I need some advice about compact tractors.
Just before Christmas we brought a 3.5 acre smallholding in NE Scotland. Both the house and land in poor condition, house not lived in for a while, land has been abandoned for about 10 years with wild raspberry, willow herb, nettles, and ground elder, plus granite rocks and other debris. We have a half acre paddock at the front in good condition with grass that will need cutting soon. We have a few chickens and collected two Tamworth weaners last week that are presently clearing a small patch f ground at the back.
My wife understandably says no more animals until more of the house is done (I do get distracted as soon as I go outside).
But grass at the front needs cutting to keep it in good shape, do I buy myself a sit on lawn mower, or spend a little more in a second hand compact tractor and topper? Will the extra expense pay for itself with the extra use I can put the tractor too? I don’t have any experience with a smallholding of this size, previously I had just a very large garden with veg and poultry.
My eventual plan is to keep a few lambs and pig weaners each year, together with chickens, ducks and a large vegetable plot. And of course to finish the house.