![\"\"](\"http:\/\/mtnmacaw.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/04\/garden1.jpg\" "\\"garden1\\"")
<\/a>We carried some pliers down the hill to the existing fences and took the wire fencing loose from fence posts.<\/p><\/div>\n
Once the wire was loose along the fence line between the aspen grove to the east and the existing funky old garden to the west, it was time to get the Ranger out of the garage.\u00a0 We removed the snow plow from the front of the Ranger and Dan remarked that he hoped we wouldn’t need to plow snow any more this year.\u00a0 I told him if it snows again we just won’t go anywhere until it melted.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The trees on the left side of the picture will probably need to be cut down, but we haven't decided that yet. The aspens and old fruit trees definitely need to go.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Dan wrapped the winch hook around the first corner post. I had the winch control, which had two directions, in and out. I could figure that one out!<\/p><\/div>\n
Moment later, the first pole was out of the ground, and laying to the right side.\u00a0 Success!\u00a0 We thought, this was going to be quick and easy.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The post was a lot taller than I thought it would be. We're thinking about installing an 8' fence, which means the posts will need to be 10' long, and set in concrete.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Using a tow rope, we wove it through the wire fencing to give us more 'breaking points' on the wire, and then Dan simply drove forward, removing most of the fencing which we had already loosened from the fence posts.<\/p><\/div>\n
We folded the wire up on the ground next to the collection of fence posts.\u00a0 Some of the posts didn’t come out – either because the ground was frozen or because some plants had grown up around them, anchoring them firmly into place.\u00a0 When the contractor is here with the backhoe, digging the fence line for the underground gopher fence, he can remove those remaining fence posts easily.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The fencing is being drug through the grass. The house is above the garden space and Oro was watching us from his window, a birds' eye view if there ever was one.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Oh look, there was a very large beaver chewing up the aspen tree. No wait, that was Dan with a swede saw.<\/p><\/div>\n
Then it was time to try an experiment and answer a question.\u00a0 Could the Ranger pull out the stump on the trees we intend to cut down?<\/p>\n
<\/a>Dan hooked the winch to the aspen trunk and pulled. The Ranger dug a couple of nice holes spinning it's wheels as the winch pulled the vehicle closer to the tree stump.<\/p><\/div>\n
Oh well, something else for the contractor to do with his much larger piece of equipment.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The tow rope attached to the downed tree made short work of dragging it across the grass towards the aspen grove.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Dan, sizing up the next tree and deciding which way it wanted to fall. Might as well cut it so that it falls the way it already wants to fall. Getting into arguments with trees is always a losing proposition.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Saw, saw, saw, saw....<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Oh no, it fell right on the garden fence! An excellent example of exactly why we want trees close enough to the garden to be cut down.<\/p><\/div>\n
It was a good thing we wanted to remove the rotten garden fence boards anyway.\u00a0 Two trees down, several more to go.\u00a0 I actually cut down the next two small aspen trees, and then Dan cut down the pear tree next to them.\u00a0 This poor tree gets mauled by the bears every year since we moved here, and at this point there are very few branches left that would bear fruit.\u00a0 And if they did bear fruit, the bear would get them and not us.<\/p>\n