Wood Cutting and Garden Shed/Chicken Coop Makeover Part I

We weren't officially scheduled to move in for another two weeks but the previous owners (who are amazing!) were happy to let us come up before they move out to do some work outside! So yesterday we went up (and brought my parents) with hopes to get some wood chopped and stacked for winter. We have both an indoor wood burning furnace and propane but are hoping to use as much wood as possible.

Earlier in the week Tommy cut up a pile of wood my parent's had and was also able to get another 3 truck loads from a friends property. Because time is tight (and Tommy is technically still recovering from his shoulder surgery in June) - cutting down trees from our woods and hauling them out to cut wasn't super practical this year, so we decided whatever we couldn't find for free we'd look to buy pre-cut.

We want to have 5-8 cords total. We're told we'll use 5-6 cords/year and an extra 2-3 would gives us some cushion or put us ahead for next year. We ended up finding another 2.5 cords for sale not too far from the farm for a good price so my dad and Tommy took two trips loading up both trucks, and a trailer and then bringing them back, unloading them, and stacking in our unfinished barn. I think total we have about 3.5-4 cords... as well as some that needs to be split... so we're not done yet, but we'll do as much as we can before snow falls!

While my dad and Tommy were stacking wood (and my mom was entertaining the kids) my other big project was de-weeding the area surrounding the Garden Shed/Chicken Coop. The left side of this building is the garden shed half. The far/right side is the coop. I also power washed the entire outside in preparation to paint. The building was made with leftover metal so it's a hodge podge of different colors. I decided to paint it all white to make it look at little nicer :)

before

after weed clearing and power washing

They haven't had chickens in about a year so the fenced in areas were ridiculous overgrown. We removed a fence that was by the entrance of the coop because it was a little janky and we didn't think it was necessary. We'll save the fencing to use for a garden trellis or something later though. I had hoped to get the building painted as well but it was raining off and on all day so I only got a quick first coat on a small section. I can't wait until the whole building is done!

before

progress

I love how rustic the coop door is!

The main run attached to the back of the coop is actually separated in different sections which made it even more inconvenient to clear... but now that it is cleared and I can actually see it I think it will make a nice run for pullets (young chickens and young turkeys) before we let them free range a bit more.

Weeds cleared, pre-power washing.

Power washed (minus one small lower section)

Overall it was a productive afternoon. I'm so thankful for my parents help AND we are so excited to find out that the owner's will be out next Saturday morning (the 31st) so we can move in TWO WEEKS EARLIER than planned! That means tons of packing and organizing to do this week! We're almost there!

Tour of the New Homestead

 Today we finally closed on our new home!

We don't move in until next month but I thought I would at least post a little tour of the property in case it's covered in snow when we we finally get there.

This isn't a completely accurate picture but it gives the basic idea! We have 37.5 acres total. The road is to the west. The large open area is a 28 fenced in hay pasture. 

 Pasture from the road. Our house/yard is back in the far left corner.

 Turning into the driveway which leads along the neighbor's fence.

Turning right into the woods. You can take the road straight into the middle of the pasture or follow it left up to the house.

Turned left and heading up to the house!

Tommy's new garage/workshop is on the left.

Looking back down the driveway - the house it to the right.

Here's a close up of our main yard. There is now a deck on the back (south) and east side of the house (with an incredible view!) The house is a walkout basement and the garage enters from the lower (walk out) level. You can also follow the driveway around and go out through front yard.

Driving up the hill on the east side of the house.

View of the driveway from the front yard (yes these pictures were taken on different days which is why some trees are changed! Haha!)

There is a cleared opening along the entire north side of our property that the circle drive leads out to so we can drive between the tree line and our neighbor's fence back to the road. 

Okay back to the back of the house. Here is the new deck! The garage/workshop is to the left (green roof).

Alternative angle.

 And now some views from standing on the deck!

 The end of the pasture is in the distance. Then the main garden and the chicken coop/garden shed (and a small chicken run).

 Then the unfinished barn, and the small barn on the far left.

 Walkout onto the deck from the master bedroom.

 Double door walkout from the dining room.

Around the corner to the side deck - there is a door that leads into the laundry room where there is a half bath, closet, and then the kitchen.

Tons of space on the side for a big table and a grill!

Steps down to the side of the yard are to the left.

 Walking down the steps and over the driveway is the small barn.

 View back to the house.

Behind the barn is a large open area butting up to the tree line. We think this will be the best spot to fence in and raise pigs.

 Small barn.

Here is our new farm truck the previous owners are leaving for us! It's old, but it will be helpful for plowing in the winter.

 Back behind the barn.

The unfinished barn is beyond.

 There is a small opening on this far side (buried behind lots of weeds!)

Here is the front of the small barn. The left side is a storage space with a cement floor. The middle and right are all dirt/overgrown weeds (and the cut out opening is on the far right wall).

Storage side.

Livestock side.

And now onto the big unfinished barn! We plan to put siding on next spring/summer. 

 The left side will likely remain open as somewhere to store wood and a tractor.

The middle and right side we will close in with doors are the front and back. There are two stalls in the back right corner as well.

Right/South side of the barn.

Behind the big barn.

Back of the barn.

Stalls.

The open side - where they currently store wood.

South of the big barn (to the left of this view - from the back) there is a smaller pasture that feeds into the big one. 

 At the end of the small pasture is the garden!

They there is an older shed. And the chicken coop (fence) and another garden shed.

 Enclosed chicken run behind the coop.

Front of the garden shed/coop. The garden shed is the first door (on the left). The coop is the far door hiding behind the fence/weeds!

Inside the garden shed.

 We will take this fence down.

 Coop entrance!

 Shed/Coop and garden.

Far west side of the garden before the tree line.

And then turn around we are back at the house! I'm going to wait and give a tour of inside until the old owners move out. But if we go to the left back down the driveway there's one more spot to show.

There is a little path that leads towards that road I mentioned that goes into the middle of the pasture.

Along that path there is a big (gross looking!) ditch that the previous owners dug out. Eventually we'd like to expand it even more and stock it for a large pond (maybe 1-2 acres big).

 Another view of the ditch from the bridge/path that leads into the pasture.

Front of the pasture rom the middle (road is to the far right).

Middle of the pasture. Lots of hay to be made!

And that's our new home! There's a lot of work to be done, but we feel incredibly blessed to have God entrust us with this place! Now to get busy stacking wood for winter!