I needed to significantly grade everything due to some major rains we had right after the dam was constructed in June. Considering the fact the grading couldn't be done with an ATV and that I've got over an acre to staple by myself, I thought it better to hire out.

I priced 112 x 16 mats for around $40 from erosion control wholesaler in Omaha - if I ever have additional areas to hit I can do so then.

Soil preparation: Grading - seed - starter fertilzer - mat. I was hoping to convince them to bring some black topsoil but was not successful considering their quotes were almost half of the other firms.

I'll let you know in about three weeks how things are looking [hopefully green] - but I'm not feeling 100% confident in my decisions to:

1. hire it out
2. going for the lowest bid

Neither do I typically elect to do.

Let's hope for some well timed gentle rains and lots of warmth and sunshine and no early hard frosts....

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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