Gravel: Who needs it?
Gravel may not sound interesting, but from time to time it is essential on our homestead. Every year or two, I buy 8 tons of gravel (that is the minimum for delivery). The gravel itself is not expensive, but the delivery makes it expensive because of the travel distance. The last time we bought 8 tons it was $325, but that is still less expensive than buying a bag at a time at the hardware store.
Over the course of a year, we will use all the gravel for various projects including road repair. A few years ago, we dug a trench around our house to make a French drain, so the rain water running off the mountain would not run under the house. Once the heavy thunder storms are over for the year, we have road maintenance to do and gravel is really helpful.
If a walking path is getting too muddy. Gravel can fix it.
Gravel also works great for setting and leveling piers for a small building project.
It is helpful having gravel for various projects. What do you think?
I always keep some gravel on hand.
We get it delivered here in the UK in what is known as 'dumpy bags' - they hold 800kg each bag.
They usually cost about US$60 delivered.
Sometimes for paths and steps I get what is called here "Two and half to dust" - rough graded stone from 2.5 inches down to dust. They is generally a bit cheaper.
Looks very useful!! I bet having a pile of gravel there to use when needed is a great thing! :)
Gravel Piles are a must at Qberry Farms. Our driveway is 1/2 mile long up the mountain and is only a couple years old so we have maintenance quite a bit. We have so many projects, since just getting started, that need gravel every time we turn around. I vote YES!!!
Our road is 1/4 mile and is all down hill so it wash out easily requiring it too be graded several times a year.
I love it. Gravel is so handy to have around. I like being able to change, modify and repair with it. I also love having piles of mulch and wood chips. I think it is just the idea of having material to get things done that makes me happy.
Quality gravel seems to be hard to come by around here (at least for the county anyways?). They add new gravel to our roads around here every couple years, but gravel is basically all sand. It’s misreble to drive here when it’s wet.
Gravel is a constant addition here. Our lane washes out and cracks and we have to add to pot holes down the barn drive that the heavy load from the trailer makes. We did some track gravel on top of our hills as far as the trucks could go. Makes spring time feeding much easier when we can get to the animals despite the mud.