Building our off-grid property fence in the Arizona desert turned out to be one of the biggest projects we tackled after moving onto our land.
What We Thought Would Take Three Weeks Turned Into a Four-to-Five-Month Adventure
By Ramon & Gayle Vincent | Get Fascinated Family Ranch
Our homesteading dreams were beginning to take shape—one project, one mistake and one lesson at a time.
After purchasing our 40-acre property in the Arizona desert, the first real work we tackled was grading and clearing brush. Once we decided where we eventually wanted to build our home, we created a wide, double-lane entrance and driveway coming off the main road and onto our property.
It finally started to look less like raw desert land and more like ours.
But before we could think too far ahead, we had a practical question to answer:
How were we going to continue earning an income while living off-grid?
At the time, our primary business was growing microgreens. If we were serious about moving onto the property, we needed a secure place where we could continue growing them.
That decision led to one of our first major projects on the property:
Building our fence.
Building Our Off-Grid Property Fence in the Arizona Desert & Why We Decided to Fence Nearly Half an Acre
We decided to fence an area a little under half an acre and eventually place a building inside it where we could continue growing microgreens.
In our area, people commonly convert storage sheds or shipping containers into growing or working spaces, so we knew something similar could work well for us.
Our county also had an agricultural permit applicable to certain growing structures. We researched the requirements, applied and received our permit.
But before there could be a growing building, there needed to be a fence.
For us, fencing wasn’t optional.
It was about security, livestock, future gardens, our pets—and snakes.
Why Snake Protection Was Non-Negotiable for Us
Arizona is home to several venomous snake species, including rattlesnakes. Neither Ramon nor I particularly enjoys an encounter with a snake, but my concern came from personal experience.
Years before moving to our property, my 145-pound Akita was bitten by a rattlesnake.
I was barely able to save his life—and his leg. The veterinary care cost thousands of dollars, and thankfully I was in a position at the time to carry that financial burden.
It was an experience I never forgot.
Before marrying Ramon, I had also lived at a home with snake-resistant fencing, so I was already familiar with the concept. When Ramon and I started discussing fencing for our new property, we agreed that adding a smaller-mesh barrier was something we wanted to incorporate.
We knew we’d eventually have outdoor gardens. We knew we’d have pets. And we wanted to be able to work within our main growing area with some additional protection.
No fence can make a desert property completely snake-proof, but our goal was to reduce the opportunities for rattlesnakes and other unwanted critters to enter our primary working area.
GET FASCINATED NOTE: If you’re considering snake-resistant fencing, research the venomous species in your own area and current recommendations from local wildlife professionals. We’re sharing what we chose to install on our property—not guaranteeing that this design will prevent every snake from entering.
Another Arizona Surprise: Free-Roaming Cattle
Something else we learned after purchasing rural property was how common it is to see cattle roaming across open land in parts of Arizona.
Coming from Southern California, seeing cows casually wandering around was definitely an adjustment!
Depending on the particular land and grazing situation, rural property owners may need fencing if they want to keep livestock away from gardens, orchards or other protected areas.
For us, that was another reason to build a sturdy perimeter around our main growing area.
We had future gardens to think about, and a cow can do a whole lot of damage to a garden!
“We’ll Probably Be Done in Three Weeks!”
Before we’d even finished staking everything out, Ramon looked at me and said:
“We’ll probably be done with this in three weeks.”
We still laugh about that.
It took us approximately four to five months to completely finish the project.
Welcome to homesteading. 😂
Planning the Fence Before Breaking Ground
Neither of us had ever built a fence like this before, so there was a lot of homework to do.
We watched videos, researched fencing methods and tried to determine what combination of materials would work best for our needs and budget.
First, we measured the area.
We also needed to decide where the future microgreens building would sit because that affected the placement of our walk-through gate and larger drive-through gate.
We staked the perimeter, measured each side and marked the future building location so we could visualize how everything would work together.
Our basic plan called for:
Pressure-treated 4×4 wooden posts at corners and gate locations, with additional bracing
6-foot steel T-posts spaced approximately 8 feet apart where practical
Approximately 2 feet of each T-post driven into the ground
4-foot welded-wire fencing around the perimeter
1/4-inch hardware cloth along the lower portion as our snake-resistant barrier
Approximately 12 inches of hardware cloth below grade and approximately 36 inches extending above ground
A 12-foot drive-through gate
A 4-foot walk-through gate
It sounded pretty straightforward on paper.
Then we started digging.
Digging the Trench: Our First Expensive Lesson
Our research led us to plan a trench approximately 12 inches deep around the perimeter so the hardware cloth could extend below ground.
We had more than 400 feet to trench.
Our first idea was to rent a handheld trencher.
What Sounded Good in Theory…
…was a disaster in reality.
It was slow, backbreaking and simply wasn’t getting the job done. Some areas of our soil were extremely hard and rocky. Other sections were sandy and wanted to collapse right back into the trench.
We would dig—and sometimes it looked like we’d accomplished almost nothing.
We took the handheld trencher back.
Money spent. Time spent. Lesson learned.
It certainly wouldn’t be the last time that happened during our off-grid journey.
Attempt Number Two: The Riding Trencher
Our next rental was a small riding trencher.
Better?
Yes.
Perfect?
Absolutely not.
Operating it took some getting used to. You had to position the tracks carefully while trenching backward, and maintaining a perfectly straight line wasn’t easy.
Our trenches definitely weren’t winning any awards for straightness.
We still had to go back with shovels and manually clean up sections.
We considered renting larger equipment, but that would have increased the cost and potentially created a trench much wider or deeper than we needed.
So we worked with what we had.
Maybe there was a better solution.
We simply didn’t know what it was yet.
And that’s part of learning.
WHAT WE’D DO DIFFERENTLY: Before renting equipment for a large project, we’d spend even more time matching the machine to our particular soil conditions—not simply the job it’s advertised to perform.
The Auger Incident: BAM! 😂
Next came the holes for our wooden corner and gate posts.
Our first attempt involved a gas-powered handheld auger.
The first few holes went fairly well because the soil was sandy.
Then Ramon reached the hard, rocky areas.
Watching that auger fight him was enough for me.
It looked like it was going to twist his arms into pretzels. The machine wasn’t getting anywhere and, more importantly, it wasn’t safe.
That ended that experiment.
Back to the rental department we went.
Time for the Big Auger
This time we rented a much larger auger that came on its own trailer and accepted several large bits.
Now this looked like the answer.
We maneuvered it into position. Ramon installed the bit. I grabbed the camera because, naturally, we were documenting everything.
He fired up the machine.
Everything sounded great.
He positioned it over the first hole.
He lowered the auger…
BAM!
The entire bit fell off the machine and hit the ground with a gigantic thud.
Ramon looked at me.
I looked at Ramon.
And I was still filming. 😂
Let’s just say a few colorful words followed.
That bit was incredibly heavy. Now we had to figure out how we were going to maneuver it back into position and reconnect it.
Suggested length: About 10–20 seconds. This is worth including even if it’s also in the full YouTube video. The reader gets to “BAM!” and immediately gets to see what happened.
One difference between Ramon and me is that I’m 20 years older than he is, and sometimes I tend to take these situations more in stride.
I’ve lived enough life to know there’s usually a solution to a problem.
It might take a minute to find it—but we’ll find it.
We’re both smart and capable, and when we stop, think and put our heads together, we generally figure things out.
And we did.
We got that ridiculously heavy bit back into place, secured it properly, and Ramon dug every post hole we needed.
BAM!
This time, the good kind.
Setting Our Wooden Corner and Gate Posts
With the holes finally dug, we installed pressure-treated 4×4 posts at the corners and gate openings.
The gate areas were especially important because we knew our drive-through gate would receive frequent use.
We had already selected our heavy-duty gates, so we knew the dimensions we needed to accommodate.
To save some money, we purchased longer lengths of treated lumber and cut them on-site where appropriate.
We placed approximately 2 feet of each post underground, set and leveled them, and added temporary supports while the concrete cured.
Afterward, we added horizontal boards and diagonal bracing.
When everything was finished…
They looked great.
After the trenching and auger adventures, seeing straight, solid posts standing in the ground felt like a major victory.
Driving Approximately 110 T-Posts
Next came the T-posts.
We spaced them approximately 8 feet apart where the measurements allowed, adjusting slightly where dimensions or topography required it.
We had roughly 110 T-posts to install.
Could we have used a manual T-post driver?
Sure.
Did we want to?
Absolutely not. Ramon might not have had any arms left by the end. 😂
We rented a gas-powered T-post driver instead.
That made the work faster, but “easier” would be a generous description.
The driver itself was heavy and cumbersome.
For each post, Ramon needed enough height and leverage to position the driver over the top. We brought a sturdy portable work platform with us, but remember—we were also working around piles of loose dirt and an open trench.
I would stabilize the T-post while Ramon maneuvered the driver into position.
We marked each post with orange tape so we’d know approximately how deep it needed to go.
Was everything perfect?
No.
The trench wasn’t perfect.
The ground wasn’t perfect.
Our spacing couldn’t always be perfect.
But we kept making adjustments and doing the best work we could with the conditions we had.
Eventually, all those T-posts were standing.
Hardware Cloth 1/4 inch Mesh 48″ x 100′ 23-Gauge
Installing and Stretching the Welded Wire
Our next layer was 4-foot welded-wire fencing.
Because we needed substantial lengths, some of our rolls were special ordered.
And those rolls were heavy.
Once one came off the truck, casually carrying it into position wasn’t happening.
We came up with our own system.
We used a sturdy piece of PVC pipe longer than the height of the fencing and a heavy chain. We could attach the chain and use our truck to help unroll the roll.
It actually worked pretty well.
Sometimes Ramon found it easier to grab the chain and manually pull the fencing forward because that gave us more control over where it landed in relation to the trench.
More manual labor?
Yes.
But sometimes the “easier” method isn’t actually easier.
Cutting and Securing the Ends
When we reached a wooden end post, Ramon used our 24-inch bolt cutters to cut the welded-wire fencing.
That allowed us to wrap the cut wire ends around the wooden post before fastening everything securely with galvanized fencing staples.
The bolt cutters were one of those basic tools that became invaluable once we were working with this much heavy wire.
24 IN Bolt Cutter with Drop Forged Cr-Mo Alloy Steel Blades
Stretching Matters
Once the wire was positioned and standing against the T-posts, we secured one end at the wooden post.
Then came the fence stretcher.
We attached the stretcher to the fencing and carefully used our truck as part of our stretching setup to bring the wire taut before securing the opposite end.
We didn’t want to start with a sagging fence and watch it become even looser over time.
Once we were satisfied with the tension, we secured the wire and continued around the perimeter.
Chain Link Fabric Fence Stretcher
Hundreds of T-Post Clips Later…
Now the welded wire had to be attached to all those T-posts.
Remember those approximately 110 posts?
We used roughly three clips per post.
That meant installing somewhere around 330 clips.
We purchased a simple Clip Bender tool that took us a minute to figure out.
Once we got the hang of it, though, we were off and running.
Some clips cooperated.
Some didn’t.
Some broke.
And getting frustrated with a tiny piece of metal accomplishes absolutely nothing—although that doesn’t always stop you from trying. 😂
To make things even more interesting, we were doing this portion of the project during winter.
Yes, Arizona gets cold—especially when you add desert wind.
Cold fingers and hundreds of little fence clips made the job feel endless.
But eventually…
They were done.
Installing the Gates
We installed a CountyLine 12-foot galvanized tube gate for our drive-through entrance and a CountyLine 4-foot utility tube gate for our walk-through entrance.
We also used a CountyLine 2-way lockable gate latch.
The work was tedious because everything needed to align properly, but compared with some of our earlier adventures, this part wasn’t too bad.
The large gate was particularly important because we knew we’d constantly be bringing vehicles, supplies and equipment into the growing area.
Adding Our Snake-Resistant Barrier
Finally, we reached one of the most important portions of the project for us personally.
We installed 1/4-inch hardware cloth around the lower perimeter.
Our installation extended approximately 12 inches below ground and approximately 36 inches above ground, where it needed to be firmly attached to the welded-wire fence.
This is where my job became extremely tedious.
Hundreds of Little Pieces of Wire
I used galvanized steel wire that I cut into pieces approximately three inches long.
Rather than stopping to cut a new piece every time, I’d prepare about 20–30 pieces in advance, then bend them into small C-shaped pieces.
I’d thread each piece through both the welded-wire fence and the 1/4-inch hardware cloth and twist the two layers tightly together.
I repeated this roughly every foot or so, working from top to bottom as needed so the two layers of fencing were securely connected.
Over and over.
And over.
😂
This required a good pair of wire cutters and a smaller pair of nose-tipped pliers that I could comfortably manipulate while working with the small wire.
Life Halfway Inside a Trench 😂
A lot of this job involved me sitting on the ground, practically halfway inside the trench, with whatever makeshift padding I could arrange underneath me.
It was a ton of work.
One of the most useful things I had wasn’t some expensive piece of specialized equipment.
It was my open-top tool tote.
I kept my cutters, pliers, wire and everything else I needed right beside me and simply moved the tote down the fence line as I worked.
Yes, it occasionally filled with desert dirt.
I’d dump it out, clean it, restock everything and keep moving.
We bought that tool tote for the project, and I still use it today.
That was a great buy.
AFFILIATE LINK OPPORTUNITY: Husky 15-pocket open-top tool bag.
Closing Up the Fence
We also added hardware cloth to the gates and paid particular attention to openings, transitions and the bottom edges.
At the bottoms of the gates, we used pavers to reduce open space.
Once all the hardware cloth was secured, the trench could finally be backfilled.
Is our fenced area 100 percent snake-proof?
We would never make that claim.
This is the Arizona desert. Wildlife has a way of surprising you.
Instead, we think of the smaller-mesh barrier as one layer of risk reduction.
We regularly inspect both sides of the fence for gaps, burrows, erosion or anything else that could create an entry point. We also try to keep vegetation and objects away from the exterior that could provide hiding or climbing opportunities.
We’ve heard enough close-encounter stories from other growers and farms.
We don’t need one of our own, thank you very much!
IMPORTANT: Wildlife behavior and recommended exclusion methods vary by species, location and property conditions. Consult current Arizona wildlife guidance or a qualified local professional before relying on any particular fence design for venomous-snake exclusion.
The Little Things That Made a Big Difference
Not every important item was a big piece of machinery.
Some of the smaller things made these long workdays much easier—or safer.
Good Work Gloves
Gloves were a must for both of us.
We wore them for just about everything—from loading the truck in the morning to handling posts, wire and equipment on the property.
Ramon kept a couple of pairs of less-expensive work gloves available for general labor.
I preferred better-fitting gloves because I was doing more of the tedious wire work that required dexterity with smaller tools.
There isn’t necessarily one perfect glove for an entire fence project. Having different gloves for heavy work and more detailed tasks worked well for us.
A Well-Stocked First-Aid Box
This was something I took seriously.
We were working on raw land with power equipment, sharp wire, cutters, hand tools and heavy materials. We were also a substantial drive from the nearest hospital.
So I put together a well-stocked first-aid box for the property.
We carried bandages, bleeding-control supplies and other basic first-aid items appropriate for the kinds of work we were doing.
Hopefully you never need it.
But this was one area where we weren’t interested in playing around.
We wanted emergency supplies accessible—not 45 minutes away at home.
📷 PHOTO: Your actual first-aid box, if you still have it.
SAFETY NOTE: A first-aid kit is preparation, not a substitute for emergency medical care. Serious injuries, uncontrolled bleeding, snakebites and other emergencies require appropriate professional medical help.
And One Absolutely Essential Piece of Equipment… MUSIC! ❤️😂
Okay, maybe this wasn’t technically essential.
But for Ramon and me?
It was pretty close.
Part of our particular brand of spaz is that we love music.
So along with all the tools, fencing supplies, gloves, water and everything else we packed into the truck, we’d bring our big speaker.
Then we’d turn on our favorite music and work.
We’re sitting on 40 acres in the middle of the desert.
There weren’t exactly neighbors on the other side of the fence complaining about the volume.
So we played it loud.
❤️😁😂
Those are some of the memories that make us smile now.
We weren’t just building a fence.
We were building our life.
The Last Job: Filling That Trench Back In
After months of work, the last major task sounded deceptively simple:
Put all the dirt back.
Both sides of the trench had to be backfilled and compacted.
By hand.
With shovels.
After everything else we’d done, this final stretch was incredibly labor-intensive—but also incredibly satisfying.
Every shovel of dirt meant we were closer to being finished.
And finally…
we were.
What We Would Do Differently
Looking back, we wouldn’t change the experience—but we’d definitely change a few decisions.
1. Research the Equipment AND Your Soil
A machine that technically performs a job isn’t necessarily the right machine for your version of that job.
2. Sometimes Renting the Cheaper Tool Costs More
We spent money on equipment that didn’t work for our conditions and then spent more money renting something else.
3. Expect Projects to Take Longer Than Planned
Three weeks became four or five months.
Enough said. 😂
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Stop When Something Feels Unsafe
The handheld auger was fighting Ramon. Continuing simply because we’d already paid for the rental wasn’t worth risking an injury.
5. Small Tools Matter
Cutters, pliers, gloves, a Clip Bender and even a simple tool tote weren’t glamorous purchases—but we used them constantly.
6. Keep Emergency Supplies Where You’re Actually Working
Our first-aid supplies did us no good sitting back at the house. Working remotely changed the way we thought about preparation.
7. Imperfect Doesn’t Mean Unsuccessful
Our trench wasn’t perfectly straight. Every post wasn’t exactly eight feet apart. We adjusted for terrain and circumstances.
But the finished fence accomplished what we needed it to accomplish.
8. Document the Mistakes Too
We’re glad we filmed the mishaps—not just the victories.
Those are now some of our favorite memories.
🛠️ Fence-Building Products and Tools We Actually Used
These are products or types of products we personally used during this project. Always determine the appropriate materials, dimensions and specifications for your own property and project.
Fencing & Hardware
Nueve Deer 1/4-Inch Hardware Cloth
Used as the smaller-mesh lower barrier around our primary fenced area.
CountyLine 100 ft. x 4 ft. Welded Wire — 14-Gauge, 2 in. x 4 in. Mesh
Our primary welded-wire fencing.
Everbilt 6-ft. Green Steel Fence T-Posts with Anchor Plate
Used throughout the perimeter.
Everbilt Galvanized 12-Gauge T-Post Fence Clips
Used to secure welded wire to our T-posts.
OOK 24-Gauge Galvanized Steel Wire
Gayle cut this into short pieces and used it to connect the hardware cloth to the welded wire.
Grip-Rite Hot-Dipped Galvanized Fencing Staples
Used at our wooden posts.
Gates & Gate Hardware
CountyLine 12 ft. x 50 in. 6-Bar Galvanized Tube Gate
CountyLine 4 ft. x 4 ft. 6-Bar Utility Tube Gate
CountyLine 2-Way Lockable Gate Latch
Cutting, Fastening & Fence Tools
Field Tuff Chain Link Fence Stretcher — FTF-5HCLFS
Clip Bender — T-Post Fence Clip Tool
Anvil 24-in. Bolt Cutters
Husky 7-in. Diagonal Cutting Pliers
Husky 6-in-1 Multi-Function Pliers
Everyday Gear That Earned Its Keep
Husky 10-in. 15-Pocket Open-Top Tool Bag
Milwaukee Lightweight Work Gloves
FIRM GRIP Leather & Denim Work Gloves
Some of these weren’t expensive specialty tools.
They were simply the things we kept reaching for.
And sometimes those are the best purchases you make.
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, Get Fascinated may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We believe in highlighting products we have actually used or products directly relevant to the projects we document.
🎥 Watch Our Complete Fence Build
Reading about the project is one thing.
Watching some of this craziness unfold is another. 😂
Watch our complete fence-building video below to see the process, mistakes, problem-solving and finished project.
EMBED FULL YOUTUBE VIDEO HERE
If you’re planning your own rural or off-grid fence project, we hope seeing both what worked and what didn’t saves you some time, money—or at least a few headaches.
From Raw Desert to Our Own Secure Space
When everything was finished, we stood there looking at nearly half an acre of cleared, fenced land.
Months earlier, there had been nothing there but raw desert.
Now we had something we had designed, researched and built with our own hands.
We were exhausted.
We’d made mistakes.
We’d wasted some money.
We’d learned more than we ever expected to learn about trenches, augers, posts, wire, clips and dirt.
And we were proud.
The most important part wasn’t that every inch of the fence was perfect.
It was that we did it together.
We planned together. We problem-solved together. We got frustrated together. We laughed together. We listened to music way too loud together. And when something went wrong, we figured out what to do next.
That’s what this entire journey has been about for Ramon and me.
Being fascinated with life again.
Individually—and together.
Whatever your version of that looks like, we hope you’ll find it too.
Do something that makes you Get Fascinated with your life.
— Ramon & Gayle Vincent
Get Fascinated Family Ranch
