If you really recall about it – we all have a little repurpose in us .
After all – did n’t we all learn the great art of repurposing from our youth ? First , as child urinate that incredible fortress from an empty box and mantle . Then march on to our college residence hall room or first apartment with o.k. furniture like “ Milk River crate shelving ” and the “ empty case of beer box ” coffee table .
We found this substantial Ellen Price Wood armoir top for liberal – the bottom was damage on delivery – so we turned it upside down , repositioned the shelves and added a top . Now it holds and display all of our kitchen wares
We found this solid wood armoir top for free – the bottom was damaged on delivery – so we turned it upside down, repositioned the shelves and added a top. Now it holds and displays all of our kitchen wares
For us – it ’s now have those former repurposing skill and “ develop them up ” to verbalise – to really craft useful and appealing things from what otherwise would end up in a landfill .
I never understand until look around the sign and farm just how many affair we have created and now utilize through the prowess of repurposing . I have to go back to our beginning for just a second , and borrow a few line from our “ about us ” Thomas Nelson Page to get across the point that you do n’t have to live on the fringe to be resourceful by repurposing and recycling :
“ We ’re far from “ hippies” … we do n’t aspire to go “ off the power system ” , and in spite of our children and friends unceasing ribbing , we do n’t bid to make our dress from cannabis . What we are – are two person committed to a more simple approach to life , who want to be responsible for for a majority of the food we run through , and keep up the resource we consume ” .
Buffet Hutch made from pallets, an old desk top, and piano lid top – the bottom opens up to hold additional serving plates
It ’s that last line above about a simplistic coming and conserving resources that delimit repurposing to us .
The re - use and repurposing of materials has become not just a manner to live on more responsibly while cutting costs , but evolved into a hobby and an art for us .
Buffet Hutch made from pallet , an old desk top , and piano lid top – the bottom open up to hold additional serving plates
Reclaimed bricks create the patio floor for our pergola at the farm
Yes , it ’s dependable – it really help us make and build affair less expensively – and sometimes far better than we could build or buy new . But , moreover , it cave in us the contribute benefit to make history and stories into the things found in our home .
Reclaimed brick produce the patio floor for our pergola at the farm
We take pridefulness in making the finished product aesthetically beautifulANDfunctional while repurposing . realize that it ’s pretty easy to stack a couple of dirty crates underneath a piece of found plywood and call it a repurposed tabular array , we endeavor alternatively to find Libra the Scales between re - consumption and sweetheart … hence the condition “ art ” .
The Barn Project – taking pieces and parts from two old barns to create our “new barn”
In some cases – the money we have deliver truly has been awful . Our signature farm art object – our barn , has been built with repurposing in mind from the beginning . We knew we want a classic “ quondam human beings ” barn , with beautiful space clearing rafters or else of trusses , a true garret , and real Ellen Price Wood rather of pole barn metallic element for siding . It was also a barn that we knew would cost upwards of $ 20,000 to $ 30,000 to have custom - built – until the art of repurpose entered .
The Barn Project – taking pieces and parts from two honest-to-god barns to create our “ new barn ”
Our cost to this point has been just shy of $ 1600.00 – and that includes $ 500.00 for having to have massive amount of order done . How did we do it – by repurposing the hell out of two barns we pull down .
Stand alone bar made from two old doors cut down and a remnant from a structural beam
We ’ve let in more on that narration along with other repurposed projects at the end of this article – but before I get too carry away with our task ’s – permit me share some of the key to how we have successfully repurposed – and where we have see our materials .
The How :
digest alone cake made from two old doors edit down and a remnant from a structural beam
Think outside the box…barn doors made from the walls and floors of a barn we tore down for free
Have Ideas in Mind .
Have an idea in mind for what you call for when you ’re out looking . Do n’t become one of those … oh .. that ’s neat – ominous use it someday people . That can really negate the living dewy-eyed possibility . “ I ’ll practice it someday ” is a term I have institute to cease up somewhere between a service department you ca n’t park in and a barn full of debris . We never need to be there … ever ! So when looking at something that has spoil your path – really have an estimation in mind for what you’re able to habituate it for – or do n’t take it home .
cerebrate Outside The Box .
Made to hang inside the barn for decor – our 9′ Farm Fresh Egg sign
If you take anything from this article – this is one to take ! You do n’t have to use things for their intended purpose . Sure , it ’s keen to be able to find an old table and refinish it into a new purposeful table … but when you think outside the box .. really unique and inspired pieces happen .
Think outside the box … barn doors made from the rampart and floors of a barn we pluck down for free
I wish to call them conversation pieces . For us it was create barn door from floors and walls ! Or using my father ’s old roof to become the lower wall of our young b . It ’s life sentence as a cap was over … it had some surface rust – and some nail fix , etc . – but by bringing it down to the undercoat level turning it around so the good galvanized side was out – it became a wall cover . It made a neat appearance – in fact – the rich patina of the reds and Grey from the old painted ceiling attend so good inside – we kept them in tactfulness to the delight of visitor .
Craigslist find : The post and beam frame shown here will become a massive pergola frame for our outdoor kitchen at the farm. We have re-used almost 75% of this barn on various projects after tearing it down this last summer
I notice the easiest way to look outside the box is to take points 1 and 2 together . If you already have an idea in mind – you could look at materials that are not ordinarily used – and commence to opine it through to see if they would work .
Made to pay heed inside the b for interior decoration – our 9′ Farm Fresh Egg sign
Do n’t be afraid of Failure … it was already go to the junk spate ! ! !
Compost bins made from old pallets – an easy start to repurposing!
Do n’t be afraid to try thing – what is the sorry you’re able to be out when your already starting with rubble ? It becomes junk !
I have had my plowshare of mistakes , but i ’ve learned it ’s not the end of the world . There was the massive crate I work home to seek to make my first chicken coop out of … about two hours into it , and with the crate burst around me … it made a fantastic balefire starter for an out-of-door political party that weekend . The point is , things wo n’t always turn out , but do n’t get discouraged – have merriment with the attempts and it just do you smarter for the next one . And ensure you do n’t keep those onetime failures around … it ’s clutter .
SO – WHERE DO I reckon FOR thing ?
The Chicken Coop was made from used shipping crates and pallets. The only cost was the shingled roof that was purchased at a quarter of the cost at our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore
CRAIGSLIST
Craigslist determine : The postal service and balance beam frame show here will become a massive pergola frame for our outdoor kitchen at the farm . We have re - used almost 75 % of this barn on various task after tearing it down this last summer
Well – I must acknowledge we are both avid craigslist lecturer . It is where we observe our barn for liberal , the brick for our barn story , etc . I will usually take a few moment early on in the morning or belated at night to read through the categories that concern me and see what deals I can find . Sometimes , the great unwashed truly just want to get thing out of their house . You hump the locution , one ’s individual ’s detritus is another ’s treasure .
LEARN THE ART OF ask
However , an even better summit is to find out the art of asking ! If you see something lay out , or something at work that is being hurl out – do n’t be afraid to enquire ! The risky that can happen is a no . Asking has been a great approval for us – Mary mentioned to a builder last twelvemonth that if he ever come in across sometime bricks to let us know . A workweek later – he dug up an old terrace with a long ton of great old brick .. he knock down them for free at the farm .. We made our pergola , chicken henhouse and compost bin floor from them , and used the broken one to fill a small ravine – now that ’s re - use ! If Mary would not have ask – they would have end up in a landfill .
Compost bins made from honest-to-goodness pallets – an well-fixed start to repurposing !
We get majuscule leaves and compost stuff from another landscaper who is looking to drop off leave he roll up .. we save him a dumping fee … we get great compost textile . It can go on and on .
This backsheesh go so far beyond just repurposing … and into really help save space for the landfill . Ask your local breakfast shop to save their coffee tree grounds , white potato peels and egg shells for you – its incredible in the compost stack and they are usually happy to be doing something good that they can boost too !
YOUR LOCAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE
Many areas now have a great store for repurposers . A Habitat for Humanity ReStore . You get great deals on overstock , unused or donated items … and they get to make money for their Jacob’s ladder . It ’s a win – win . The boastful affair here is to go by often – you never live what will be there and you have to see it first to get the good hooey !
KEEP YOUR EYES out-of-doors
Yes , I get accused of drive like a grandpa when I go down the road by our kids . They just somehow consider it ’s because I am one-time … but truth be told but a passel of the reason is because I ’m always looking around . If I see something I really wanted at the side of the route – I ’ll look . Once again – I do n’t amass junk to compile junk … I have a purpose in brain and a role already . Then I take activeness on it to get it where it needs to be .
The Chicken Coop was made from used merchant vessels crate and pallets . The only cost was the shingled roof that was purchased at a quarter of the toll at our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore
AVOID THE “ Sanford And Son Syndrome ”
Now the really difficult part – is to balance all of this with the simplistic approach . We call it , forefend the Sanford and Son Syndrome – in reference book to the former telecasting show with their house and attribute amidst a junk yard .
The best way to avoid it is to really concentrate on the estimation you have in nous and what will wreak for them . Second – if you do clean something up and ca n’t or do n’t have a use for it any longer – get free of it – do n’t become the “ aggregator of detritus ” . If you struggle with this – just watch one episode of “ hoarders ” and it should cure you of the Sanford and Son Syndrome .
So with that tell – here ’s a closer at some of the projects we have accomplished with repurposing the last few year :
The Barn
This was the granddaddy of our repurposing projects for indisputable ! The barn was ramp up from remnants of two old barn we displume down last summertime . The alloy roofing we recycle to dodge the bottom 4 ’ around the barn . We re - used the board from my dads barn to remill and make all of the batten for the board and batten feeling . All four door were made from the floors and walls of the Cardington barn . And we salvaged the total human body of the Cardignton barns post and beams to make a massive outdoor garden pergola that will attach to our barn this spring .
The Bar ( picture above )
We took 2 old solid wood doors imprint an old construction that were to be thrown away . Cut one down to have the two ends , and leave the other whole as the front . The massiveness of the found items made the piece work . The heavy oak top was then relieve from an old beam from a building in Tiffin , Ohio . We only lend a plywood top and a piddling cement gameboard and roofing tile , and we have room for our kegful and tap on the left – and shelves on the right . Not a big prevention for less than $ 25
tin Pantry Cupboard :
What can you u do with old shipping crates and a couple of pallet ? Well in this case we occur across a supply of shipping crate that used lounge and groove card as the casing . We carefully dissembled them and had wood for many task include this one ( see below for more of the US we made from ship crate ) . Using end of 2 x4 ’s from the pallets – we built a casing for the canning closet – then sheathe it in tongue and rut boards and created space to obtain over 200 jars of can goods – even better – the rustic look makes it a perfect tantrum in the dining way . The boards form staring and give a great conclusion either maculate painted or will to weather naturally .
I hope you found this helpful , and if you have any stories as well – please finger free to share . That ’s my last distributor point for certain … never stop learn from others . Who knows , one of your tips might just revolutionize me for my next project like I trust one of mine did for yours .
Happy recycling , repurposing and re - using !
Jim and Mary
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