s e v e n i s a j o u r n e y

So, a few weeks ago we recieved a Brush Cutter, a Husqvarna 252 RX to be exact. This is essentially a weed-wacker on serious steroids, and for the last 2 weeks we have been having fun dispensing extreme destruction to the gorse and broom around the property. The 9-inch saw blade on the end will go through 3-4 inch trunks with little difficulty. Wow, it is ever fun! Still a good workout but when you are cutting the brush 20x faster (or more) than doing by hand, a sense of satisfaction comes quickly. Today I just need to get a different grass-cutting blade, as the one we were sold does not fit. Also need to ask for secrets of rebalancing the blade, it is seems a bit “off” and we would rather get that corrected before more heavy cutting.

The great thing is that with this new tool we really feel like we can win against the brush on the property. I was resigned to a very long and diffuclt battle using the hand-saw, but now a battle of years is going to only take months! Woo! Like all such tasks, it is good we get as much done as possible now while we are still enthusiastic about the work. I think it is safe to say in a year we will be quite sick of cutting and dragging away gorse. But if we are 80-90% done by then, we should still be able to finish. Plus clearing it all will add a few acres of grazeable land to our place! Of course we are so understocked right now that we don’t need the land, but we can always “borrow” some of the neighbors cows to eat the excess grass. A good way to make happy neighbors, as they get some free grazing, and we keep the paddocks under control.

Last week we had rather sucky weather (southery blowing cold rain down on us for 3 straight days), but my parents were lucky in that missed it all while down in Queenstown. And when they came back to Wellington they brought good weather. Still gets cool at night, and only up to 60F or so during the day, but with the clear blue skies it is hard to argue. Now if it can stay like this for another 2 or 3 months before the “real” winter arrives, I will be very content.