Another Convenience For Our Off Grid Homestead/ Planting Potatoes/John Deere 214 Garden Tractor

Today we are planting our potatoes in our newly cleared land, this time we are using our new to us 214 John Deere Garden tractor...this is another convenience for our off grid homestead.

[@kennethhopson7087]

Anything to make life easier is good. The little tractor is great. I wish you the very best on your garden.

[@dabody57ify]

Very happy for you both glad to see that you're enjoying the tractor as much as it seems 😊

[@sideburns1142]

Nice toy. Makes work fun. Writing to see the pole barn completed so you wont have to work outside in the winter.

[@ihguy2113]

great looking soil it will grow some great potatoes

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Thank you, last year we had good luck in this type of soil. Cheers.

[@baldeagle242]

Great video! I just picked up a 1979 JD 214 last night. Thanks for sharing. You have a new Sub!

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Good morning. Congratulations, they are great little tractors...This one kept our driveway cleared of snow all winter with no problems. Thanks again. Thanks for subscribing. You have a great day.

[@Papa_D]

That little tractor sure does a good job Cec :-)

[@TheShadeTreeFixitMan]

Looking good. Should be a wonderful garden.

[@sinksalot8860]

Love that tractor!

[@brianwalter2677]

Hello my northern friends nice find now you can give the ol back a rest.I put about $200 worth of plants in the garden,two days later we had several night with heavy frost covered everything up but that didn't work because it was a radiant frost,the temperature just got to cold. So back to the drawling board.

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Hello Brian..Aww I am so sorry to hear that, the weather this year sure has been crazy. Thanks again...Cheers.

[@urbanitesgarage3299]

Man that sucks

[@andrewmunchkin7212]

I got the jd216 with the same tiller after I saw how it passed the Skinner test. Its such a great tiller that I don't think theres anything better for a homestead.

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Good morning Andrew, right on. The JD216 is a powerful machine...I also think these jd tiller combo's are one of the best out there, tough as nails. Thanks again my friend. You have a great day. Cheers!

[@parkinson1977]

Hi Heather & Cecil. the little tiller is saving you a lot of time in my opinion If you can plant now for the months ahead , then you are staying ahead of the game. I have seen more people in all countrys sO lETS OH these kids! I am getting there. but i have a abscess in my upper mouth.Cant find a doctor for nothing cos they dont have P.PI

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Hello Dave, we sure are planting lots this year...So sorry to hear you're not feeling well, hope you get better soon. Cheers.

[@hgboone3]

If you can manufacture a blade on one of those other tractors You Can level your yard and seated with field grass. You can enhance a ditch. As long as it's not muddy.

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Thanks, very good idea.

[@a.j.psawmilling305]

Tiller works good, I'd say it's a good deal

[@coldspring624]

Ha ...sure beats the tiller you used last yr.......I was beat just watching you use it.

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

It sure does..Cheers.

[@hgboone3]

If you are a person to keep Farm Shores routine. I would just adding rechargeable chainsaw time. I did it for a little while. Having Ryobi old yellow batteries. Going out there and draining a battery and then maybe have some scored up along a tree. They ever improve the battery life especially the Ryobi 9 amp hour battery. People who say it ain't fast I argue that it is the cheapest. The cheapest chain to replace. The free Cut especially if you're on solar. No fumes. Very little chain oil. But strategy had a Roll. I was cutting the logs long. And then cutting him and either half or in third.

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

So true, thanks.

[@bruced1429]

I now know were you are and you are at 46 N we are at 49 n living on the side of a mountain .there is nothing between you and James Bay to block that north wind no wonder your about a month behind us in planting season. .they will be starting to pick cherries in the Okanagan in about 4 -5 weeks from now. Looks like you have a very good handle on what needs to be done, we started our living on the land 40 years ago and would never go back to the city, any city.

[@jmber27]

Love these videos , thank for posting Cecil 👍🍁

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Hey thank you Jorg...I am glad you enjoy them. You are very welcome...Thank you...Cheers.

[@ketchhomesteadoutdoors4048]

I like that little garden tractor. That thing is sweet. I have a rear tine tiller I use on all my garden areas. That tractor makes it go a lot faster. 👍

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

Nothing like team work. Nice tractor set up. Cecil you are right nothing more important than fool.Ive been following you two for awhile. Yes people are waking up to the fact that if you don't take care of yourself no one else will either.

[@loubas8785]

Hi guys nice to see ur doing well hope u stay well .Nice little tractor for a garden make things much easier I imagine good tool to have for the times we find our selves in

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Hello Lou. Thank you, yes we are doing great for sure. Thank you very much...Yes I am hoping this little tractor will save a lot of time with our garden work... These times could be tough. Thanks again, you stay safe..Cheers.

[@ketchhomesteadoutdoors4048]

I’ve been with ya for quite a few years. You’ve come a long way. The place is getting towards self sufficient. Hard work pays off. I’d live up there in a heartbeat. Cheers from Missouri.

[@mikewhitehead7920]

You have come a long way there young grasshopper keep up the good You two

[@stevenclaeys6252]

You should cover that exhaust up or you will have water getting into that motor and messing it up. Stay safe!

[@etex45]

I think you hit a home run getting that John Deere tractor, it done a great job. Nice job

[@morgansword]

I hate to say this but you remind me of red poppy ranch and the guy who does his talk a log thing. I don't care for his politics at all. His sing song put me to sleep. I liked the more adventurous Cecil an Heather and the interactions that we used to do. I don't want you to change is what I am saying but its your channel and your rules so you make em.... nice garden, glad to see you take some of the hard labor out of it. I sent you a how to fix the four fifty with real clear pictures and stuff on the other last post so if you didn't get it, I might be able to find again. It was clear and with all the pictures makes it much simpler to get into

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Hello Morgan, thank you. Yeah I only do a voice over if the wind noise is too loud you can't hear Heather and I talking. Thanks again...Cheers.

[@JCrook1028]

Oh yea, that lil beasty will pay for itself real quick in less back pain. :) Lookin good as always. You guys take care!

[@cliffandrews]

Now I really like that tractor✔ That's a lot of potatoes !

[@dennisgallagher1686]

The right equipment makes it so much easier a hand roto tiller is a beatdown

[@joeromanak8797]

Looks like you made a good purchase. Any walk-behind tiller is hard work to use so I’m glad you got a back saver. Soil looks good so I’m predicting a bountiful harvest. You two work so well together. Keep em growin! 😎👍👏

[@Whipple1]

Water Food Shelter Security In order of need and importance. Love those Kohler engines. A rebuild costs just a few dollars. Lots of parts available and they run, and run, and run......... Cheers! Whipple

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

Little advice if you're going to use you're garden or lawn tractor for off grid living I would suggest the tractor has nothing less than a k46 transmission K46 and up you should have..

[@mikedolman7056]

Cecil potato,garlic, and onions you cannot go wrong you cannot have to many of any of them,around here years ago the farmers used to give them land to grow potatoes as part of their wages, it was a very important thing to do,tractor and rotovater did a good job and the soil looked good, stay safe and keep well x

[@garyarmstrong4597]

Really beats digging Cecil! Great little tiller too.!😃

[@aldredske6197]

Hi Cecil and Heather!!😀😀 Sure hope it warms up a little more so the seed potatoes don't rot before they sprout. I'm just thinking about planting mine this coming weekend. Nice little garden tractor!! That is definitely what you needed for doing as much as you plan to do. Take care my friends!!😀😀❤❤

[@cabdriveruk]

Great video Cecil and Heather. Well that little tractor and tiller was well worth the money, it made short work of the garden soil. That soil looks great and i am sure you will get a crop. Cheers, Jeff.

[@noworriesmate8287]

With the tiller??? Even without the tiller great deal. Love my 318. Did install a Kohler command pro 25 in it 4 years ago.

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Yup it came with the tiller, front blade and mower deck...Thanks, they seem to be quite tough little tractors. Cheers.

[@botabob]

That garden tractor looks pretty sweet with the muffler coming up through the hood. You can use two sticks cut to 5 foot to make spacing your rows easier.

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Thanks Bob, it sure does a great job and it looks sexy as well. Thanks again. Cheers.

[@markmortensen4341]

Had a hard time finding seed Potatoes here in Oregon. Had to go on Etsy web site to find some! They weren't cheap, that's for sure! Thanks for sharing that JD 214 as it was pretty interesting to me. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Hello Mark, So far we just planted some potatoes we had left over....We still have 100lbs of Shepody seed potatoes to plant lol. Thanks again..Cheers.

[@LINERUNNER57]

Hi Cecil, that is a slick little machine

[@frankdeegan8974]

Power equipment makes life easier and frees you up to do more things. You do need a shed to get them out of the elements plus an old can for a rain cap for the new machine.

[@arthurme1911]

If you can make a carbon trap your plants will grow fast

[@bruced1429]

I don't know when you filmed this as per the date on youtube but man your still in deep early spring. Here in South Central BC we are all green and the potatoes/peas/onions/garlic are up. Tomatoes going in next week. I have had to cut the lawn and all our fruit trees are in blossom. I hope you get better weather soon, Our daughter is at Petawawa and she had snow last weekend. Last time we drove to Ontario it was the last week of May and the leaves were not out from the Manitoba border right to the Soo. Good luck .

[@jimbertrand2499]

That 214 tiller does a wonderful job on your soil. We have heavy gumbo clay in southern Manitoba which plugs up most tillers when wet and is concrete when dry. Still makes reasonable growing medium.

[@phill903]

The 214 John Deere and tiller works really good, My brother has one like that he rally like it has been useing it for years and he puts in a big garden also.

[@SheepyHollowCanada]

I hear ya bud... we bought a rototiller this year as it was too hard trying to find some to come and do it. Going to till our garden as soon as it stops snowing (again today) and dries up a little and then break ground for the spuds as I want them out of the main garden. Also, I will be thinking of making a small root cellar in the basement as the cooler in the garage didn't quite work out and caused the veggies to turn into mush. I'm thinking of 5-6 feet apart for the spuds so there is some dirt to hill, as last year we didn't have that option being to close together. Stay safe as well... I hope this passes soon and we can get on with other things. I'm 67 and wasn't planning on slaving my remaining years as it was to be the dogs and not labor. lol

[@jamespotter936]

I worked for John Deere back in the 80’s. We sold a ton of lawn and garden equipment.. Love that tiller. You should try and find the snowblower that fits on the front. They work great.

[@wadestewart9891]

Looks like a good little tractor, I have change out all my points to Nova II point eliminator kits ,simple electronic ignition think I paid about 10 bucks per kit no more points.I hope to get a small tiller in the future too . thanks and be safe

[@matthewjohnson3910]

Good video thanks for sharing 👍

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Thanks Matthew, I am glad you enjoyed it. Cheers.

[@mtavish]

LOL those striped trousers you were wearing looked like prison pants.

[@donaldk.macbaird5248]

Yes you have to make hay while the sun is shining and then go back to your projects

[@ianbirkmyre4622]

Hi guys great video as usual, that tractor tiller combo will be a great timesaver for your gardening. Might be a little awkward getting it into the raised beds though. Lol. Take care Ian.

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Hello Ian. Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it. I figure if I build a ramp I may just get it into the raised beds ;-) lol. Cheers.

[@hunterdude3262]

That sure makes fast work of it.

[@trenzmeister]

I use die-electric grease on points ..try it

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Yeah I should have some somewhere here lol.

[@loubas8785]

by the way ur going to need a root cellar for the food ur going to produce great project for video's

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Hello Lou..yeah we are going to need a larger place to store all our food for sure. Thanks again. Cheers.

[@frankdeegan8974]

A root cellar, canning jars and more shelves and or a freezer. I was always amassed at just how much stuff Mom and Dad had to have to prepare the harvest for storing and keeping it safe until it was used. I can see you having a busy summer and autumn.

[@1PaJoe]

I planted some seed potatoes the other day and wanted to get some more to plant but everybody is sold out - I do have some potatoes that I bought from a store and some of them are sprouting - I know that the store bought potatoes are sprayed so that they don’t sprout but maybe it doesn’t always work - so I am going to plant some the store bought potatoes and see what happens - it seems like every body got the same idea about raising their own food - so many thing are now hard to get - I ordered some chicks and won’t get them until July and some fertile eggs which won’t be ready until august - you can have all the gold that you want but if you can’t get food your sunk

[@urbanitesgarage3299]

How did the store bought potatoes do

[@mawpatti]

that soil on the second planting area looked in very good shape...how far apart do you plant your potato seeds? it looked like yall were planting them really close together? Great video loved it!

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Thank you, this soil was good last year...we had a great crop of potatoes. We plant our potatoes 5 feet apart. Cheers.

[@urbanitesgarage3299]

Did you get that tiller with the purchase price? If so that’s really good deal! I got a 140 with the tiller it for 400 love the tillers!! So neat

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Hello...yes the tiller came with the tractor, Just as you see it. Right on... the 140's are great tractors as well. If I am tilling new ground..I find if I twist the tiller belt the tiller runs backwards and keeps the tiller from bouncing.. as the tines comes from the bottom of the hard ground instead of hitting the top of the hard ground and bouncing. Hope this helps. You have a great day. Cheers!

[@urbanitesgarage3299]

@@SkinnersOffGrid wow thanks for sharing great to know, I guess these belts I bought that were an inch long will come in handy after all, are you still able to run both belts when they’re twisted? The ground around here is real sandy it just eats though it but when I move that will be good to know

[@sinksalot8860]

I think the word "spare" time is a word I don't understand??? Like you I keep very busy. We just have to make the time for some things. Have fun!

[@chriscox6598]

Cecil that JD did a great job on the garden spot. One of these days I’m going to get my JD 314 going. It was my grandfather’s. It had sat so long the gas is gelled in the tank.

[@brenthoffman3832]

Why does that muffler jump around good little tractor, but come on you can fix that muffler better than that.

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Hello Brent...The muffler has to be removable to open the hood for checking the oil, I am looking for the proper muffler that it came with when new. Cheers.

[@1PaJoe]

If you are interested - I came across a web site that I thought was very interesting - it explained how you can plant potatoes from seeds - this is something that I never thought of - not seed potatoes but actual seeds taken from the potatoes plant - this whole area of getting seeds from plants and using them instead of buying them is very interesting - here is the web site - Cultivariable.com

[@robwoods5537]

U guys still have the pet turkey?

[@SkinnersOffGrid]

Hello Rob. No a Wiesel got him over the winter...so I got the Wiesel ;-) Cheers.

[@stephenlake885]

@@SkinnersOffGrid Glad you at least got the wiesel and that's a nice little rig for sure!

[@gregorhay123]

75 lol