A Barn Full of Repurpose

 

Have you ever built something?  Put so much time and energy and resources into something that when you step back and look at your accomplishment, it makes you smile?  Let me tell you what that is for me currently…our latest project, the barn.

It’s been in the works for over a year.  We knew we needed a place to keep the lawn equipment and the chickens needed a bigger coop.  We set the poles last summer but only recently decided it was time to get it done.  The new chicks that we bought were outgrowing their small area and the old chickens were cramped for space in the old coop.  Suddenly this project became the priority on the homestead.  You see, we had planned to build a barn and use a third of it as the new and improved coop. 

 

Fast forward and we have most of it built.  The chickens love their new space and we are starting to store things inside before we even have all the walls up.  There are 2 things that make this project so gratifying.  First, that so many of the materials we have used have been free, repurposed items.  And second, that we have a new porch…a place to sit in the shade and enjoy time spent with family and friends.

 

Let me tell you what we have reused to build this barn.  The poles of the main structure are old telephone poles that fell in an ice storm a couple of winters ago.  A lot of the wood we used for framing came from our old back porch deck.  (We had upgraded to a concrete patio and saved the wood knowing it would come in handy.)  We also saved our old kitchen window after a remodel project which now gives the chickens natural light in the coop.  The roosts for the chickens are tree limbs that we saved from a tree we cut down.  

The walk-through door and the metal shelf (which I sanded and painted black) were on the side of the road for the big trash pick-up.  (We love “dumpster diving”!) 

My daughter helped me paint the door!

And lastly, we have repurposed metal that was given to us.  We helped them get rid of the metal and they saved us a bunch of money!

All throughout this project we have been blessed with good helpers.  My dad has spent many hours in the hot sun, going up and down ladders, cutting wood and metal, among other things.  My kids have had small jobs here and there and, of course, loved climbing the ladders.  My husband has done an amazing job making this barn into exactly what I envisioned (and tried to draw to scale on graph paper).  

So all-in-all this barn makes me smile.  I love how functional it is.  It keeps the chickens safe and happy, stores our equipment, creates a place to sit and visit, and adds so much character to our happy homestead.  Stay tuned for more about the porch!  It's still a work in progress!

My Take-Aways:

1. Every homestead needs a cute and functional barn!
2. Build a porch if you get a chance.  It's a great place to hang out.
3. Spend as much time with family and friends as possible.  It’s what makes life so fulfilling.