Maintaining a homestead of any size is a lot of work, but managing a large homestead is especially challenging. Investing in the right tools for the job will give you the most efficiency and best chance for success.
A Harvester
A harvester is one of the most essential tools you should have on your large homestead property. Its versatility is incredibly beneficial; with a harvester, you can winnow, thresh, and harvest a large number of crops. This versatility will increase your efficiency by saving you time and money—both essential resources on a large homestead.
If you’re interested in investing in a harvester, you should do some research and evaluate your needs before buying one. With harvesters, bigger isn’t always better. It’s better to be able to handle a small machine than an unwieldy one that actually works against you. It’s a good idea to consider purchasing harvester heads specific to your crop type. This will ensure you get the best performance from the harvester.
A Tractor
A tractor can be an invaluable tool on your large homestead. A tractor is incredibly versatile, able to help you till, plow, haul, and travel across your property efficiently. Tractors are built with impressive amounts of horsepower that can handle rough terrain and perform difficult jobs.
If you have an especially large property and spend a lot of time outside, get one with a tractor canopy, as a tractor canopy protects your skin from the sun.
A tractor with a front-end loader is especially helpful for larger homesteads, because they make moving hay, lifting heavy objects, moving dirt and debris, and shoveling manure much easier. If you have several fields, you’ll appreciate the extra muscle a tractor with a front-end loader can provide for accomplishing plowing, planting, watering, fertilizing, and harvesting tasks.
Like any piece of homestead equipment, there are many different types of tractors, each made for different purposes. They range from 16-horsepower models and garden tractors to the big 500-horsepower models built for commercial operations.
Before investing in one, you should take stock of your land, needs, and goals. When in doubt, don’t go too small; it’s better to purchase a tractor with more capability than you need than to realize your tractor can’t handle all the challenges your homestead will bring.
A Riding Mower
Another essential tool you should purchase for your homestead is a good riding mower. A riding mower is useful to have around because it will allow you to cover a large amount of ground in a smaller amount of time than a push mower. This maximizes time efficiency for landscaping, as well as saves you energy.
When buying a mower, it’s important to avoid cheap or generic brands from your local garden or hardware store, unless these stores have their own service and repair facilities as well as an experienced small-engine mechanic. The engine of your mower will need consistent, quality maintenance; it’s important to keep them in tip-top shape in order to get the maximum use from your investment. You could also acquire a second-hand riding mower—there are plenty of quality mowers out there, if you know how to find them. Make sure the previous owner has taken care of their riding mower by changing the oil and cleaning the air filters regularly. Or, make sure that the mower has been refurbished to be in good condition before buying it.
A Tiller
If you have a smaller garden area in need of care, you will appreciate having a small, gas-powered rotary tiller on hand. There are many reasons why you might want to invest in a tiller, the first one being that it will save you energy and time. Tillers are strong machines that can break hard ground and ready it for a garden bed.
In the world of tillers, there are three general types: a front tine tiller, a mid-tine tiller, and a rear tine tiller. Each type can be a good choice, depending on the projects you plan to use it for. Front tine and rear tine tillers are the most widely available for consumer use.
Front-tine tillers are great for breaking moderately hard ground, loosening firm soil, and digging a small garden. These tillers are easier to maneuver because their wheels are in the back, making the turning and reversing of the actual tiller much easier than it would be with a rear-tine tiller.
Rear tine tillers can be extremely helpful on a large homestead, because they are strong enough to start a large garden. They excel at breaking hard ground, loosening rocky soil, and digging large plots of land. Rear tine tillers are larger than their front tine counterparts, and the bigger size can be difficult to maneuver, push, and steer.
ATV or UTV
One of the many tasks involved with maintaining a large homestead is hauling things to and fro across your land. While some of this work can be done with a tractor, investing in an ATV or UTV is a convenient way to haul various items from place to place. Most ATVs and UTVs can support a trailer attachment, enabling them to haul a good amount. Additionally, an ATV or UTV will save you time walking, and can handle mountainous terrain beautifully.
A Utility Trailer
One of the most essential tools for maintaining a large homestead is a utility trailer. The bigger your homestead is, the more you’ll have to haul. Investing in a utility trailer will maximize your hauling space, saving you time by cutting down the trips you’ll need to make across your land. Before buying one, it’s a good idea to calculate the square footage you’ll require in a trailer. If you cannot get an exact estimate, you should find a trailer a bit larger than you think you’ll need. Chances are that you’ll appreciate the extra space. Make sure it can handle the rough terrain of your homestead. Investing in a quality trailer will pay for itself many times over.
Maintaining a large homestead property will be many times easier with a good harvester, tractor, riding mower, tiller, ATV, and utility trailer on your side. These essential tools will save you time and energy as you complete your daily homestead chores.
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