I have seen the same price increase for gravel in North Carolina. I have a good base down but I use crush and run for maintenance because of the cost for about 75% of my gravel. I use washed 57 for water filtration and in some places for aesthetics. I use unwashed pea gravel for paths because of the cost. SP1 is correct: if you live in the country, you will need a tractor. I recommend a minimum of 35 HP if you are going to use a PTO generator.
David DeGerolamo
Plugin by: PHP Freelancer
I live in NW AR, lots of rocks, I have an old 20HP Kubota and an older MF 65 @ 50 hp. The Kubota is great, but too weak for real brush hogging, grass only, it might run a 5k pto generator.
The MF is fine for grading and brush hogging! I agree to get no less than 35 hp.
I don’t have a front end loader but I am getting by with a rear scoop. I get lots of gravel from the ditches, road run off, other wise gravel is very expensive out here.
There are lots of extra expenses living in the country, the biggest seems to be road maintenance, water and sewage, all the things town takes care of. Of course then there is fire protection, first aid and general protection from preaditors! We have lots of solar motion detectors, solar and gas generators. We can get by on about 3K of power.
When you buy a house in town all the infrastructor and utilities are covered by taxes and bills, not so in the country. The good thing is that much of the infrastructor can be worked on slowly. You can get by with an out house, lanterns and carrying water. Having done all this, for me running water is the most important!
Lots of work and expenses, but well worth it. I don’t think future survival in the cities is likely!
When it comes to gravel, put down some geotextile fabric first. It costs a few hundred dollars for a roll of something like 300’ long x 12.5’ wide. It keeps the gravel from sinking into the ground and will save you tons of money over time. For the driveway / private road we used ABC with fines as it compacts into something close to concrete.
Very good advice, our county covers the gravel roads every year or so as it sinks into the clay!
Grocery inflation determined to be up 24% so far this year, by the government numbers. Winter is coming.
That sounds like a real number.
Tractors run on diesel/gasoline. BOTH of which are in short supply and as things get worse will become harder to get. Eventually impossible to get. HAVE OTHER PLANS.