Do it Yourself Farm Projects
Here is a compilation of small projects completed around the farm. Check out the photos and feel free to send an email if you have any questions!
Horse Lunge Ring/Round Pen
When we first moved to this farm, this exact location where we built a lunge ring for horses, was a dumping ground. It had everything from water bottles, tires and scrap metal to clothes, kids toys and old farm equipment. Others thought "oh! What a disaster!" but we thought "oh! Look at the potential!" This is what we built and we want to show you how we built it. We measured it out first and put posts in the ground, including the two large posts for the entrance. Then, we wired cedar rails to the posts. Allan carved arches in the tops of the two large posts, to fit the horizontal one on top comfortably. We used the tractor and chains to carefully hoist the horizontal pole to the top and fasten it. We had already carved out part of the pole for the letters to sit, but fastened the letters and horseshoes on once the post was in place. The gates were made at a later time and attached. The letters are simple wood letters that I painted with a long lasting exterior paint. Once everything was in place, we went back and fastened wires around all the cedar rails.
When we first moved to this farm, this exact location where we built a lunge ring for horses, was a dumping ground. It had everything from water bottles, tires and scrap metal to clothes, kids toys and old farm equipment. Others thought "oh! What a disaster!" but we thought "oh! Look at the potential!" This is what we built and we want to show you how we built it. We measured it out first and put posts in the ground, including the two large posts for the entrance. Then, we wired cedar rails to the posts. Allan carved arches in the tops of the two large posts, to fit the horizontal one on top comfortably. We used the tractor and chains to carefully hoist the horizontal pole to the top and fasten it. We had already carved out part of the pole for the letters to sit, but fastened the letters and horseshoes on once the post was in place. The gates were made at a later time and attached. The letters are simple wood letters that I painted with a long lasting exterior paint. Once everything was in place, we went back and fastened wires around all the cedar rails.
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Painted Barn Board Signs
I am a huge fan of barn board signs and these are easy to make if you just have a little faith in your artistic ability! Collect a few pieces of barn board. Purchase some from an antique store or ask a local farmer for scrap pieces to use. Be sure to plan it out before you start painting, to avoid disappointment of running out of space. You can use stencils or free hand. You can use these for signs in your house, signs for special events or signs for your barn(s). If you would like us to make you one please contact us!
I am a huge fan of barn board signs and these are easy to make if you just have a little faith in your artistic ability! Collect a few pieces of barn board. Purchase some from an antique store or ask a local farmer for scrap pieces to use. Be sure to plan it out before you start painting, to avoid disappointment of running out of space. You can use stencils or free hand. You can use these for signs in your house, signs for special events or signs for your barn(s). If you would like us to make you one please contact us!
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"Antique" Chalkboards
Go to antique and thrift stores and pick up old windows and picture frames. Leave them as is or spray paint them to your liking. I leave the windows because the chippy paint is beautiful, but I generally spray paint the old frames a flat white, for that vintage feel. Purchase soft-sided plywood, paint it with chalkboard paint (apply several coats) and then attach it to the frame or window. I left the glass in many of them too and used a staple gun to hang jute from them. Then, I used clothespins to attach and hang photos from the old windows and ladders. There are many ideas that come from old windows, ladders and doors.
Go to antique and thrift stores and pick up old windows and picture frames. Leave them as is or spray paint them to your liking. I leave the windows because the chippy paint is beautiful, but I generally spray paint the old frames a flat white, for that vintage feel. Purchase soft-sided plywood, paint it with chalkboard paint (apply several coats) and then attach it to the frame or window. I left the glass in many of them too and used a staple gun to hang jute from them. Then, I used clothespins to attach and hang photos from the old windows and ladders. There are many ideas that come from old windows, ladders and doors.
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Cedar Rail Fences
I do not think there is anything as beautiful as rustic cedar rail fences on a farm! We gathered cedar rails and laid them out where we wanted to use them around the property. Over time we put posts in the ground, and inserted cedar rails in, fastening them with wire. We still have more to do around the property, up the driveway and replace old fences around the bank barn with new cedar rail ones.
I do not think there is anything as beautiful as rustic cedar rail fences on a farm! We gathered cedar rails and laid them out where we wanted to use them around the property. Over time we put posts in the ground, and inserted cedar rails in, fastening them with wire. We still have more to do around the property, up the driveway and replace old fences around the bank barn with new cedar rail ones.
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Chicken Coop
We wanted a chicken coop that would hold a sufficient amount of laying hens, allowed for them to go inside and outside, as well as one that lets in plenty of sunlight. First, location decision was key. We placed it on the south side of the drive shed, near the horse barn. There is plenty of grass area and there was room for the coop and a fenced in outdoor area where we could keep them locked in outside when coyotes are roaming at their worst. We built a ramp down from the coop into the fenced in outdoor area, as well as a little flip door so we can lock them in at night. The coop is made out of plywood with a steel roof and I painted it red to match the farm buildings and added some quirky designs to it! We can walk right inside our coop to grab the eggs from the numerous nesting boxes we built. The south side of the coop has two large windows filled with wire mesh and plexi-glass. We remove the plexi-glass in the spring, summer and fall and the chickens have wonderful air flow up high. We also plant sunflowers around the coop, which looks beautiful and brings other birds and bugs close to the coop. Even if you do not have a lot of property I strongly suggest building your own small coop. It is well worth the tasty eggs you will receive! There are many different ways for chickens to live in barns and chicken farms come in many sizes, but farmers make their chicken's environments as comfortable as possible.
We wanted a chicken coop that would hold a sufficient amount of laying hens, allowed for them to go inside and outside, as well as one that lets in plenty of sunlight. First, location decision was key. We placed it on the south side of the drive shed, near the horse barn. There is plenty of grass area and there was room for the coop and a fenced in outdoor area where we could keep them locked in outside when coyotes are roaming at their worst. We built a ramp down from the coop into the fenced in outdoor area, as well as a little flip door so we can lock them in at night. The coop is made out of plywood with a steel roof and I painted it red to match the farm buildings and added some quirky designs to it! We can walk right inside our coop to grab the eggs from the numerous nesting boxes we built. The south side of the coop has two large windows filled with wire mesh and plexi-glass. We remove the plexi-glass in the spring, summer and fall and the chickens have wonderful air flow up high. We also plant sunflowers around the coop, which looks beautiful and brings other birds and bugs close to the coop. Even if you do not have a lot of property I strongly suggest building your own small coop. It is well worth the tasty eggs you will receive! There are many different ways for chickens to live in barns and chicken farms come in many sizes, but farmers make their chicken's environments as comfortable as possible.
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Deck
I must admit that other than designing the shape of this deck and picking out materials, I had very little to do with building it! It was the summer of our wedding so many friends and family pitched in to complete this project. It was not a complicated task, but time consuming at the least. We think anyone can do this themselves if they research the structure and how to properly support a deck. We used proper footings and looked for sales for railing supplies. Many big box stores have sales on the railings, which saves a tremendous amount of money. This is still a work in progress and pictures will be posted once the stairs are complete and wagon wheels are attached as handrails down.
I must admit that other than designing the shape of this deck and picking out materials, I had very little to do with building it! It was the summer of our wedding so many friends and family pitched in to complete this project. It was not a complicated task, but time consuming at the least. We think anyone can do this themselves if they research the structure and how to properly support a deck. We used proper footings and looked for sales for railing supplies. Many big box stores have sales on the railings, which saves a tremendous amount of money. This is still a work in progress and pictures will be posted once the stairs are complete and wagon wheels are attached as handrails down.
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Yard Swing
We purchased a strong rope and cut a board to an appropriate size (big enough for two bums!). We anchored it and threw it over the branch we wanted it to hang from. I held the ladder as Allan climbed up and into the tree. Allan tied the rope to the branch in two different spots, with a width to fit the length of the board. Once down on the ground, Allan tied two knots through the holes he drilled into the board. It was fairly simple, but two people must be present for safety purposes. Safety first ofcourse!
We purchased a strong rope and cut a board to an appropriate size (big enough for two bums!). We anchored it and threw it over the branch we wanted it to hang from. I held the ladder as Allan climbed up and into the tree. Allan tied the rope to the branch in two different spots, with a width to fit the length of the board. Once down on the ground, Allan tied two knots through the holes he drilled into the board. It was fairly simple, but two people must be present for safety purposes. Safety first ofcourse!
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Wood Shed
The wood shed was added to the back of an older, small garage. It was built to specifically hold wood for our fireplaces. It is 14x22 feet and is made of pressure treated posts and spruce 2x6s. It has a steel roof. Allan built a dutch door as our man door and large barn doors at the front so the front of a tractor can fit in to dump wood or a dump trailer can be backed in.
The wood shed was added to the back of an older, small garage. It was built to specifically hold wood for our fireplaces. It is 14x22 feet and is made of pressure treated posts and spruce 2x6s. It has a steel roof. Allan built a dutch door as our man door and large barn doors at the front so the front of a tractor can fit in to dump wood or a dump trailer can be backed in.
Rustic Arbor
This idea was inspired for our wedding. We thought it would be simple to build a rustic cedar rail arbor. I designed it and laid it out and Allan screwed it together and nailed my sign on the top. As you can see in the photos it is very simple. It stands on its own but we did stake it into the ground to prevent any disasters. It is now the entrance to our vegetable garden.
This idea was inspired for our wedding. We thought it would be simple to build a rustic cedar rail arbor. I designed it and laid it out and Allan screwed it together and nailed my sign on the top. As you can see in the photos it is very simple. It stands on its own but we did stake it into the ground to prevent any disasters. It is now the entrance to our vegetable garden.
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Vegetable Garden and Garden Gates
The arbor from our wedding (above) now sits as the entrance to this vegetable garden. The gates fit perfectly between it. The gates are made of roof strapping, 4 hinges and a hook and we loved them so much we made some to act as "doggy doors" in the house. Start small and without a fence around your garden. This way you can spend a year or two deciding what you are able to handle. If you find you need more growing space, then you can plow more ground in the fall or spring and build a temporary or permanent fence around it for aesthetic and practical purposes. We put a miniature cedar rail fence around our garden to match the lunge ring and other fences we put around the property. The garden was smaller the first couple years and then we made it larger and built the fence. We also moved our pumpkin patch out of the garden for more space and less mess. The pumpkins have their own space elsewhere!
The arbor from our wedding (above) now sits as the entrance to this vegetable garden. The gates fit perfectly between it. The gates are made of roof strapping, 4 hinges and a hook and we loved them so much we made some to act as "doggy doors" in the house. Start small and without a fence around your garden. This way you can spend a year or two deciding what you are able to handle. If you find you need more growing space, then you can plow more ground in the fall or spring and build a temporary or permanent fence around it for aesthetic and practical purposes. We put a miniature cedar rail fence around our garden to match the lunge ring and other fences we put around the property. The garden was smaller the first couple years and then we made it larger and built the fence. We also moved our pumpkin patch out of the garden for more space and less mess. The pumpkins have their own space elsewhere!
Farm Sign
Make your own farm sign! purchase or make and sand a piece of wood for the main structure to paint on. Paint the whole sign in one colour to start for additional coverage and protection. Draw your design lightly onto your sign in light pencil. Tape all lines and edges where necessary. Decide where you will place your letters. Paint all your wooden letters in the desired colour and set them aside until finished painting the sign. Paint your desired design on your sign. Coat it with polyurethane, several coats! Screw tiny holes in the wooden letters and then nail them into the farm sign where desired. Do another polyurethane coat. Put posts in the ground where you will be placing your sign. Fit and fasten sign to posts. Buy tops for the posts from a hardware store to finish the look. We painted our posts white, with white stain and fixed the sign to the posts from the back. The posts are also cemented into the ground for stability and strength.
Make your own farm sign! purchase or make and sand a piece of wood for the main structure to paint on. Paint the whole sign in one colour to start for additional coverage and protection. Draw your design lightly onto your sign in light pencil. Tape all lines and edges where necessary. Decide where you will place your letters. Paint all your wooden letters in the desired colour and set them aside until finished painting the sign. Paint your desired design on your sign. Coat it with polyurethane, several coats! Screw tiny holes in the wooden letters and then nail them into the farm sign where desired. Do another polyurethane coat. Put posts in the ground where you will be placing your sign. Fit and fasten sign to posts. Buy tops for the posts from a hardware store to finish the look. We painted our posts white, with white stain and fixed the sign to the posts from the back. The posts are also cemented into the ground for stability and strength.
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Overhang
We built a 60x20 foot overhang off the back of the drive shed. This was built with spruce 2x10s and covered with a steel roof.
More information and photos to come.
We built a 60x20 foot overhang off the back of the drive shed. This was built with spruce 2x10s and covered with a steel roof.
More information and photos to come.
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Painting a Barn Roof
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Horse Tack Room
More information and pictures to come.
More information and pictures to come.
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Outdoor Horse Shelter
