Subtitle: My husband may be insane.
In case it wasn’t painfully obvious, Ryan and I don’t usually take the easy route. Scratch that. Ryan typically goes for the more difficult (read: cheaper) way, and he drags me along for the ride. I’d be perfectly content making things easier.
The newest difficult project in Woodward land – this corn crib/barn.
Normal people build a new barn when they buy land. Not the Woodwards.
The Woodwards (read: Ryan) find a cool old corn crib in rural Iowa and then disassemble it, piece by piece. To then transport to our property and reassemble it, piece by piece.
I kid about this, but it’s actually going to be really cool. The barn was on the property of a friend’s parents. It was in the way and they wanted it gone. Insert my husband. Who lives for things that are old and cheap. (Although this does not apply to his wife. I’m neither old nor cheap. Thank you very much.)
Since we didn’t have anything else going on the week after Henry was born (insert sarcasm), Ryan started tearing down the barn. Bit by bit. (In case you were wondering, I have not helped at all. I just had a baby and needed to work full-time keeping him alive, for goodness sakes.)
He’s been disassembling everything as carefully as possible so that most of it could be rebuilt on our property. We’ll pour a concrete slab. The beams and frame will be reused. The metal roof and barn siding will be flipped over (so they will look like brand new). Etcetra. Etcetra.
And some of the boards do not need to be reused. Which means that they will turn into A CHICKEN COOP! AND A PLAY HOUSE! Hooray!
And the boards inside the barn tell a pretty neat story. The original farmer who built it used the boards to track his acreage. Like on July 14, 1954, when he combined the fields.
Or on July 11 and 12, 1949, when he took some loads to the east bin. Whatever that means?
There is a lot of history in this corn crib. And it’s pretty cool that it will get new life at our property. We’re not sure if this will end up turning into a garage or just stay a barn. Regardless, it will give our land a much-needed dose of country history. And some added storage. (It even has an upstairs.)
Henry approves. I think he’ll have a lot of cool memories in this barn.
And Ryan has already been approached by two other farmers to take down two other barns. Which, of course, he’s seriously considering. (Remember: cheap and old.) But I can’t complain about the difficult route too much. Because I’m dreaming of some original barn beams and boards being reused in our next house.
To the road (and barns) less traveled!
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Lyndsey says
Love the old barn, I agree with Ryan about the old barn.
Amanda Sevall says
I’m totally loving it! How exciting 🙂 I can’t wait to see it rebuilt in it’s new home!
Erin @ DomesticAdventure.com says
You guys crack me up! Where do you both get all the energy; especially with the new little man around!? I was just catching up on your recent posts and wanted to say hi! I hope all is going well with sweet baby Henry. Please give him a squeeze from his pal Ike.
Kristen @ Miss Prissy Paige says
haha – Ryan is hilarious! Good find on the barn and I know you’ve got some great ideas up your sleeve for those old beams and boards!
Mrs. 5C says
How cool, Kim!!! 🙂 But yes, he’s crazy. I can’t imagine Rob and I accomplishing anything other than napping when Katherine naps and staring bleary-eyed at each other the rest of the time right now. You guys are rockstars. 🙂
The Atwoods says
What a great idea to repurpose the barn! And what a sweet boy laying there on that blanket…I’ll say it again, he is just so darn cute!!!
Lets just build a house! says
SOOO cool! My husband’s grandfather had an old barn taken down too..and they just disposed of all the old wood. Obviously, this was before I was in the picture or I would have been all over that!
Amy@BuffaloRoam says
THIS, is fantastic. Seriously. We’ve talked about doing this ourselves, and gotten a few offers, but we were literally building our house and just haven’t had time. I hope we’re able to at some point! So cool!
My little guy has this same outfit, but in a much bigger size. 🙂
Nicole @My Thrafty Life says
I am in love with that barn. Love me some old stuff too!
Anonymous says
Great idea!!! 🙂 I hope you get to use some of the wood on inside projects!!! Very exciting!
Kelly @ Corner of Main says
Oh my goodness! What a project. I’m glad to see Henry was there to keep an eye on things 😉
Jenny @ Anything Pretty says
When I was first reading this, I was thinking “the woodwards are crazy, but they had to have done this BEFORE Henry made his appearance”. But nope…..you guys are totally crazy. I love the barn and I think it will look great on your property! And think about all the reclaimed barnwood projects!
Tara @ Tara Being Tara says
I LOVE this!! You are definitely neither old or cheap!! Love the pics of Henry – he’s never too young to get in on your DIY projects!!
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
That’s so cool! My husband and I are the opposite of you and Ryan when it comes to this stuff! I like to use and recycle but while Jesse likes to save money, he’d rather not do the work haha!
Ashley Paige says
Just stumbled upon your blog today- so cute! Glad to have found another new read before I’m due with baby number 2 and up all night with marathon feeding sessions! As a photographer, I have SUCH A LOVE AFFAIR with old barns.. and I adore that one! I wish my husband would want to put up an old barn in our backyard! 😉
Rebecca McKanna says
So cool! I am with Ryan – old, cheap things are the best. And no, you’re are neither old nor cheap!
I especially love the pictures of Henry near the barn. So cute. He’ll have so much fun growing up on that property.
Mrs. Chic says
So cool he’s willing to tackle this job! Henry looks so sweet 🙂
Emily says
I love this- I think it’s awesome that he’s so excited about the barn. And I think it’s a very good looking barn as well- I can’t wait to see what y’all do with it on your property 🙂 Thanks for the Henry photos at the end too…awwww.
Oonafey says
Awesome. Sounds like some G would have done. One of the only things I miss about him. lol Tell Ryan “good luck”! Not that he needs it, of course.
Meredith says
How awesome would a farmhouse table made from those barn planks be?!
Jo says
Sounds like something my husband would do.
Loved the pictures of Henry!
Cindy @The Flipping Couple says
I might have another barn for you soon. : ) I’m pretty sure the logistics of a MN to IL barn transfer are pretty simple.
Henry is adorable. SO ADORABLE. I don’t know you get anything done with that adorableness around.
Miss Effie says
Kim — is your husband related to mine??? They need to hang out together! 🙂
It is a very cool barn.
Deb says
Just amazing!!
daisy says
How cool is that? Gotta side with Ryan on this one. Love that you will have a piece of someone’s family history while you are starting your own on your property.
I’m sure Henry would help if he weren’t so beat…
Liz @ It's Great To Be Home says
Well that is seriously cool. And yes, your husband may be insane. 🙂
Erin Hemm says
AWESOME BARN! I’m completely jealous! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE think of me if Ryan doesn’t want the other two barns. We’re wanting to add a bunkhouse to our 8 acres for summer guests and it needs to be old barn siding to make it match the place. I would jump at the chance to take those other ones. I keep stopping at random places where I see barns falling down but no one has agreed for us to take them yet. I’d love to have their numbers if you pass.
PS – pics of Henry made the post! So adorable. 🙂
Erin Hemm