The Barn

There used to be an amazing complex of barns on this property--dairy barns, cow barns, pig barns, chicken barns . . . But they've all burned or been torn down over the years. A. pulled down the last half-burned barn a few years ago. But what's a farm without a barn? So he built one.

Note the corn plants to the left growing as high as the barn roof. Freaks.

It's not huge, but I still think it's impressive that he built a barn basically by himself. There was some grudging and inept assistance by me, but it was mostly his show. He built it for his sheep. It sits on what used to be part of the garden, and it serves as the winter quarters for the flock, and also the lambing barn. It's not weather-proof by any means, but it keeps out the rain and snow and most of the wind, which is all our cold-hearty breeds need.

I believe the Baby Jesus would have been quite comfortable here.

The only materials he bought to construct this were some nails and the metal roofing. And the roofing was torn off a friend's barn, so it didn't cost much. We need to work on the siding a little, but this is basically a very solid, sound structure, built entirely by A. with hand tools. No plans to follow, no power saws or nail guns, no help (except me, and I don't really count)--just him, his hammer, and a whole lot of hard work.

Are you inspired yet? It's like Chicken Soup for the Junk Farmer's Soul.