Our New Farm Tool is a Game Changer

Check out our new BCS walk behind tractor with dual action sickle bar mower attachment. We ordered this from Earth Tools in Oregon and had it shipped to the Big Island. Now we can maintain the Guinea grass in the food forest in a fraction of the amount of time it took before.

[@thechief762]

As you now have a machine which generally works easiest in a linear path you might consider laying out plantings in a linear path to make the planting align with the tool. Usually contour lines work well with major pathways following ridgelines for least erosion. Linear forms in a food forest eventually blur out as canopy expands it loses the "feel" of a line.

[@ainabearfarm8075]

Yeah I’m kind of passed the point of no return on that although I think I would lay it out the same if I had the chance to go back. I had a Cub Cadet full size tractor but got rid of it because I just don’t like straight lines although they’re much easier to maintain 🤙

[@janeteblen2689]

How long did it take from the time you ordered it? We ordered ours in April and the wait is killing us! Thank you for the preview of what we can look forward to.

[@ainabearfarm8075]

Oh wow that is a long time! Ours took about 4 weeks from the time we ordered it. Where did you order from?

[@janeteblen2689]

We ordered a 739 from Hawaii Farm Services in Hilo in April. They said it had to be manufactured in Italy and then shipped to Oregon before shipping to HI. I'm guessing yours was an in-stock model? It really is going to be such a game changer for you- exponentially increase how much you can accomplish with much less effort. The weed whacking is so slow and tedious! Stoked for you that you have this and can't wait for ours! Hopefully we're not far behind.

[@ainabearfarm8075]

@@janeteblen2689yeah I was trying to order through Steve’s Honda and ran into a similar issue with a shortage at the manufacturer level. I found out that Go Farm Hawaii had ordered through Earth Tools and got lucky with them. Hopefully you won’t have to wait too much longer 🤙

[@ColinMill1]

We ordered our 740 in early October '21 and got it just before Christmas that year. It didn't help that we needed an electric start model which had to be ordered from the factory. It works very well with the 95cm Berta flail. Not sure I can justify getting the sickle bar as well.

[@bloomya]

That thing looks super handy! We will probably eventually need something bigger but I might start with one of these. Did you consider the DR Trimmers? I wonder if they would be easier to get? On another subject, I noticed in another video that you had a really nice looking mango tree. Has it fruited yet? Have you talked to others in the neighborhood that have had good luck with mangoes? I'm only like half a mile from you, and at the same elevation and I'm assuming we are in a marginal mango area but maybe the anthracnose resistant varieties will do great? I have not really had an opportunity to drive around and observe during mango season yet as we just bought this fall. Thanks!

[@ainabearfarm8075]

I did not look at anything but the BCS so I’m not sure about the DR’s but I did use a DR back in North Carolina about 20 years ago and it was a good machine. I do think our spot is good for mangoes so I have 6 varieties that are all resistant to anthracnose. I think depending on the year you will get big harvests from certain varieties so by having diversity I’m hoping I’m guaranteed to have a decent harvest each year.

[@carrotsandrunning]

do you have a feeling of what land size you could work with this before you'd want to step up to a small ride-on tractor unit to maintain it ?

[@ainabearfarm8075]

That’s a good question. I think a lot has to do with how you are setting things up, what the terrain is like, and if you have anyone helping. Even though 4 acres is a lot for me to manage by myself with a BCS I couldn’t use a tractor due to my layout and the challenging topography. The main thing is that for any property size if you want to use a full size tractor you have to lay things out with wide rows in between and areas for turning around. I will say though that anything bigger than about 5 acres would be very hard to maintain by yourself with a BCS. Hope that helps 🤙

[@MarviRafaelMontecillo]

How is it doing ? Still working well?

[@ainabearfarm8075]

Going great! I just did all the annual maintenance. It’s running very well 🤙

[@MarviRafaelMontecillo]

thank you. i know someone who could purchase BCS tractor for me in the Philippines. very awesome for decent sized syntropic farming projects@@ainabearfarm8075