Tag Archives: Re-use

The Barn Pergola And The 1 Year Anniversary Of The Blog

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Our finished barn patio and pergola - built mostly from recycled materials (furniture included!)

Our finished barn patio and pergola – built mostly from recycled materials (furniture included!)

We started with some simple 4 x 6 beams

We started with some simple 4 x 6 beams

The Purlins all up and stained - time for the patio.

The Purlins all up and stained – time for the patio.

tetetetete

Putting down the reclaimed bricks.

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of our blog.  So we thought for today’s anniversary post – we would feature our favorite project of the last year – our recycled barn pergola and patio.

Everybody always seems to have that one spot in their yard that becomes their favorite.  Maybe it’s the view from your back porch, a bench in the garden, or sitting under your favorite tree. For us, it’s enjoying time on the patio of the barn pergola.

There are a lot of reasons it’s our favorite. For one – it has great views of the entire farm.  Sitting on the patio you can see the upper pergola and flowerbeds, the chicken coop and garden areas up behind the barn, as well as the hillside planted with grape vines, and apple and cherry trees.  It’s also our place to rest and sort vegetables after picking, play cards with friends, enjoy a meal straight from the garden, or sit with a glass of wine or cold beer to watch the sun slowly set to the west.

But beyond those obvious reasons - the barn pergola is our favorite because it represents the heart and soul of what we try to accomplish at the farm.   We have tried to base the farm on creating something new and lasting from something old –  to re-use and recycle, live simple, and enjoy all the outdoors has to offer.  To us, the barn pergola patio area is just that.

The patio is made from reclaimed bricks from my dad’s old barn floor, which he first reclaimed from an old railroad station.  The posts and many of the purlins we cut for the overhead beams of the pergola were left-over rafters the barn roof.  The sliding doors to the barn were crafted from reclaimed barn floors.  The plants that fill the surrounding landscape beds are all transplants and divisions taken for free, and the outdoor kitchen is made from recycled roofing and lumber.  Even the patio tables and chairs are a “rescued-from-the-trash” project that Mary completed.

The pergola patio has become a great place to spend with friends and family

The pergola patio has become a great place to spend with friends and family

The barn patio after a recent snow

The barn patio after a recent snow

The barn pergola was our first “fun” project of the farm.  It wasn’t a necessity like the barn was for shelter, or the garden and compost area for food.  The barn pergola is simply a place we enjoy – and always will.  Much like we have with the blog.

When we started with the blog a year ago – it was honestly a way to keep ourselves motivated and a way to chronicle the building of our dream.  We began with a few articles and followers – most of which were friends and family we coerced into following :) .  But for some reason – it has grown and it continues to do so.  Yesterday, on the eve of this post, we passed the 400,000 visitor mark, and added our 5,000th follower.  In fact, there are many days where Mary and I are amazed that so many people want to follow along.  For whatever the reason, I can tell we you that we enjoy every minute of it.

We would like to thank everyone who follows along, comments and shares their own stories with us, as well as share our stories with others.  We have grown to love working on the stories and projects almost as much as we love working on the farm.  Here is to another great year at the farm – and to a lot more sunsets underneath our favorite pergola patio!

Jim and Mary

6 Must Have Tools for The DIY Re-Purposer

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With the right tools – you can build anything you can imagine. We made this wine rack from a piece of old barn wood and a simple stainless wine rack that was headed for the trash pile.

With the ever-increasing popularity of turning old into new again, re-purposing and upcycling have become great ways to redecorate and furnish on a budget – all while keeping our landfills and junkyards from filling up.

Traditional carpentry methods and tools are not always the solution when working with old materials such as barn wood, pallets and metal roofing. Although a table saw and a circular saw are great in traditional workshops –  it can be a bit more more difficult to use them to cut a nail infused piece of  barn wood.  So for this week’s DIY post – we thought we would highlight 6 tools we utilize that have really made our life easier while working on our re-purposing projects at the farm. I think it’s important to understand that you don’t have to have a $50,000 work shop like Norm from This Old House to make quality re-purposed items. In fact, the six items listed below could all be purchased together for less than $500.

So here you go… If you don’t  have these in your tool arsenal already – you will want them soon enough!

Swanson Speed Square

The Swanson Speed Square

The Speed Square makes a breeze out of squaring boards and cuts

It’s such a simple tool.  It’s rugged and tough, and best of all, it’s under $10.00 at your hardware store.

Although called a square – the Swanson speed square is a triangular-shaped measuring tool.  Originally designed for carpenters and framers to help figure out angles for rafters and steps – we’ve found 1,000 other uses for it.  Other than maybe the tape measure – it’s one of the most used tools in the tool box.

It makes quick work of creating mark lines for cutting lumber or to square off old pieces of jagged barn boards in seconds. It also makes an amazing cutting guide for my circular or jig saw when placed beside the cutting surface.  We also use it to check for squareness on tables and furniture that we make – and its the perfect squaring guide when we mark off our pergola ends.  Oh, and yes – it does work great for the rafter angles – we used it to make all of our rafters for the barn :)

Pressure Washer

A good power washing was all it took to clean up the floor board that we made into these barn doors.  It- saved hours of sanding to clean off the dirt and grime.

This one may throw you – but yes, a pressure washer makes our top 6 list when working with old wood.  We would be lost without it.   It makes quick work when you are trying to take layer upon layer of grime and paint off of old lumber and salvaged pieces.   Instead of taking hours to sand off years of  wear –  a quick power washing with plain old water can clean up wood beautifully.   The trick is to get a nice even spray tip and work gently down the piece  - it leaves old wood looking great without damaging the surface.  It’s a relatively inexpensive way to get great results.  A lot better than spending a fortune in sandpaper and hour upon hour sanding – or trying to run through expensive wood planers that seem to struggle handling old, dense surfaces.

Sawzall

A sawzall is invaluable to a DIY repurposer to cut all kinds of hard to get at materials

We have talked about this tool in other posts before –  but I can’t begin to tell you how valuable a sawzall is to a DIY’er who works with reclaimed materials.  We use them to disassemble pallets – cut nails, screws and bolts from almost anything, and to easily cut thorough old barn beams and metal pipes.   It gets in tight spaces and fits through slim openings.  There isn’t much a sawzall can’t cut through – and when you combine it with a 12″ construction demolition blade – you can tear apart just about anything.

Jigsaw – (Orbital)

A good jigsaw is a must for making curves and cuts in all sorts of materials

If you want to be able to cut curves in metal, wood or almost any material you can think of  - then the Orbital Jigsaw is a must.   We use our jigsaw non-stop. For all of the cuts, notches and curves in our pergolas we build, the jigsaw handles the job.  We’ve used it on hundreds of re-purposing projects – including cutting the metal roofing for our barn and cutting out the barn wood letters for our fresh egg sign.

Impact Driver / Drill

Once you use an impact driver/drill to set a screw – you won’t want to ever use your regular drill to put in a screw again.

Tired of bending and stripping out screws?  Get an impact driver/drill.  After using my first impact driver – I knew I would never use another drill again to drive a screw.  It has power – it handles all of the tough old barn wood with ease, and makes self tapping screws  go through metal quickly.  In short – it is perfection when it comes to attaching screws into anything.  We used to break and bend a lot of screws before getting one –  not so anymore.  It also requires far less strain on the user when applying pressure to drive the fasteners into the wood.   It is a must have as far as I am concerned.

I can power through any type of wood and recess any screw I am driving.  One of the Trestle Tables we just finished was  a breeze to assemble because of  the impact drill – driving through the hard old wood like butter.  It’s a little louder than your standard drill – but so worth it!    On the topic of “worth it”  - if you look around – you can pick up a cordless impact driver, sawzall and jigsaw together in some of the combo tool kits the big stores offer.  They can be a huge savings when purchased as a bundle.   One extra note of advice - spend the extra money to invest in the new lithium battery technology – and get at least an 18 volt kit.  They last longer – have more power – and life for the DIY’er without a cord is good!

Star Bits and Star Screws

Star Bit and Star Screws

So although not technically a “tool” – these need to go in your tool box.

Have you ever been frustrated by those #2 Phillips screws and bits that seem to strip out in seconds?

About 6 months ago – I purchased a big 20 pack of standard Phillips # 2 screwdriver bits for my drill.  Within a week…yes – a week – I had destroyed almost every one of them.  They seem to strip out under the slightest pressure – sometimes just completely breaking off in my drill.   So one day, in the hardware store, I bought a package of star screws on a whim.   After using them, I literally have no idea why Phillips screwdriver bits and screws even exist anymore.

Use star bits and screws and trust  -  you’ll never again use a Phillips head screw.  The screws don’t strip out – and they don’t slip or bend –  and best of all – the bits last forever.  When you combine the impact drill with star bits, your building projects get completed faster and stronger than ever.

There you have it…our six must have tools.  Here are a couple of the projects we have completed below using them:

Shared on The Barn Hop, Frugally Sustainable, Shabby Creek Cottage, Gnowfglins, Little House In The Suburbs Funky Junky Six Sisters 

Making A Unique Address Sign From An Old Window

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Barn window sign with landscaping still in progress.

Barn window sign with landscaping still in progress.

The small hill and entrance to the property as it stood in Oct 2010.

We taped off the old window frame and then used double sided tape to attach cthe cut out numbers – we printed off the numbers on simple copy paper.

Next step was to attach the finished window sign to two old oak posts from the barn – we just used simple rafter brackets.

The “new” address sign at the front entrance. For now – we planted some grasses – later on we will add more stone and landscaping.

Our little farm is actually easy to miss as you drive by the main road.  Nestled down in a small valley – and surrounded by some other barns, a couple houses and open land – it’s pretty easy to drive right by the little hill of a driveway entrance that welcomes you in.  Not to mention – all that marked it was a 3″ x 8″ high home made address marker that fell over more than it stood :) .

So a few weeks back – after someone coming to pick up a pergola drove by a few times before finding us – we decided we had to finally mark the entrance a little better.  Of course we always want to try to keep with the recycle theme – so Mary came up with the idea to use one of the old windows we had sitting around  out of Dad’s barn.

It turned out to be a relatively easy project.  Mary simply brushed off and roughly sanded the old wooden frame – and then added a few coats of exterior black paint.  She left all of the details of the window – the little swinging lock at the top – and the thin little lift handle at the bottom.

After that – she laid out and printed off some 8″ letters on our printer and cut them out – attached double sided tape and centered them on the window.  After taping off the painted wooden frame and a couple of coats later of window frosting – and whalaaaa…instant unique address sign!   To make the numbers stand out even more – she then outlined the numbers with a thin coat of black paint.

To finish it off – we sunk in two of the old oak posts left over from the barn on either side -and then attached with brackets.  I love pulling into the driveway in the early morning as the rising sun comes up behind the sign and lights up the numbers for all to see.  For now – we planted a few of the leftover grasses we had in the holding area – and then early next spring – we will finish off with rock and landscaping to create an inviting entrance for visitors to the farm.

- Jim and Mary

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The Recycled Barn Trestle Table – Seating for 14

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Our Barn Trestle Table made from our left over barn wood. 12′ long = 45″ wide

Nothing will quite make you finish up projects like hosting a party.

The barn table project has been on the “to-do” list for sometime and was one of our “TOP 30 GOALS” to accomplish for the farm this year. So, with our first barn party scheduled for this weekend, and needing some extra sitting and eating areas for the guests – this was the week to tackle the project.

We wanted a big long table that could seat at least 12 – so we made it 12′ long and 45″ wide. Eventually we will make matching benches to go down each side – which will seat 6 to a side.  If we  added a chair to each end –  it would give us a total of 14.

The old 2×4 barn rafters we had saved for this and a few other projects.

We started by building the trestle out of the old 2 x 4″‘s barn roof rafter pieces from the Cardington Barn we took down last summer. Not your typical 2×4′s – these boards are made from old growth solid red oak, and unlike today’s lumber – actually measure 2 x 4″. I just used a sawzall and cut them smooth – leaving all of the character of the old nails holes and dents of the wood in tact. Grey and weathered – they made the perfect base material for the table.

The trestle base. We had to pre-drill every hole to get the screws in because of how hard the old wood was!

We made the trestle base 9′ long – with angled 2 x4′s supplying all of the strength needed to hold up the 12′ top piece.

For the top piece – we just simply used alternating 2x8x12 and 2x10x12 pine boards and glued them together to make a large table top. We used ratchet straps in place of clamps (I didn’t have any that long!) to hold it together while it dried.

2 coats of rubbed on stain and 3 coats of polyurethane to the top.

After that, Mary took over and applied 2 coats of stain with a rag – and then finished it off with 3 coats of polyurethane to make it strong and tough.  We also added some 1 x 4′s underneath and screwed  them into the underside of the table top to secure it all together.

It should be great for the barn party this weekend to give plenty of seating.  One more thing to mark off the list!

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The Barn Trestle Table set in place. Once the brick floor goes down in the barn – it should look complete!

Using rain to water our garden…our solar driven rain collection system takes shape

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The water tote being connected to the diverter spout

The water tote being connected to the diverter spout

Our tanks still sitting on the truck in front of the barn waiting for us to unload!

***We have more updated pictures at the end of this post from installing the totes.

It’s a beautiful sight to us!  Two bright and shiny 275 gallon water totes that will become the backbone of our barn’s rooftop rainwater collection system.  They will be used to water our entire garden, grapevines, and flowerbed areas – and let us attain our goal of using 100% reclaimed water for all of our gardening needs.

Thanks to another craigslist find this past weekend – we picked up the two used totes for just $40 each from a manufacturing plant.  They were used initially to hold molasses syrup for the food plant – but they are in pristine condition, completely washed, cleaned out and ready to start holding our rainwater.  These tanks have a huge 6″ cap opening on top for filling – but more importantly – with just a little modification using simple garden hose adapters – we can turn the 2″ bottom outlet into a standard garden hose hookup, complete with a shut off valve.

Recycled water totes are a great way to store and use rainwater – just make sure your totes are clean and were not used to hold harsh chemicals that could leave harmful residues.

We will finally be installing our gutters on the barn in the next few weeks . Instead of directing the downspout into regular run off drains –  the rainwater from the metal roof will be carried by a small diverter installed in the downspout to fill the water tanks.

Our system is really pretty basic and very simple.  When both tanks are full – they will hold 550 gallons of fresh water – enough to water our garden every day for nearly a month if mother nature decides to send a drought our way.  We will keep one tank at the top of the back hill above the garden hidden within the compost bin fence.   The other tank will be installed at the back corner of the barn, hidden behind a decorative fence and large grasses. That tank will be connected to the downspout to catch the rain water coming off the metal roof of the barn.   A simple overflow tube will be installed on the main rainwater tank that will send all excess water to the regular drains when the tanks become full.

The biggest hurdle to overcome was how to get water to our top tank.  It makes sense to have the usable water up above the garden.  It’s the highest point of the property – and if the tank is there, we can simply use gravity to water all of our plants.  We first thought about using the tractor and a small wheeled trailer to move the bins when full – but we decided it would just be too difficult to do – and probably end up damaging our tanks with the constant movement.  So after a lot more thought and a little research - we have settled on pumping the water from the bottom tank to the top tank  when needed,  using a permanently buried hose and a small water pump powered by an inexpensive solar energy system

We will use a simple downspout rain diverter to take water to the tanks

How does it work?  - It starts with the use of a small solar panel that will attach on to the back of the barn roof.  The panel collects the sun’s energy and charges  a small battery panel in the barn.  That battery power can then run the small electric pump and push the water up to the second tank with a simple flip of a switch.  A great way to get all of our future watering needs at no cost!

So – hopefully with a little good weather and some luck – we can at least have the gutters and main tank connected within the next week or two and begin filling the main barn tank – with the solar pump and panel installation following shortly thereafter.   Our goal is to have the system operational by the main planting of our garden in mid-May.  We will be sure to post updated pictures when we have it all up!

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Filling Up With Rain

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Filling up about half full after a rain,,,

Filling up from a good rain

Filling up from a good rain

Back Barn Gutter

Back Barn Gutter

The Appeal of Old Barn Wood

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One of our last projects in the barn will be the laying of the reclaimed brick floors – but before that can happen – we had to somehow find a home for all of the leftover wood from the two old barns we tore down last year to make ours.  From extra posts, beams and floor joists, to extra barn siding, old windows and flooring boards – the entire left side under our loft was filled with extra pieces.

My dad’s barn before being torn down. There is a lot of history in all that old wood

After sorting through and saving pieces for enough future projects to last us well into our 90′s – we had to come up with a plan for what to do with the rest.  I guess the easiest way would be to set a big bonfire and clean it all out – but love of old barns and barn wood, in addition to our recycle and re-use mentality just wouldn’t allow for that type of disposal of such beautiful and historic wood.  In addition, we knew there was some value to the wood – you just can’t walk into your local lumber outlet these days and order 100-year-old red oak boards.

One of the many old barn windows that we had – crafters LOVE them!

So, over the course of the last 6 to 8 weeks – we have advertised the left over pieces and parts of our barns on craigslist – and the resulting onslaught of visitors to our “farm” to purchase pieces and parts has opened my eyes to just how many people really do love the past and share our love of the re-use and recycle theme.

More than being able to make a little extra money for the “farm fund” – and much more than clearing out the wood – it has been wonderful to meet new people and hear their “new” plans for the old wood.

We have had a few couples getting ready to build new homes who carefully picked old  beams to use in their new construction.  One gentleman picked up old oak slat boards to build a coffee table for his wife as a present.  A future bride picked up 50 old barn slats to make table signs for their wedding reception.

Old red oak floor joists – many have been re-used as mantles

And the list goes on and on.  A gardener picking out old oak 4×4′s to make a new garden with raised  beds, a crafter picking out old window frames to make decorative art pieces, a table builder wanting massive barn beam legs – and one close to my heart – a gentleman using some of the old wood to make a chicken coop!

We have asked almost everyone that has stopped and purchased to please send pictures when their “project” is finished.  So, hopefully someday in the future we can share a post of updated pictures and stories of all of the items that were built.  But for now, it gives Mary and I a wonderful feeling to know that both old barns continue to give new life to projects everywhere – and it makes all of the hard work from last years dismantling efforts a little more worthwhile. Here are a few of the projects we have made from our collection of barn wood:

Our Old Barn Window Address Sign

Our Old Barn Window Address Sign

Barn Trestle Table with base from barn rafters

Barn Trestle Table with base from barn rafters

Our Barn Doors From Old Barn Floors

Our Barn Doors From Old Barn Floors

Farmers Market Sign We Made From Old Barn Door

Farmers Market Sign We Made From Old Barn Door

9' Farm Fresh Egg Sign We Made From Old Barn Wood

9′ Farm Fresh Egg Sign We Made From Old Barn Wood

Our “New” Old Barn – Carrying on Dad’s Tradition

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The Barn - Completed!

The Barn – Completed!

 

Me, our dog Barney, and my Dad’s barn in the early 70′s

Over the past year, one of the most rewarding and yet physically challenging projects for us has been the ever so slow process of building our “new” barn on the farm. The barn is our first “real” building on the property.  (The chickens might argue that their coop was up first – but in spite of their protests – we shall call this the first real one!)

Our barn is the marriage of two old barns into one.  One, a barn we found through an on-line posting that needed to be removed to make room for a driveway.  The other, a sentimental piece of my own life –  a barn that my father built that became a fixture in my parents yard for the last 40 years.

Our original drawing of what we wanted our barn to look like – we were pretty close except for the cupola

Both barns were getting older and in need of some repair – but both had beautiful wood and features worth preserving.  It was a slow process, but with help of family and friends, we worked to preserve them as part of a new barn to serve a new generation once again.

Like many barns of the past – it will hold our garden and farm equipment (in a little lean-to built onto the back).  However, the main portion of the barn is being built to house and share our way of life with friends and family.  The inside will hold a big summer table, a loft and plenty of space for events – such as canning, wine making or holiday parties.  The attached pergola and patio is for an outdoor kitchen where we can enjoy our garden’s harvest and hopefully make dinners in the open summer air.

We began the process at the end of June – trekking our way to Cardington, Ohio to take down a mid-sized barn that we found on craigslist for free.   Looking back – it was probably more than Mary and I could handle – but we stuck with it.  We had our moments – like straddling a half-torn down roof with a saws-all – only to have bats fly out under my legs.  A bit unnerving, but none the less, it gave Mary a great pause to laugh at me as she looked up and waited for me to stop screaming.

Dads barn getting down to the bones.  Note the 36 Chevy paneled truck – my Dad’s prize possession and now being restored by my brother Bob back to its original glory.

A month or so later – we began to take down my Dad’s old barn.  A rustic red barn with a past of its own. You see, it was this very barn that my Dad had deconstructed and moved from a relatives property almost 40 years prior in the fall of 1973.  My father took apart each board – and rebuilt it, where it stood at my parents house until Mary and I took it down to give it a new life once again.  My father passed away when I was just 12 – so it was incredible for me to see Dad’s handwriting on some of the beams and walls where he had painstakingly marked each board to put it back together.

diggin the holes – a long way to go!

Day 1 of the build…setting the poles!

So with both barns down, and piles of wood to work with - the day finally came to start our barn.  We had decided to utilize all new posts and  a metal roof for structural purposes – but to re-use everything else possible from the two old barns from there on out.  With our own design in hand that we developed from our inventory of  ”found” barn wood  - we broke ground for the holes.  We set our first pole in late August – and hoped, at the very least to have a roof in place by winter.

We worked when we could.  After work – weekends – vacation days – a little bit of time here and there to keep at it – and by fall – with the help of some great family and friends…we had the walls and roof up.

We recycled and reused everything we could.  We took my Dad’s old metal roof, flipped it around – and made it into our new lower sides.  We milled down the barn siding boards and made them into our battens for the new one.  The brick floor will be put back down with other reclaimed bricks to make the new floor for the inside, outdoor patio and kitchen.  The list goes on and on…but for us, it’s keeping history alive.

We used Dad’s corrugated roofing to become the “new” lower walls of our barn. We loved the look, and the bonus was that the patina of the painted side really gives the inside a neat appearance

From the Cardington barn we made our two sets of barn doors from the wall and floor boards.- the pergola and outdoor kitchen that will attach to the left side of the barn will be made from its post and beam skeleton.

Our “Farm Fresh Eggs” Sign. We couldn’t wait to put it up after we made it – so it went on before the roof!

Even the nine foot “farm fresh eggs” sign was made entirely from the floor boards.   We have also milled down additional floor boards and beams to create a big summer kitchen table to put in the middle of the barn.  One that we hope will host some big family style “barn” dinners on.

Cutting the big old beams to make legs for the big kitchen table – the beams are almost a 100 years old – but look a the beauty of the wood when cut.

Our barn will be used as a gathering place for family and friends – hopefully for the next 40 years.  We want it to be the centerpiece of our little slice of heaven.

Without the help of friends and family, we would never been able to get so much done! Here my brother-in law Brian helps put the finishing touches on the ridge vent.

This week, we are finishing up the loft and a few inside details, while getting ready to put on the pergola over the outdoor patio space.  Every time we work on it, I know that we both imagine it filled with our friends and families laughter.  We can’t wait till it’s all finished – but we cherish every moment we’ve had building it.

I wonder a lot what my father thought when he took it apart forty years ago.  I wondered if he struggled like we did with removing nails and beams, and in fact – the whole rebuilding process.  In fact – I can’t pass any barn nowadays without thinking about who built it, and what they went through to make it what it is today.  I have so much admiration for the builders and craftsman of our past who built our country’s barns and farms.

I love what building this barn has taught Mary and I.  We have worked side by side every step of the way during the building process – and that is a memory no one can ever take from us.   I’m sure barns of the past that were built by family members had the same type of connection – and it makes me proud to know we are carrying some of the past into our future.

My father, brother-in-law, and uncle working on re-assembling the barn in September of 1973. My brother-in-law Carlton got to perform double duty, as he and his son-in-law helped us tear it back down again this past fall.

I love our new “old” barn.  Every single time I drive into the farm and see it,  I smile.  I remember working through those hot days with Mary tearing down the old ones to make it. I remember all of the scrapes and cuts and bruises building it.  I remember Mary about to kill me as I asked to lay out the squaring lines “just one more time to make sure we got it right”.   And through all of the hard work – I remember the great friends and family who helped us tear down and re-build it into “our” barn.  I remember all of the laughter and all of the fun that went into it.

It was a lot of hard work and yes, all of that work saved us a lot of money…But more than anything – I get to remember by father every time I look at it – and that is priceless.

Our recycled barn as it looks today.

Our recycled barn as it looks today.

Recycle, Re-use and Re-Purpose in Style!

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If you really think about it – we all have a little repurpose in us.

After all – didn’t we all learn the great art of repurposing from our youth?  First, as children making that incredible fort from an empty box and blankets.  Then progressing to our college dorm room or first apartment with fine furniture like “milk crate shelving” and the “empty case of beer box” coffee table.

We found this solid wood armoir top for free – the bottom was damaged on delivery – so we turned it upside down, repositioned the shelves and added a top. Now it holds and displays all of our kitchen wares

For us – it’s now taking those early repurposing skills and “growing them up” to speak  – to truly craft useful and appealing things from what otherwise would end up in a landfill.

I never realized until looking around the house and farm just how many things we have created and now utilize through the art of repurposing.  I have to go back to our beginning for just a second, and borrow a few lines from our “about us” page to get across the point that you don’t have to live on the fringe to be resourceful by repurposing and recycling:

“We’re far from “hippies”…we don’t aspire to live “off the grid”, and in spite of our children and friends constant ribbing, we don’t wish to make our clothes from hemp. What we are – are two individuals committed to a more simple approach to life, who want to be responsible for a majority of the food we eat, and conserve the resources we consume”.

It’s that last line above about a simplistic approach and conserving resources that defines repurposing to us.

The re-use and repurposing of materials has become not just a way to live more responsibly while cutting costs, but evolved into a hobby and an art for us.

Buffet Hutch made from pallets, an old desk top, and piano lid top – the bottom opens up to hold additional serving plates

Yes, it’s true – it really helps us make and build things less expensively – and sometimes far better than we could build or buy new.   But, moreover, it gives us the added benefit to create history and stories into the things found in our home.

Reclaimed bricks create the patio floor for our pergola at the farm

We take pride in making the finished product aesthetically beautiful AND functional while repurposing. Realizing that it’s pretty easy to stack a couple of dirty crates underneath a piece of found plywood and call it a  repurposed table, we strive instead to find balance between re-use and beauty…hence the term “art”.

In some cases – the money we have saved truly has been amazing.  Our signature farm piece – our barn, has been built with repurposing in mind from the beginning.   We knew we wanted a classic “old world” barn, with beautiful space clearing rafters instead of trusses, a  true loft, and real wood instead of pole barn metal for siding.  It was also a barn that we knew would cost upwards of $20,000 to $30,000 to have custom-built – until the art of repurpose entered.

The Barn Project – taking pieces and parts from two old barns to create our “new barn”

Our cost to this point has been just shy of $1600.00 – and that includes $500.00 for having to have massive amounts of grading done.  How did we do it – by repurposing the hell out of two barns we tore down.

We’ve include more on that story along with other repurposed projects at the end of this article – but before I get too carried away with our project’s – let me share some of the keys to how we have successfully repurposed – and where we have found our materials.

The How:

Stand alone bar made from two old doors cut down and a remnant from a structural beam

Have Ideas in Mind.

Have an idea in mind for what you need when you’re out looking.  Don’t become one of those…oh..that’s neat – ill use it someday people.  That can really contradict the living simple theory.  “I’ll use it someday” is a term I have found to end up somewhere between a garage you can’t park in and a barn full of junk.   We never want to be there…ever!  So when looking at something that has crossed your path – really have an idea in mind for what you can use it for – or don’t bring it home.

Think Outside The Box.

If you take anything from this article – this is one to take!  You don’t have to use things for their intended purpose.  Sure, it’s great to be able to find an old table and refinish it into a new purposeful table…but when  you think outside the box.. really unique and inspired pieces happen.

Think outside the box…barn doors made from the walls and floors of a barn we tore down for free

I like to call them conversation pieces.   For us it was making barn doors from floors and walls!    Or using my father’s old roof to become the lower walls of our new barn.  It’s life as a roof was over…it had some surface rust – and some nail holes, etc.  – but by bringing it down to the ground level turning it around so the good galvanized side was out – it became a wall covering.  It made a great appearance – in fact – the rich patina of the reds and greys from the old painted roof looked so good inside – we kept them in tact to the delight of visitors.

I find the easiest way to look outside the box is to take points 1 and 2 together.  If you already have an idea in mind – you can look at materials that are not normally used  - and begin to think it through to see if they would work.

Made to hang inside the barn for decor – our 9′ Farm Fresh Egg sign

Don’t be afraid of Failure…it was already going to the junk pile!!!

Don’t be afraid to try things – what is the worst you can be out when your already starting with junk?  It becomes junk!

I have had my share of mistakes, but i’ve learned it’s not the end of the world.  There was the massive crate I brought home to try to make my first chicken coop out of…about two hours into it, and with the crate collapsing around me…it made a wonderful bonfire starter for an outdoor party that weekend.  The point is, things won’t always turn out, but don’t get discouraged – have fun with the attempts and it just makes you smarter for the next one.  And make sure you don’t keep those old failures around…it’s clutter.

SO – WHERE DO I LOOK FOR THINGS?

 CRAIGSLIST

Craigslist find : The post and beam frame shown here will become a massive pergola frame for our outdoor kitchen at the farm. We have re-used almost 75% of this barn on various projects after tearing it down this last summer

Well –I must admit we are both avid craigslist readers.  It is where we found our barn for free, the bricks for our barn floor, etc.  I will usually take a few minutes early in the morning or late at night to scan through the categories that interest me and see what deals I can find.  Sometimes, people truly just want to get things out of their house.   You know the saying, one’s person’s junk is another’s treasure.

LEARN THE ART OF ASKING

However , an even better tip is to learn the art of asking!   If you see something laying out, or something at work that is being thrown out – don’t be afraid to ask!  The worse that  can happen is a no.  Asking has been a great blessing for us – Mary mentioned to a builder last year that if he ever came across old bricks to let us know.  A week later – he dug up an old patio with a ton of great old bricks..he dumped them for free at the farm.. We made our pergola, chicken coop and compost bin floor from them, and used the broken ones to fill a small ravine – now that’s re-use!   If Mary would not have asked – they would have ended up in a landfill.

Compost bins made from old pallets – an easy start to repurposing!

We get great leaves and compost material from another landscaper who is looking to drop off leaves he collects..we save him a dumping fee…we get great compost material.  It can go on and on.

This tip goes so far beyond just repurposing…and into really helping save space for the landfills.  Ask your local breakfast shop to save their coffee grounds, potato peels and egg shells for you – its incredible in the compost pile and they are usually happy to be doing something good that they can promote too!

YOUR LOCAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE

Many areas now have a great store for repurposers.  A Habitat for Humanity ReStore.  You get great deals on overstock, unused or donated items…and they get to make money for their charity.  It’s a win –win.  The biggest thing here is to go by often – you never know what will be there and you have to see it first to get the good stuff!

KEEP  YOUR EYES OPEN

Yes, I get accused of driving like a grandpa when I go down the road by our kids.  They just somehow think it’s because  I am old…but truth be told but a lot of the reason is because I’m always looking around.   If I see something I really wanted at the side of the road – I’ll look. Once again – I don’t collect junk to collect junk…I have a purpose in mind and a use already .  Then I take action on it to get it where it needs to be.

The Chicken Coop was made from used shipping crates and pallets. The only cost was the shingled roof that was purchased at a quarter of the cost at our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore

AVOID THE  “Sanford And Son Syndrome”

Now the really difficult part – is to balance all of this with the simplistic approach.  We call it, avoiding the Sanford and Son Syndrome – in reference to the old TV show with their house and property amidst a junk yard.

The best way to avoid it is to really concentrate on the ideas you have in mind and what will work for them.  Second – if you do pick something up and can’t or don’t have a use for it anymore – get rid of it – don’t become the “collector of junk” .  If you struggle with this – just watch one episode of “hoarders” and it should cure you of the Sanford and Son Syndrome.

So with that said – here’s a closer at some of the projects we have accomplished with repurposing the last few years:

The Barn

This was the granddaddy of our repurposing projects for sure!  The barn was built from remnants of two old barns we tore down last summer.  The metal roofing we reused to skirt the bottom 4’ around the barn.  We re-used the boards from my dads barn to remill and make all of the battens for the board and batten look.  All four doors were made from the floors and walls of the Cardington barn.  And we salvaged the entire frame of the Cardignton barns post and beams to create  a massive outdoor garden pergola that will attach to our barn this spring.

The Bar (picture above)

We took 2 old solid wood doors form an old building that were to be thrown away.  Cut one down to have the two ends, and left the other whole as the front.  The massiveness of the found items made the piece work.  The heavy oak top was then salvaged from an old beam from a building in Tiffin, Ohio.  We simply added a plywood top and a little cement board and tile, and we have room for our keg and tap on the left – and shelves on the right.  Not a bad bar for less than $25

Canning Pantry Cupboard:

What can you u do with old shipping crates and a couple of pallets?  Well in this case we came across a supply of shipping crates that used lounge and groove boards as the casing.  We carefully dissembled them and had wood for many projects including this one (see below for more of the uses we made from shipping crates).  Using  remnants of 2 x4’s from the pallets – we built a casing for the canning cupboard – then sheathed it in tongue and groove boards and created space to hold over 200 jars of canned goods – even better – the rustic look makes it a perfect fit in the dining room.  The boards work perfect and give a great finish either stained painted or left to weather naturally.

I hope you found this helpful, and if you have any stories as well – please feel free to share.  That’s my last point for sure…never stop learning from others.  Who knows, one of your tips might just inspire me for my next project like I hope one of mine did for yours.

Happy recycling, repurposing and re-using!

Jim and Mary

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