December 3, 2014

Goat Shed: Making-Do Phase 2

About a month ago I showed you our make-do improvements on the old goat shed. There were just a few more things I wanted done, and Dan has done an amazing job of doing them. It involved using a wall that was part of the old coal barn.

Pre-demolition photo

It remained intact when we pulled it down.


We previously used the roof in goat shed improvements phase 1. Dan took this wall, cut it in half, and attached it to the back side of the shed.


This will block rain and wind and make the loafing area drier and cozier in nasty weather.

The other half was shortened for a pony wall on the other side.


We can get rain and wind from this side too, so again, it will offer weather protection.


He re-installed the gate so that it is under the new roof. The milking room is immediately to the left, which means I can get goats in and out even if it's raining! I am so happy with that!! The girls will be too!!!

View from the front. Or is it side?

The amazing thing is that when we stand back and admire the new addition, it looks as though it always belonged there. I still have some barn paint from doing the chicken coop, so a new coat will freshen it up nicely.

I won't move the girls back in until their pasture is well established.

Young, tender orchard grass with deer forage seed mix

After the pigs rooted out all that ground ivy I planted cool weather grasses, legumes, and veggies. It's been slow to get established because rainfall and good growing temps are always so iffy this time of year. It's coming along now, though, so hopefully I can get the girls back in their shed and pasture soon.

Goat Shed: Making-Do Phase 2 © December 2014

17 comments:

Unknown said...

That's a good pasture and im so impressed with your recycle reuse building project. Way to go Dan.

Chris said...

Invaluable additions for this coming winter, and clever use (or re-use) of resources. Lovely to see it come together. Those tiny tweaks can make all the difference to comfort.

Glad to see a win on the pasture, after you lost a few battles with others.

small farm girl said...

That goat shed is coming along REALLY nicely!!!! Good job!

M.E. Masterson said...

Fabulous! went back and looked at the roof raising and it looks all to familiar in how things get done around here ...ingenuity and brute force! lookin good lady!

Quinn said...

I'm waiting for someone to ask if you are getting a pony ;)

Mama Mess said...

It really does look as if it's been there always! There is truly nothing like having a comfortable, dry milking area! It makes things so much more pleasurable!

Benita said...

Now, that's recycling at its best!!

Harry Flashman said...

You two do well at using what comes to hand. Kymber and J up in Canada have those skills as well, and so does Kev in England. All blogs that I enjoy and am jealous of at the same time.

Mama Pea said...

How cool is that new set-up!!? If I were to kick the bucket tomorrow, I'd like to come back as one of your goats! ;o}

DFW said...

Impressed as always with you two.

Nina said...

It's great when a plan comes together!

Sandy Livesay said...

Leigh,

Beautifully done, I love the idea of putting up the wall to prevent rain and the wind from coming through.

Again a beautiful done job by both you and Dan.

Mark said...

Another great job. You two really do have a way of taking recycled materials and using them in a way that makes it look like their original intended use.

The pasture is coming along nicely, too. The pigs really did a nice job of cleaning up the unwanted growth.

Our journey said...

Great job! It looks great! Can you give specifics on what you planted in your pastures? My husband and I have goats and are looking to bulk up our pastures.

Simply Handmade Farmhouse said...

Great job...

Leigh said...

Lynda, It is such a good feeling to do a big recycle project like this!

Chris, that is so true about tiny tweaks. The best part is no more mud in front of the shed door. Plus, it gives me room for more goats, LOL

Small farm girl, thanks!

Mary, thank you so much. Looking back, I can't believe we actually did it.

Quinn, the request for a pony will likely come when one of my granddaughters is a little older!

Benita, I'm so glad you figured out the commenting! And I was excited to see about your new video series!

Harry, I dunno, I've seem some of the things you manage, like the straw bale dog rooms. :) That was really clever.

Mama Pea, LOL. I hope they see it the same as you!

DFW and Nina, thanks!

Sandy, well, goats hate rain so you get all sorts of ideas to accommodate them. :)

Mark, thanks! Yes, the pigs did a fine job, although a little random. You should see what they'v done to my garden! We're trying to figure out how to focus their attention to particular areas.

Katie, thank you! I planted a deer forage mix from Tractor Supply and orchard grass seed ordered through our closest feed store. The mix contained mostly annuals: wheat, oats, brassicas, clover, rape, and annual rye. The orchard grass is a perennial so I hope it will last several years. I usually plant annual rye in winter too, but the deer mix already contained some. Those are all cool weather forage plants, but in the spring I'll come back and hand seed a warm weather mix in the bare spots.

Teresa, thanks!

Anonymous said...

You guys are masters at repurposing! That looks amazing, way to go!

http://caffeinatedhomestead.weebly.com/blog