Fun it is, Brian! And it never stops. Piney, there is a bit of advice that no amount of pictures can show. If I remember correctly you plan on livestock. Plan your living and animal spaces around your prevailing winds. One thing I do here that has proven invaluable is a good sized clear cut between the woods edge and the fenceline. Reduces predation attempts and gives me a bit more time to respond when the dogs tell me I am needed. We have very thickly wooded property and the potential for predation from coyotes, Canadian Lynx and now mountain lions, known locally as catamounts, is quite a factor. Were it not for the Maremmas and our German Shepherd alerting us to danger I am sure we would have lost a few head by now. And the clear cut helps out greatly.
Planning the location of buildings, pastures, gardens, etc no matter how much acreage you have is an essential tool for the convenience of your operation. We have set up travel lanes to and from various buildings and parts of the farm that must be accessable by vehicle. VERY inportant. You don't want to have to carry several hundred bales of hay for a half mile because there is not enough space to get betwixt a couple of buildings.
And over plan your critter space. Figure out what you need then add 20%. In addition to that add special spaces for quarantine of sick animals, birthing pens if needed, exam and maintenance areas, the list goes on.
We do not have the luxury of a great deal of land and learned in a hurry that if something has to go up permanently it must be well thought out. So in the meantine I will endeavor to present more photos if the darned sky ever clears. Rain and snow almost every day for two weeks. It is getting soggy! OOPS! That's another thingy. When clearing land you will most likely change the drainage characteristics of your land. The last thing you need is huge scars in the land.
So, till whenver!
Cheers!
