rachels.haven's Journal

[rachels.haven]

yeah. Mass is kind of pro abandoned farm. The farms are abandoned and they want them to stay that way. Even our place used to be a farm. Now the govt kind of "owns" all the land (but you can pay plenty of taxes on it) and you have to do serious paperwork just to clear trees or apparently fence. We'll keep trying. DH is a stickler for accuracy and has better people skills than I do so maybe he'll use some of his magic on the paperwork. I'm lucky to have him.

 

[rachels.haven]

Here's part of the orchard up the hill from us. It hasn't been abandoned and they are somehow allowed to use and be near water, and keep wild trees back, and disappear coyotes when needed. It's pretty land out here when you can see it.

 

[Bruce]

I think the issue of being near water is animals the go in it or the excess fertilizer that does. Less of a problem with an orchard. First the trees don't go in the water and second, they aren't likely to be putting a lot of fertilizer out like one does with crops, especially heavy feeders like corn.

 

[Baymule]

I can't imagine having to fill out paperwork for permission to fence my own #%%&# property or clear trees.

 

[rachels.haven]

They didn't seem to care about animals near water. They cared about me modifying anything "within 100 feet of a buffer zone to a wetland" which kind of winds up being my whole property. Even the portions that never get swampy are considered by the town govt as "wetland". It's a little much.

 

[Mike CHS]

I know you are kind of stuck there but I couldn't live in a state like that.

 

[farmerjan]

Mass and Ct are 2 of the worst for the wetland designations. My father used to do lake dredging, had a Bucyres Erie dragline and used to clean out ponds and such. Did alot of work on the "fancy" golf courses and such. I remember the paperwork he used to go through, the different town meetings and planning and zoning and all kinds of different "boards" to get the process done. All the "know it all" book learned ones trying to tell him how to do it and then he would show them how they could not possibly do it their way, and all the reasons why it would not work. Not an ounce of practical experience on most of those wetland boards. It got worse and I think he was somewhat glad that it was retirement time as the rules and regs and the paperwork and the fees (all paid by the landowner he was representing) were just way out of reason.

Good luck to you getting through it with wetland designations.

Any news lately on the coyote?

 

[rachels.haven]

Oh dear. And the board has to vote to approve my woven wire fence. Thanks for the luck. I may need it.

In regards to the coyote: Now we have lots and lots of coyotes. They've packed up and howl and howl and howl just out of sight, sometimes during the day. Bailey tells them off all night long a few nights every week. So we really need this fence both for the beasts and my kids being allowed to play outside. I also worry about the dogs getting enough exercise.

Odd thing, since the coyotes have come out I've started finding chewed up pink lawn flamingos, partially destroyed dog chew toys, garbage all over our place, and I know our dogs aren't doing it and nobody's dogs roams (lost dogs are gone dogs). So yes, fence, fence, fence

 

[Baymule]

I know you are kind of stuck there but I couldn't live in a state like that.

times about a million.

 

[rachels.haven]

I'm a little upset, but trying to make the best of things. This is better than inner city or suburban PA or Nashville, as it turns out (my family keeps getting into drama and I prefer a no drama kind of life). Now that doesn't keep me from occasionally gazing longingly at NH or anywhere else where you are allowed to use your land, but you know.