Chrisl,
The first 15 minutes are pretty hairy. It's 10.5 acres, sloped. Rolling a bit. But on one side, it's reasonably steep, and the edge of the property drops off into a creek. This is an erosion creek, and the edge is sudden. The object is to get close to the edge, but not fall in, as it would tip the tractor over. Problem is, the weeds/brush is so thick, you cant see the edge. On the other side of the property, there's a smaller one. Even harder to see, it's only about a foot wide, and about a foot deep. Drop a wheel in there, you're stuck. Even with 4 wheel drive.
So the first cut around the property is a "high blood pressure" moment. After that, you have 8 hours of mindless circling breathing diesel fumes, swatting bugs, ducking under the occasional tree branch, getting dusted by windborne grass and poison ivy shrapnel, and listening to the drone of the diesel engine. It takes about 15 minutes to circle the property one pass. Oh the joys of hobby farming!
You learn to keep your mouth closed. As you pass thru the pasture, you disturb the bugs. They take their vengeance by flying into your face. I'm glad I wear glasses. And, I've learned to keep my mouth shut. The hard way. The birds circle you like the seagulls around a fishing boat. Catching bugs.
I can't sit there and do it in one shot, or even one day. The ground is rough. It used to be cow pasture. But there are lots of pot holes that you can't see covered in grass. But they beat you up. This year, I did it in three passes: 2 two hour passes, and yesterday I just decided to "Git'er done", with a 4 hour marathon.
I do it twice a year. I'm late doing the "spring" cutting. I'll do it again in the fall so it will look good for the winter.
