"jeffc" wrote in message
...
How hard is it to rent some sort of bobcat or whatever and dig out a
sloped yard to add terracing bricks and make flat spots separated by a
wall or two?


Will address you question head-on, rather than presenting other plans of
attack.

The bobcat will follow the angle of the ground if attacking the attempted
dig 90 degrees from the angle of the slope of the soil. It also presents a
problem with possible tip over of the bobcat.

Starting at the top of the elevation, you can attack the dig with the slope
pointing the bobcat uphill. This takes alot of experience. It also is
limited in the amount of level area of each terrace. Not much. If you can
level enough area, you can use the bobcat on the level area, and slowly work
in more level area up the slope. This takes alot of experience and
patience.

The subsoil type is also a matter of concern while doing this. For example,
loose subsoil vs. stratified limestone vs. solid rock.
Dave