Grillo Tractor – Berta Rotary Plow
Yesterday, we awoke at 4 am to drive to Earth Tools in Kentucky and pick up a Grillo Tractor (similar to a BCS 2-wheeled tractor) with Berta Rotary Plow attachment….yes, we might be crazy….big kudos to spinkbickle for tirelessly researching the internet, blogs and calling Joel – the man behind Earth Tools and the true expert in this field! got questions, talk to Joel…or leave us a comment and we’ll gladly share our experience so far.
today, that trek seems to be time and money well-spent considering the outcome of the machine. what would have taken days to accomplish, takes hours when you have the right tools:) proper tools make all the difference. see below for pictures of the tractor and its impressive work!
Grillo 107d - she's a beauty!
Before - 600 sq ft of land that we covered with plastic to kill the grass
notice the dirt being flung out the side of the tractor
Results after just 2 hours!
what we've been pulling out of the ground - lots of ROCKS!
On your grillo what engine do you get?
Also when you use the rotary plow does it dry out the soil since it goes so deep.
I find when I use my roto tiller it tends to make ahard layer 6-8 inches down.
our grillo has an 11hp honda gas engine. i’ve read about a hard pan later developing with a rototiller/ we are purchasing the rototiller attachment for use this season. my plan is not “not overuse it”, but i’m not exactly sure what that means, but i will continue to post about our experiences.
i have not had a problem with the soil drying out per se. last summer i was able to plow our small plot, then finish with a tiller i was borrowing, and planted our alfalfa without additional irrigation. that’s all the experience i have so far. it seem to me, for primary tillage on a small farm (< 5 acres), the rotary plow is indispensable.
thanks for the comment
eric
Very cool! I’m considering getting one of these for my 2-acre plot. Do you think that amount of land is workable with a walking tractor? Was it easy to use?
Our experience is with a sub-acre lot, but I think the Grillo would be a perfect match for 2 acres. It is fairly easy to use and does a great job dislodging rocks (of all sizes!) and primary tillage of fields. If you are able to test it out prior to purchasing, I highly recommend it. That way you’ll get a feel for how it works and whether it’s manageable for you. Good luck!