Blessings to the community that came together to help raise our barn on
December 14th. The day started at a balmy -2 degrees and inched its way
up to 6 degrees by mid day. Fortunately the snow held off until after
the sun set and it wasn’t until we started losing daylight and picking
up tools that it really started to fall. A blanket of eight inches
rested on every surface by the next morning.
Twenty helpers made
lifting three 24-foot bents seem like light work. Thankfully, all of our
joinery fit and I had managed to miss only one mortise! Thank you Ellen
for feeding the masses and keeping them warm and comfortable. Food
security relies on such community investment, fun and learning. There is
nothing quite like a raising day.
Three days later we had decked
the floor giving a roof to the animal housing below. Within two more
days, walls were sheathed and stalls were built. Chez and Boss moved in
the day before Christmas Eve, kicking and frolicking like little calves
and tasting all the new wood with there huge bovine tongues. Still to
move in this winter are the sheep and rabbits.
For now we will
continue to overwinter laying ducks and breeder turkeys in separate
coops, perhaps moving them in as well, once the main story of the barn
is completed. For now we will focus farm energy on firewood,
greenhouses, ox training and visioning for the growing season. There are
many projects on the house as well that should be completed before
further barn construction.
We imagine that the 2015 Permaculture
Design Course may include a large timber framing component. Perhaps we
will raise the main story that spring! Until then, we will be very
thankful for the winter shelter we now have and the efficiency created
by consolidating animal housing and equipment storage.
In gratitude,
Marty
Lulu observing the first wall going up. 
Boss and Chez watching the construction of their new home. 
The sheep were curious about the activity as well.
Old and new wood
Fastening boards together
Framing for scaffolding
This wood was not light!
Of course the dogs had to help 
Ducks and chickens trying to keep their feet warm in the snow
Thanks to Ellen for serving a warm lunch on a very cold day
Homemade chili, hard boiled eggs, Orchard Hill Breadworks bread and butter
Second side going up
Adding cross beams
Marty grew his first potato when he was 12 year old on a worn out piece of ground behind his parents’ house. He’s been attracted to the idea of growing food ever since. He started growing seriously in 2001 with his wife Ellen’s guidance and has worked on several organic farms prior to moving to Orchard Hill. His passion is in integrating all aspects of the farm; the gardens, animals, buildings, water systems and so on. Marty has been raising heritage farm animals since 2003, and started training his young oxen Boss and Chez to do some of the farm work in the winter of 2012. Marty graduated from Antioch University New England with an MS in Environmental Studies and currently teaches Farmers & Foragers and summer camps at The Orchard School, as well as Permaculture Design Courses at Orchard Hill.
