ann kat

Thanks for the reply. I have to say that my timeframe is small as I have no certainty about the future. I might expect to sell the place in 2-3 years or so and relocate.
I'd say it's almost 100% that I will move in 5 years. So I wouldn't undertake long-term projects that wouldn't provide good return upon resale of the place.
Immediate benefits I think are more important to me.

I heard some opinions that woods take 40-60 years to be converted into pasture...others said it's 3 years...it's very confusing.
Goats, though - yes, they supposedly should be able to enjoy the brush around the cut and not need the nice grass pasture.

It's a good point about trees providing for various uses and wind protection (and privacy).
I have to say there's not much under brush in the woods in Lot 2 (just like in all woods around that mountainous part of Kentucky). It's pretty clear underneath the trees.
I reviewed Lot 2 photos and you're right I think it'd be hard to get lumber company interested unless they'd want to take exactly the few mature trees I want to keep, I'd mostly want the small ones gone.

I'm puzzled by things seemingly not growing in Lot 3 (that was clearcut 2 years ago). I heard clearcut areas start overgrowing next year.
There's one area where brush grows wildly and probably had been there for a long time but other areas don't have much stuff growing. Which made me think initially that it was clearcut just recently and was shocked to find out it was 2 years ago. Even the dirt roads cut into hillside for logging look like they're brand new... how is this possible?
Any idea why this likely be happening?
I attach one of the photos of Lot 3, nothing grown in 2 years in some places that got bulldozed. Normally, things grow wildly in KY. 2nd photo shows bulldozed area where grass seeds were supposedly washed off by rains. I'm not sure I can believe the seller. Also attach the road picture from Lot 3, with nothing growing on it.

I'm facing urgent choice between 3 types of land lots available...
I'm a 100% newbie to anything that has to do with converting woodland to pasture and need help with understanding this.

My goal is to have about 10-15 acres land with some (few acres) of: garden, goat/sheep pasture. The rest would be woods and privacy around the cabin I put on it. Can't wait years for pasture, need soon. Ideally the more pasture the better but I only plan to keep a couple of goats and may be a couple of more sheep, nothing major. Locations in Kentucky.

Lot 1 available: flat farmland, now mostly weeds, low elevation. Offers little privacy for the dwelling but I guess can grow shrubs and trees for that and ready pasture once it's mowed.  I don't like the location nearly as much as other 2 lots, but it's ready usable land.


Lot 2 available: wooded (hardwoods), some trees are mature, a foot or more in diameter, but a lot of very thin trees too (most trees are quite young), underneath them are just dry leaves, rolling terrain with a small area of grassy flat land near the road.
I would need to clear at least a couple of acres for pasture. How long would it take to convert the woods into pasture?
Would I need to pull out stamps, really?
I don't want to clear cut all and want to keep few bigger trees that look nice, but logging company would probably require clear cut if I want it done for free - ?
Realtor mentioned something about mulching.
Does bulldozing destroy the soil? I read about logging companies stripping topsoil.
And basically how long would it take to get pasture grass growing there and what's the fastest way?

Lot 3 available: clearcut, mountainous terrain with some flat/rolling areas.  I like this lot the best because of the great views for cabin site and privacy due to terrain. Concern: things don't seem to be growing on it!
This lot has a patch of forest, but the rest was clear cut 2 years ago. Some areas were cleared of wood debris and bulldozed for building and garden, but the rest have wood debris, I have pictures.
I don't really see grasses or shrubs taking on despite it being cut 2 years ago. Even the logging roads and bulldozed areas don't have things growing.
This concerns me.
I know in Kentucky vegetation usually springs up like a wild jungle, at least in palces I stayed at before, and this lot doesn't get overgrown for 2 years.
Some parts have dead trees laying but I don't see things springing up there.
The owner supposedly seeded grass in bulldozed areas but seeds were "washed off by heavy rains"
What would be the reason for nothing really growing?  - should it be a concern with this lot?
Chemicals applied by the logging company?
Bad soils/removal of top soil? (I do have pictures of that)
Does it just take a long time in Appalachia for things to grow (it's 1500 elevation)?

Please help me make a decision.
Avoiding to pay big bucks for land conversion is a factor, I could be willing be pay the max of 5K but not 10K or more.