with straw, maybe roll it in to help it stay in place at all... as you can see, I am casting about.

Anyway, thanks for your reply and input! I really appreciate it.

Eric Hanson wrote:Hi Kimi,

Nice project and beautiful land!  I was looking through your list of equipment and I see some things I like and some things I might add.  I like the Mech Max items.  I have just recently seen them pop up online.  They look good, the specs and close up views of details make them look like they are solidly constructed.  The prices are definitely attractive.  Any of the items you listed look like they could be put to good use.

If I were in your shoes I would be tempted to acquire a small tractor.  Specifically I would want it for the bucket and its ability to tow.  One of the Mech Max items I am looking at is their dump trailer.  I can see it being filled with a lot of wood chips, towed to its proper location and dumped.  Then those could be spread with the bucket.  I know that a tractor is a significant investment, but even a small, subcompact tractor will do wonders, much more than pull its weight.  And the loader & bucket will be the most useful d attachment that you are ever likely to acquire.

I am thinking about that dumper cart and while I am sure that it can be put to good use, I am pretty certain that a tractor loader will carry a larger, heavier mass than the dumper ever could.  I have used mine extensively.


By all means, if you think differently, then definitely follow your own intuition.  I have given my thoughts and if they are helpful, then great!  But if not, then use your own judgement.


Good luck,

Eric

Thank you so much for your reply and kind words and advice, Eric! I would love to have a subcompact tractor if we could afford it... We even looked into just getting a little ATV that could haul a sprayer or mini dump trailer. That was rejected last time we applied for this grant, and I think even the machines I put on this time may well be rejected... We are still finishing up building our house, so it will likely be a couple years (if ever) that we could afford a mini tractor, unless maybe if we go with Alibaba...!

Instead of looking at what gear you may need, why not write down what actions or gear would make life easier.
I am going to ask if a small truck or motorised wheelbarrow would be a good start?

Because thats what I found at my farm.

Kimi,

I get it, even subcompact tractors are expensive.  Maybe someday you can afford one.

When I bought mine I was actually in the market for a somewhat larger one, but circumstances demanded that I get a tractor very soon.  That subcompact tractor was amazing.  I sold it to my neighbor when I bought my current one.

Hang in there, the day will come!!




Eric

John C Daley wrote:Instead of looking at what gear you may need, why not write down what actions or gear would make life easier.
I am going to ask if a small truck or motorised wheelbarrow would be a good start?

Because thats what I found at my farm.

Thanks again, John. Yes, that was what I was thinking, which put me on the MechMaxx site looking at their motorized wheelbarrows. That would really help with the hauling, moving and dumping, but would still leave me and my husband who has a twice-broken back (we're both in our late 60s) to do a ton of shoveling and loading of mulch, char, logs, and sizable rocks... so when I saw their motorized wheelbarrow with a bucket, I thought it would be a big help. I do take to heart your comments about the complexity making it a possible pain in the neck to keep running, but my hub loves working on machines and keeps his 2005 pickup with 250,000 miles running reliably.

I think I will ask for the barrow with loader, and be ready to drop down to the motorized wheelbarrow if they ask me to tighten the budget.

I have really appreciated everyone's input -- and with the advice being pretty split between "you don't need all that" and "you need a tractor" I think this might work out to be the in-between helper that will get us by for this project and the next few years...

Eric Hanson wrote:Kimi,

I get it, even subcompact tractors are expensive.  Maybe someday you can afford one.

When I bought mine I was actually in the market for a somewhat larger one, but circumstances demanded that I get a tractor very soon.  That subcompact tractor was amazing.  I sold it to my neighbor when I bought my current one.

Hang in there, the day will come!!

Eric

Thanks again, Eric!, sure appreciate the encouragement. And hey, if your neighbor is moving on up himself, and looking to sell that subcompact tractor again, maybe we can come get it on our way home from our summer trip to Wisconsin, haha!