The area immediately surrounding our house is a mess of large rock that was haphazardly set aside while breaking through an existing "wall" that ran the width of our property and many other properties in this new neighborhood. The builder was suppose to return to landscape after the spring thaw but instead went bankrupt. Our budget dictates that we have to move these rocks ourselves without renting heavy equipment. Any ideas?
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Welcome Susan,
Rocks could just be a bit of a prized possession! A rock garden (especially if they're pretty or have nice "features"!)
As for moving them, you didn't mention 'how' large they are. If they're not big boulders (or if you're not working uphill), it may be possible to muscle them around with levers (try 2x4s). Get a helper, wear gloves, watch your back, and enjoy!
If nothing else, they come in handy for 'fill' in low areas....good luck.
-k.
[This message has been edited by k2 (edited September 07, 2003).]
There is a question lingering, do you want to keep the rocks or do you want them hauled away? Are they 500 pound rocks or 100 pound rocks. If two men could lift one then do it that way. If bigger you should save yourself alot of grief and just bite the bullet and pay an excavator to come in and push the rocks for you. A track loader, (bullbozer type thing with a big dirt bucket on front instead of a flat blade) could move a yard full of rocks in an hour. But they would probably have a two hour minimum. Around here they charge $110 per hour. He could also put them into a dump truck. Dump truck is $70 per hour.
I would stay away from pulling the rocks with ropes or winch cables, just too dangerous if the cable breaks. You never really know what a rock weighs. Also you could have $100 wrapped up in straps to put around the rocks for tugging them.
hoganem is right, re winching them out; also about sometimes hiring heavy equipment is the way to go--especially if there are LOTS of them.
Also...what about hiring day labor? Not for everybody but works well for many!
Again, it's "How many are there", and "how big are they".
Personally, up to a certain size (and depending on your physical ability!), I still think just muscling them around (with levers) is not a bad way to go. It's good physical outdoor work--it's hard at first but when you're done you'll be ready for more 
Again, watch your back; let gravity work for you not against you.
[This message has been edited by k2 (edited September 07, 2003).]
