Can the Hansa C21 chipper really handle an entire orchard after a major hard prune?

In this video, I put Hansa’s biggest chipper in the acreage range to a proper real-world test. Over four full days, we chipped a huge pile of orchard prunings — including some branches and logs that were honestly bigger than the recommended size.

The result? The C21 didn’t miss a beat. It powered through everything we fed it, started easily, ran consistently, and handled the workload far better than I expected.

After using it hard for several days straight, I’d be comfortable recommending the C21 to anyone managing acreage, orchards, or large properties.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a serious chipper like this is worth it for real garden and orchard work — this video should help you decide.

Get 30% off at Epic Gardening here ends 1st December: https://shop.epicgardening.com/SSME2020?q=black-friday-cyber-monday

Order my book here and get 30% off from 19th Nov to 7th Dec: https://www.briobooks.store/products/100-top-crops-you-can-grow

Raised Garden Beds: To get Birdies Raised Garden Beds in the USA, go here: https://shop.epicgardening.com and use SSME2020 at checkout for a 5% discount.

In Australia, go to https://birdiesgardenproducts.com.au/ and use Code SSMEbird for a 5% discount. In New Zealand, go to https://birdiesgardenproducts.co.nz/ and use Code ssmebird22 for 5% off your first purchase.

In South Africa, get Birdies Beds here https://www.birdiesgardenproducts.co.za/ and use code: self-sufficient

Chicken stuff and preserving gear: Oz Farmer and get a 10% discount, go here https://ozfarmer.com?ta_aff=T4XRUZILS6 and use code T4XRUZILS6 at checkout.

My Garden Plan: https://selfsufficientme.gardenplanner.com/garden-plans/1890355/

Elevated Garden Planters: Check out Vego Garden here https://glnk.io/jnwlw/selfsufficientme and use SELFSUFFICIENTME10OFF for a $10 discount.

FoodCube Wicking Beds can be purchased in the USA from https://glnk.io/jnwlw/selfsufficientme and use SELFSUFFICIENTME10OFF for a $10 discount. And, in Australia, from https://www.australianlandscapesupplies.com.au/collections/foodcube-raised-garden-wicking-beds (no affiliate or discount, sorry, on FoodCubes but you can get a discount on potting mixes, etc – see next paragraph below).

Check out Australian Landscaping Supplies for a 10% discount: https://www.australianlandscapesupplies.com.au/collections/self-sufficient-me?dt_id=1489901 If you find any problem with the link, use “self_sufficient_me” as the discount code on checkout.

Plant Doctor Fertiliser: Go to https://www.plantdoctor.com.au/ and use SSME10 = 10% off products (not shipping).

Ocean2Earth: https://ocean2earth.com.au/ Use “SSM” on checkout for a 5% discount.

For Hoselink Garden Products, such as hose reels, go here: https://l.linklyhq.com/l/5uZu. You will automatically get a 10% discount on checkout!

Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/selfsufficientme (the top tier enables mentoring from yours truly via an exclusive VIP email where I will answer your questions, etc, ASAP).

Survival Seeds Aust and USA: https://linktr.ee/survivalseeds Use Code SSM at checkout for a 10% discount.

Harvest Right freeze dryer website: https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1099.html
For Australian freeze dryer purchase info, use the link above and contact Harvest Right directly.

Aussie-made Forged garden tools: Go to https://gardentoolsaustralia.com.au/ and use code SSM10 for a 10% discount at checkout.

Rolling Sifter: https://unclejimswormfarm.com/product/outdoor-compost-bin/rolling-garden-sifter/ https://rollingsifter.ecwid.com/ Compostyng (yes, it’s spelt wrong deliberately) for 10% off.

My second channel, Self Sufficient Me 2: https://bit.ly/331edDu
New (third) Channel: Self Suffishing Me https://bit.ly/2LiIWqt

Blog: https://www.selfsufficientme.com/ (use the search bar on my website to find info on specific subjects or gardening ideas)

Forum: http://www.selfsufficientculture.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/self_sufficient_me

Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Zi5kDv

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SufficientMe

Subscribe to my channel: http://goo.gl/cpbojR

Self Sufficient Me is based on our small 3-acre property/homestead in SE Queensland, Australia, about 45kms north of Brisbane – the climate is subtropical (similar to Florida). Cheers, Mark 🙂

*Disclaimer: Some links to products in this description and comments sections are affiliated, meaning I receive a small commission if you follow these links and then purchase an item.

0:00 Introduction
1:13 What to do with all the wood chips
2:16 Starting the Hansa C21
2:54 Day one of chipping
8:26 Day two of chipping
10:56 Day three of chipping
11:56 Day four of chipping
14:05 Orchard regrowth two months after chipping
24:41 History of Hansa
25:26 Interview with Managing Director Hansa
28:48 Chipping Conclusion

41 Comments

  1. I live in Illinois, USA and we have good, fertile black prairie soil and regular rains. I’ve dumped countless truckloads of woodchips on my ground over the past few years and plants absolutely go nuts for it. Your trees will look like a forest again in a year. 😂

  2. Don't worry Donno, were all impressed haha. Perhaps also a little terrified of this thing, definitely wouldn't want to catch your glove on something going in…

  3. howzit mate, greatings from Zambia. avacados love shade, so you got to keep them in shade till they have a large canopy, then plant out in the sun. you can also paint them to stop the sunburn but a hate painted trees….
    love your channel and you mate,well done.🙂👊

  4. one thought from pro. If you grind down trees and mulch them like that. You increase the danger of fungi that can harm your living plants. You just maid mega buffet for all the regions fungi and there they will flourish for coming years, spreading spores in epic amount. It would have been better to compost them and spread elsewhere.

  5. That chipper is a beast
    I’m in a city where I see all them Arbor trucks I wish I could have them come to my house to dump and I don’t really have a space. I don’t have the manpower. I have so much going on, but I do love this. I try to pick up some logs here and there so I can use them For organic matter in the bottom of the beds so my son built me three beds that are still in the process of being completely filled but one of them end up going sinking down so low I’ll probably need about 40 bags. To fill it ..
    Their large beds probably 3 1/2 feet tall out of some old roofing supplies when they decide to break down in the wood later on, I will rebuilt them differently with the roofing. It’s commercial roofing we have a building. I will rebound them in a different way I think he put them together too fast and they’re not ready right they might last me a good 56 years but they totally need to be rebound in a different way.

  6. What a great machine !
    Quick question on your pallet style compost heap, do you put a floor in it? Or let the bottom soil leach into the ground ?
    Thanks for all the content in 2025 mate, really enjoyed it and found it very useful in our gardens in WA
    All the best for Christmas – New Year

  7. this chipper is a scary beast! i m a fan of vertical funnel chipper. the risk of kickbacks is basically zero. Clover is a great first ground cover, which can at least handle fresh mulch with medium-high green content. In my area clover was natures choice, i didn`t seed it

  8. I always keep a long stick aside for poking anything that gets jammed or turn machine off. I have had a Hansard for several year great machine

  9. I don't know about you, but out here at Redcliffe, I've just planted my seeds I germinated inside, under grow lights, into pots and put them outside a few days ago. Since then, I've been running them inside and putting them back out for the last few days. Between gusty winds, scorching sun and the threat of torrential rain, it's certainly testing me, but still is totally worth it in the end.

    Sub tropical does present it's challenges, but they are all challenges with a fix and the more you grow, the more you learn.

    I've just discovered your channel and so happy to find another north Brisbane gardener with new tips to become self sufficient. Thank you!

  10. Most disconnected video I have ever seen from this guy. $18k is NOT an acreage chipper…it is surely commercial. Could pay someone 5 times over to do the work…and not have the machine sitting taking up space for the rest of its life. I am considering purchasing a decent chipper shredder to clear out some mess….but this is so far removed from most people’s world that the video was borderline useless…but I guess you do as the sponsers command. I could have the local arborist in with machine and labour for weeks (or a day a year for the next 2 decades) before that unit becomes financially justified. Any normal person would run out of trees before that thing had paid for itself.

  11. 7:09 Good machine.,lcompared to what? Have you tried the 2,500 to 4,000 version to compare if very high price tag is justified?

  12. G’day Mark… Merry Christmas and Happy New Year at you and Family
    You have lots of opportunities to topwork new suckers on mangoes
    Cheers Johno

  13. That chipper is very impressive! Well worth the price I am sure on a property like yours. I love how small the chips come out of it too, and that 7 inch log…wow!

  14. hi. I absolutely love my hansa chipper (older version of yours). Cuts through eucalypt box & gum trees with ease – not as lge as timber you chipped Most of neighbours couldn't see value of purchase. Me- think it's a great way to manage scattered fallen timber too small /crap for firewood. My biggest beef is I don't have enough time to chip everything that needs chipping.
    I have completed several expr. to see effectiveness of chips for controlling weed growth in paddock. Results- you need very thick layer of chips.
    great content. 😊

  15. I rented on of the big commercial hansa chippers when we bought this place and cleaned up a lot of pest trees.

    Completely spoiled myself from that point on.

    Hydraulic feed is outstanding.

    Ended up getting a Chinese 15hp mulcher to keep up with general maintenance.
    It does the job, but every single time I use it I miss the self feeding one, so much easier and smooth. Nothing whipped you in the face jumped out our bounced around in the hopper for ages.

  16. Chipping fallen trees at the feet of living trees is savage. Let that be a lesson to the renaining trees. Also pretty sure you should be aiming that chute into the sky so it rains chips, for the boys.

Pin