Does anyone have an opinion about the barns the Bartons wrote about in the new issue? I'm in desperate need of shelter for a few animals, and it looks like something I could mostly do by myself. Hate to ask my husband to do anything else, because it cuts into the time he works on the house. Do you think they would hold up at least through the winter? And, if I use steel posts as shown, might it hold up against my little mules and a Jersey heifer?

-- Teresa (otgonz@bellsouth.net), October 15, 2000

Answers

Hi That article sure caught my eye, too. I remember reading about those barns and greenhouses in the past, and thought they were a great idea. I am going to put one up next weekend for our two Jersey heifers and one steer, and then I'm putting up another one for my milking area, where I'm getting rained on now. The third one is going to cover my horse drawn equipment so I don't have it get all ruined. However, I will NOT use blue tarps. THough it's really expensive, I'm going to buy good solid hay tarps, the ones with the black handles along the edge instead of the grommets at the edge. Then I'm going to put hay bales around the outside, pallets lashed to the t posts on the inside, and more hay bales. All of this in an effort to keep the cows from demolishing the structure - and to keep our winds from whipping the whole thing over into Oregon.

The reason i will NOt use blue tarps is that they don't last, they shred, and they cannot stand up to sunshine and rain. Been there, done that, spent lost of money I wish I hadn't spent on blue tarps.

-- Ann Zavala (Annzavala@Excite.com), October 15, 2000.

Please keep us posted here. I was intrigued by the article, too, and plan to build one as a small greenhouse. I've shown the article to several people and they all seem to think it's a great idea.

-- Melina B. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), October 15, 2000.

I built one last year...used 4 16' stock panels spaced 9' wide.I ended up with a shelter 16' long by 9' wide and about 7' high in center. It was really nice and held up well until the last snowfall....than it collapsed in the center. Luckily no sheep in it than. I'd do it again, but need ideas on a center support. Kate

-- Kate Henderson (sheeplady@catskill.net), October 16, 2000.

we made one this summer more or less for shade and to get them{2 calves}out of the rain. we did not use wood at the ends just wrapped the back like a present w/ the tarp. we have since added old straw bales to the front set up long ways w/ an opening to let the animals in. we may have the run a 2x4 support down the center. i think if you run a 2x4 down the center and then use 2 2x4 at the ends nailed to form an upside down v and sunk in the ground it would bare the weight. we need to make 2 or3 more real soon.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), October 16, 2000.

I just got the latest issue this weekend so have not full digested it, but I did see the stock panel barn. About the only thing I would be concerned with is snow load. If some center beam was put in, snow load shouldnt be as much of an issue. I have seen calf shelters built this way at a couple local farms, but nothing as large as the article.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), October 16, 2000.

We don't normally get much snow here, but when it does snow, it is very wet, heavy stuff. Still waiting for further responses, but I may try it.

-- Teresa (otgonz@bellsouth.net), October 16, 2000.

My husband and I were talking about the snow load problem, too. What I suggested was to make the cross-section view look like a gothic arch -- pointed on top -- and run a ridgepole with supports. As for the larger animals, all you can do is try it. I think I would, for most animals, provide a three-sided shelter or a windbreak (unless you are milking) and just shelter the feed and equipment. By spring lambing time, you should have used up enough hay to have room for lamb jugs in the barns if you don't lamb on pasture. But most animals will be healthier if they are kept outdoors as long as they are well fed and have some shelter from the worst weather.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), October 16, 2000.

We built one of these from 4 stock panels almost 5 years ago. I dont know why but we have never had any problem with it caving in with snow. We are here in WI so it certainly does snow. Although we havent had too bad of winters the last few years. But I know it has lasted through at least one 12" snow.

We have the blue tarp on it, I will agree that they dont stand up. We were talking about this before on this forum and someone mentioned putting metal roofing corregated or other over the stock panel. That sounded like a more permenant way to do it. I think that there is enough give in the ribbed metal that they make metal buildings out of that it would bend. I just bought some 12 foot ones, I imagine they make 16 foot or you could over lap on the side.

Our "blue shed" as it is termed is storage for garden tools, mower, etc. It does leak, the tarp is in need of replacement. We have tarp over the ends too. I wonder if we didnt have a problem with snow because we didnt have it quite as sturdy as the one in the article. With no wood on the ends and only anchored at the bottom of the panels it sways quite a bit in the wind, maybe that tips the snow off enough?

One observation, everyone else might have done this right, but when we put the panels together we didnt note that one side has the sharper edges where the cross pieces are. If they were all put with the smoother side up they would be easier on the tarps.

Well, that is my story. Dont know if its much help. Tami in WI

-- Tami Bowser (windridg@chorus.net), October 17, 2000.

Maybe I'm wrong but the color tarp she said they used was silver. She said it let in alot of light plus lasted longer. Want to try this myself. If Wisc. can handle it, Ia should be able to. Think I'll try the silver tarp.

-- Clare Baldwin (clare_baldwin@hotmail.com), October 21, 2000.

I noticed this article too, and would like to put up such a building to put the tiller, lawnmower, and a few other odds & ends under for the winter. Maybe next spring I'll be able to build a better storage building for them. I have quite a few pallets, and should be able to get more at the county landfill, so I thought I'd use them for a floor.

If anybody wants to share more details with me, please email me. I've never done this sort of thing before, so I will probably send the Bartons $5 and get the detailed instructions they offer.

-- Ted Holt (tedholt@tsixroads.com), November 06, 2000.