What to do with a small patch of land?

[SHMIV]

TBH has found a house that she wants. This house sits on approximately 4 acres of land. Approximately 75% of that land is field. Currently, the field contains beans that were planted then promptly abandoned, but the past couple of years it has produced hay.

I am a truck driver. I am an electrician. I'm an all around repair guy. I am a lot of things. But, I am not a farmer. Not that I'm opposed to farming; it's just not currently in my skill set. And, besides, I drive a truck all over the country for 6 weeks at a time. I don't have the time to farm right now.

So, I'm looking for ideas. I'd like that extra property to do something to justify its existence. I thought about renting the space to a local farmer, but I have no clue what to charge. The interwebs have basically suggested anywhere from $20/acre to about $4500/acre. I assume that those figures are annual, not monthly. And that's a right big window. Also, the space is so small, relatively speaking, that it may not be worth it.

So, what do you guys think? What would you do with it?

Oh, before anyone mentions a shooting range, the property is a bit awkwardly situated for that. (Although, if I put a good backstop on the rear property line... )

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[Reverenddel]

You could always line the property with fruit trees, that way TBH can can pears, apples, and peaches, and you could have pecans, and such.

Just a thought.

[WRW]

Go-cart track and other forms of personal recreation?

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[SHMIV]

Fruit trees are a good idea. I'll bring that up to TBH. They take a little time to bear fruit, so I can plant them now and not worry about it while I continue driving.

A go cart track would be fun; the sons would surely love that! Unfortunately, the area is wrong for that. And, I'm not around to tend to it. I did consider my own private Putt-Putt, though. But, I know that the novelty would wear off after the first month, then I would never use it.

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[Viper21]

A pond.

Once in place, takes care of itself. Can be some good fishing once stocked, some good entertainment as well. Nothing like a few cold ones out fishing with the boys. Ducks & geese like em too.

The old man had a pond dug on his place about 15yrs ago, & stocked it with blue geel, bass, & cat fish. It's only about a 1/4 acre in size. But, there are some monsters in there now. The ducks are entertaining at times, dig the fishing, & really dig shooting the snapping turtles when they pop up

[Rualert]

Might consider checking with the state, or county, a gentleman I know has several acres that the state pays him to simply let hay and such grow on, and only cut it twice a year. Something about wildlife habitat, so he just lets the hay grow, and cuts it on the schedule they provided, and collects a check. Might be worth it since you are on the road a lot and it would not need much tending?

Just a thought,

Casey

[ShotgunBlast]

I second the fruit tree and pond ideas. Low maintenance and provides a source of food and water. I think 4 acres would be too small to rent to a farmer.

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[WRW]

Fruit trees do require some maintenance (pruning, spraying, thinning the fruits) but are worth the effort, in my mind. I'm not trying to discourage that use, just suggesting reading up on it before purchasing. Six weeks may be too long to delay between sprayings, or waterings for the newly planted trees.

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[Swampman]

A couple of well placed apple trees, a small watering hole, and presto! Deer meat factory! You said it wouldn't lend itself to a shooting range, so probably have to confine it to bow-hunting.

[Snakester]

The fruit trees are a great idea and are pretty easy . We planted 19 two years ago and 8 last year. So far we have only lost one. We got apples and pears the first year. Peaches and Granny Smith Apples last year.We also planted Strawberries and have enjoyed them for 2 years. The pond is easy if the land has the right Topo....Very difficult if it doesn't! Could cost 3K .... Could cost 20K .,but the pond is a lot of fun.

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[allingeneral]

What to do with a small patch of land?

Duh! SHOOT AT IT!

[GregVa]

I like the fruit tree idea. If you are trying to grow fruit and sell, but deer are eating it, I have heard you can get permits to shoot the deer anytime since they are damaging crops.

[jdonovan]

I thought about renting the space to a local farmer, but I have no clue what to charge. The interwebs have basically suggested anywhere from $20/acre to about $4500/acre. I assume that those figures are annual, not monthly.

If someone near by had a desire for a small addition to their hay operation, they _might_ be interested in leasing it.... doubtful though.

You may have a neighbor who cuts hay, who could/would cut/bale your land on 'shares'. He takes 50% of the yield, and you get 50%. If he's in the hay biz he may have customers who would buy the extra hay....

in either case you're probably looking at less than a few thousand a year.

If you are gone 6 weeks at a stretch, then ANYTHING that isn't a passive activity, is going to have to be done by the missus. 6 weeks is a wide enough window that it could easily be the entirety of planting, harvesting, or some other crop maintenance window, and if you can't be there right-now, then all can be lost.

IMO I'd do a small fruit/nut orchard. If you want you can ignore it and it will feed wildlife. If you want some for you, go out and pick 'em.

Farming/growing is a must be present to win kind of game.

[SHMIV]

Some fun ideas. Unfortunately, they are all "future " ideas. Except maybe the fruit trees, if I can get help from my sister.

I had an idea of raising mushrooms and worms; that's fairly minimal effort, and if I can get everything in place, my sister can get things going for the first year or two, then TBH and I are coming off the road so that we can participate in living.

Of course, mushrooms and worms don't take up much space; I can get that going in the backyard with minimal materials and creative thinking (and a sister who loves me).

That still leaves the field unused. I reckon that I will reconsider the hay; even if I only get a couple hundred bucks for the year, that's more than what I had before, and it's grass that won't need cutting.

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[Palladin]

Yes on fruit. Dad always said a man could stay busy the rest of his life tending to 1 acre well planted. Set you some hives in there, and start planting buckwheat on a two week rotation. Plant an acre at a time, it starts blooming in 28-30 days and they'll pull 100-120lbs of honey per acre.

Get a job w/ a line that gets you home on weekends... or something better than 6wks gone. Bees are critters too, and critters need tending.

[MarcSpaz]

......

[FiremanBob]

Fruit and nuts are great crops, and can be lucrative. Maintenance is critical: pruning, spraying for both insects and disease. We have an apple and a pear - both really suffered this summer from our lack of knowledge and I may end up shovel-pruning them in the Spring. Eventually we want to take out a couple of maples and a big pine and put in 6 fruits in the back yard, and two hazelnut trees in the front yard. I love the idea of the land being productive with more than shade trees.

An excellent source of stock is Edible Landscapes in Afton, VA - ediblelandscapes.com . They have a beautiful nursery that is well worth a drive to see.

[SHMIV]

I can't sell TBH on the pond idea; she doesn't want to deal with wetland regulation nonsense. She's not feeling fruit trees, either. But, I think that I can change her mind on that.

If I wanted to, I could be home at least every other weekend. We choose to stay out for 6 weeks; we make better money, that way. Plus, when we come home, we have 6 days. It works better; we tried staying out shorter periods of time, and we found that we spent the whole time we were home trying to get caught up with the rest of the world, nothing got done, and we felt that the time home was wasted. Very stressful.

Thank you, Gentlemen, for the input. It is much appreciated.

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[Palladin]

Then maybe find a grass fed meat operation nearby that would be willing to plant it in the hay of their choice, and maintain it for you. Just having someone to cut it and keep it from becoming overgrown is a plus if you're away a lot. Mom has a local farmer that keeps her open acreage in beans. I think she gets $70 an acre.... Check w your county extension agent - he'll know going rates for your area, and who's in the market.