Build-A-Barn

**BigDaddy** · 12-09-2015, 09:55 PM

For the past year, I've been planning and designing a barn for a non-profit farm I work for. Last weekend, we finally built one, enlisting 200 friends for an old fashioned barn raising. It was a great experience and I am in awe of the results. I had no idea how amazing post and beam frames really are, and the incredible precision that goes into making one.

The timber framer was Brendan Matthews of "The Barn Raisers" from East Haddam, CT. He hand cut the frame, then delivered it on a pair of flatbed trucks to our suburban Boston farm.

Brendan's in the yellow

We put all the bents together on Friday, then assembled our crew of volunteers for the erection on Saturday, most with no experience. Fortunately, no one even got a splinter.

Amazingly, we put the last rafter in a couple minutes before the sun set, then posed for the proverbial group photo (Craig Walker, Boston Globe)

We were incredibly lucky with the weather being so nice, but the following two days were gorgeous, and against the blue skies, the frame just blew me away...

Sadly, the frame will be sheathed and completely covered in the next couple of weeks, but I will definitely be printing a few of these and framing them for the barn office. It's going to be great to have the enclosed working space, but something about that naked structure is insanely beautiful. Now I want one of my own!

**iceman** · 12-09-2015, 10:00 PM

Nice. Was EarlyWood involved at all? Beautiful structure.

**Tye 1on** · 12-09-2015, 10:00 PM

wow!

**abraham** · 12-09-2015, 10:08 PM

Very cool! Reminds me of the Amish fail to ski TR that was going around for a while

**BigDaddy** · 12-09-2015, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

Nice. Was EarlyWood involved at all? Beautiful structure.

Thanks, EarlyWood was consulted for a few issues, but was unfortunately unable to attend the actual raising. I've seen EW's finished frames, but have a new found respect for what goes into them. I'm hoping to involve him on a future VT frame.

**Vt-Freeheel** · 12-09-2015, 10:09 PM

Glad to see this is finally coming to fruition for you and your group, many hurdles cleared. Can't wait to see it when it is done.

**BigDaddy** · 12-09-2015, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by abraham

Very cool! Reminds me of the Amish fail to ski TR that was going around for a while

We shredded this rail before it went up...

Originally Posted by Vt-Freeheel

Glad to see this is finally coming to fruition for you and your group, many hurdles cleared. Can't wait to see it when it is done.

You'll have to make a site inspection. Thanks for the consultations, too. I think it ended up just right for our farm.

**TomCrac** · 12-09-2015, 10:14 PM

That looks awesome! Nicely done. I'd like to see pics of it being finished if available. Is that part going to be volunteers as well?

**::: :::** · 12-09-2015, 10:23 PM

Love it...looks great!

**BigDaddy** · 12-09-2015, 10:24 PM

The finishing is being done by a GC, but I may build the cupola with a couple friends. The big volunteer raising was just a one day affair. We're hoping to get everything done before the next growing season, so we need professionals.

**Mazderati** · 12-09-2015, 10:29 PM

Really cool.

**Yanos** · 12-09-2015, 10:35 PM

Very cool indeed. Quite the structure. Your non-profit must be doing well.

**mtngirl79** · 12-09-2015, 10:46 PM

Wasn't there a tr for an Amish barn building on here?

**Aldo** · 12-09-2015, 11:34 PM

Thanks for sharing that.

KQ · 12-09-2015, 11:43 PM

Those timbers are amazing and those joint a work of art. Def. built to last many lifetimes.

Originally Posted by BigDaddy

Sadly, the frame will be sheathed and completely covered in the next couple of weeks, but I will definitely be printing a few of these and framing them for the barn office. It's going to be great to have the enclosed working space, but something about that naked structure is insanely beautiful. Now I want one of my own!

I totally understand this. Neighbor down the road built a huge gambrel barn - the framing was amazing but then they sheathed it and painted it a very blah color and now it looks very ordinary. I was so disappointed when I saw the finished structure because it looked so grand when it was framed.

**Supermoon** · 12-10-2015, 01:33 AM

That's so cool! Looks great.

**Bromontana** · 12-10-2015, 01:42 AM

Nice work - big contribution

sb · 12-10-2015, 06:42 AM

Work of art.

**MMP** · 12-10-2015, 07:15 AM

Gorgeous. Thanks for inviting us to participate. Sorry we couldn't attend. Good on ya Daddy.

I've made small donations to Gaining Ground for years. Great organization. Consider a gift?

**Flounder** · 12-10-2015, 07:24 AM

Nice job. Read the globe article the other day about a good old fashioned barn raising.

doughboyshredder · 12-10-2015, 07:42 AM

Very cool

**BigDaddy** · 12-10-2015, 07:48 AM

^ Yes... you know that was us, right? Was some nice press for us. But thank god no one was injured or died while they were there... seriously feeling very lucky.

Originally Posted by MMP

Gorgeous. Thanks for inviting us to participate. Sorry we couldn't attend. Good on ya Daddy.

I've made small donations to Gaining Ground for years. Great organization. Consider a gift?

Phone lines are now open!...

. We appreciate anything from anyone and as a non profit, that's how we live. And it's great to know you're thinking about us, so thanks man. Call if you want.