In reality, this age on the farm should have ended long ago. But like most young families (especially those who farm), we've spent the last decade building dreams and raising babies – hardly an environment that breeds organization.
Yes, my friends, I'm talking about “stuff” or “piles of you-know-what” (as I often refer to them).
The age of having those on the farm has ended.
No longer shall we stand behind the barn stall of half-empty paint cans, broken refrigerators, brown bags of irrigation pieces, empty feed bags, odd pieces of chain, box fans, half-built kegerators, table saws we've been “meaning to fix” for the last five years, and sleds.
Wait… I'm sorry… did I just feel some judgment from you? Bet you didn't know I had such spaces on the farm. Turns out, the Elliotts are just as prone to the human condition as the rest of the world, and there are half-a-dozen spaces that need to be seriously dealt with. The “piles of you-know-what” are finally wearing me thin.
We've got a dumpster. We've got a junk hauler coming. We're ready to tear it all to pieces – but with good reason!
Last week, a long stock trailer pulled into the driveway, backing carefully up to the top coral. Molly, David, and I gently (and then not so gently) coaxed our small herd of Katahdin sheep into the trailer before they drove away with the herd in tow. The breeding sheep, and their lambs, will spend the rest of the summer and fall at Molly and David's large farm – just a 30-minute drive from our farm. They've got grass galore and the sheep will be most pleased by the buffet, I'm certain.
You know what means?
It means there are currently no animals in our barn. It means the bays can be all-but burnt to the ground in hopes of starting over. Starting fresh.
There are major plans in the works to build a new hay-storage extension off of the barn, that will include a milking parlor as well. A permanent coral will be built off the front of the barn to create not only winter housing for the animals, but also an aesthetically pleasing area. Right now, it's trash. TRASH, I tell you.
I shudder whenever someone visits the “barn”.
Yes, please, I'm going to need you to forget everything you've seen. Forget the chicken poop. Forget the broken fence panels. Forget the scrub brush overtaking everything. Forget the garbage littering the ground. Please pretend like we've taken better care of all our farm equipment. Mmm-okay?
In our defense (should I be even trying to defend such actions?), we've moved homes six times in the last decade. We've started two farms from scratch and have spent the last five years trying to figure out what animals we want to raise and how best to do that. It's been – well, messy.
But this age on the farm has ended.
I want our barn area to be beautiful. Hedges of trees. Wooden corrals. Properly set up areas for power tools, equipment, and hay storage. Can you even imagine? I can't. Currently, I can't see past the “piles of you-know-what”.
But I'm committed to jumping off the “More, more, MORE!” bandwagon and jumping into an existence that is pleased to rest in it's simplicity. These projects are not a lifestyle, but more-so, a means to an end. Though maintenance will always be in the cards, I'd like to think there will be a day when our project list isn't as long and we're able to work and enjoy what we've built versus always needing to do more. Yes, I'm most certainly ready for that stage of life.
So here's my plan:
- Eliminate the non-essentials.
- Get resourceful.
- Do it “right” the first time.
- Practice joy and satisfaction.
- Optimize what we have.
Does this officially make me an adult? I feel like it must. Regardless, this age on the farm has ended. We will no longer be the Elliotts with piles of trash and construction zones all around the farm. We will be the Elliotts who have been given a little chunk of earth and we will care for it enthusiastically well.
And Amen.
(PS: It's not. all bad. Take a look at some of the prettier pieces…)
i cant wait to see what you do with these spaces.
i have so enjoyed watching you and your beautiful family grow with your land.
I’m excited to see what you do. Please take us along for the down and dirty jobs. We all have areas that need work. Thank you for being honest because I know it reminds me I’m not the only one hiding the mess.
Yup!! The crap piles have driven me to new levels of unhinged.. neither are pretty
Haha! I’m right there with you and can relate in sooooo many ways!! I had my fourth baby this summer and right before he came my nesting went into overdrive. I started a whole series on minimalism/simplifying on my blog called Project Simplicity. I only got the pilot post up before I went on my “maternity leave” for the summer. But we’ve been clearing and organizing like crazy. I can’t wait to share our steps in our blog series. It’s soooo refreshing to get these projects done. And once you get the ball rolling you feel totally motivated to move on to the next. I’m excited to see what you get done!!!
We all have barns full of junk ???? I agree with you tho! I want a beautiful and picturesque barn for all my animals
I’ve just come across your site and I really appreciate the chance to experience your homesteading journey. I’m looking forward to following the progress on your barn! I also really appreciated what you wrote about the project being a means to an end, rather than a lifestyle! I hope that you can sit back and enjoy your beautiful new space soon!
Cheers,
Jess
Good luck to you! I fight the same battle constantly. It feels overwhelming sometimes when things (important ones) get added on to the to-do list at a much faster rate than we can complete them. Example – we had major flooding one week ago in our pastures and creek bottom. That means a quick re-ordering of priorities – rebuilding fence that was swept away, clearing the debris that the waters gifted use (including 8 tires someone had dumped somewhere upstream). These things have to be done first in order to contain the animals and keep them safe which means delaying the repairs of our barn that is sitting on rotten posts and sinking. Which itself was an urgent project that jumped to the top of the to-do list. Because of the flooding, the old logging road that we use to access most of our land is impassable, the tractor or RTV would get mired down. Which means that firewood gathering and processing is on hold. I could go on but you get the idea and as you made us aware, you have your own problems!
It’s so refreshing to know that we aren’t the only ones with a growing farm that has pile of you-know-what lying around! Thank you for sharing your photos (even though you don’t want us to see the less shiny side of the homestead. I’m excited to see how your farm changes and I’m inspired by your passion!
This is great motivation for me as my barns are also full of “you-know-what!” Our farmhouse was built in 1850, the barns not too much later. Since we are vegetarian homesteaders, we have no excuses. Thanks so much for helping me light the fire!
Oh Shaye, this spoke to me! We are in the same stage right now, moving from one old junkyard (ahem, homestead), to a newer, smaller one. We’re downsizing and cutting all of the non-essentials out of our lives. I’m sick of the clutter and the stuff. I only want things around me that bring me joy and that I actually use and love. I’ve been selling everything I can online and in consignment stores and having a big garage sale next weekend, then everything else will be donated or trashed. I feel so much better and more productive in a clean, open space. And I totally know that, with little ones, it’s even more important because they create a disaster wherever they go, so better to at least start with a clean slate!
Al the best. You’re certainly not alone in your journey to declutter!
Your post certainly resonated with me. We have an old barn that is 100 years old. It is home to a few mini donkeys and goats. The barn loft has held a lot of hay over the years but that’s not all. I honestly think “stuff” grows up there. We throw it out and the next thing you know its full of “stuff” again. LOL
WHAT is it about those dang empty feed bags? It would make perfect sense to throw them away when you empty them…yet we have enough to start our own feed store piled not so neatly right next to the feed bin. And don’t even get me started on broken stuff, old tires and cinder blocks. One would almost think those are the things we’re growing here. At least until the feral kids show their faces…then it’s obvious we’re a hillbilly mill.
I’ve watched several of your videos and I have often thought how organized your home looks… so I am delighted to hear you have the same piles of “you know” everywhere. Between projects I’m working on and projects that need to be repaired, my favorite phrase is, “Put it on the list.” So good luck to you, I’m determined to clean up my list as well.
This. I always have these dreams of beautiful cleared spaces and then trip over the weed filled pile of pallets and t-posts hanging out by my garden or hiding behind the shop. And the cinder blocks…and tires. WHY?! Some of our items are used up later, but it makes me feel better that we all have these things. xo