Mix and Match Barns Provide Multi-Use Magic
By Nikki Alvin-Smith
The beauty of a multi-use barn is its single footprint. A barn that can accommodate different animals that can be utilized for a myriad of purposes offers centralization of all things livestock including their supplies, care and management. Services such as electric, water and security can all be incorporated in one location with one point of access. Another cost-saving means of one building addressing the needs of many tasks.
But there are many good reasons to build structures that are specific use oriented, and many affordable ways to complete a cohesive development on a mixed use property.
Traditional barn designs that developed over time were focused on multi-use purposes contained under one roof. Monitor style barns are a prime example of how barns adapted to successfully incorporate different uses on the farm.
The Monitor barn offered the fenestration design of windows (a curtain of windows placed next to each other) on each side of the second level. These were designed to provide air flow for stored harvested grains to help prevent mold and to aid in drying grains and forage such as loose hay, while cattle were contained in stalls or within the interior ground space below during winter months or extreme hot weather.
Keeping chickens together with other livestock can help mitigate the presence of bugs and insects both on the actual animals and in the housing environment. Protection from predators can be enacted with careful placement of the coop area within the confines of the structure. But of coure, locating their eggs across a large expanse of possible nesting box spots can be time-consuming.
Pleasure/crafting hobby critters such alpacas, llamas or donkeys/miniature horses can all be housed under one roof, given that stalls or stabling spaces are appropriate for the size and nature of each animal. Herd living spaces in certain areas of the building can easily be combined with stables in another. Each with their own access/entrances via exterior wall Dutch doors or gated open wall space.
Combination animal housing can provide a creative means to develop entrepreneurial endeavors and harness the spirit of self-sustainability and some level of independence from store bought foods.
Historically the development of dairy farms encompassed a milking parlor as an adjunct ‘cold room’ or creamery where the milk could be transformed into curds, butter and cheeses. The family cow was likely a good milk provider such as a Jersey or Guernsey breed, that produced rich creamy milk abundance. These breeds are also notable for their generally kind dispositions, making them easy to milk by hand.
Of course personal use aside, in today’s world there are requirements for food production when it is to be marketed to the general populace, to protect buyers from illness and disease. If you like raw milk products, whether from goats, sheep or cows, it is likely you find them hard to purchase even directly from the farmer.
It is inevitable that for development of a business enterprise some form of government intervention and requirement for compliance is going to be involved especially if you plan to produce milk, dairy products (or indeed any product that requires refrigeration) or process vegetables/fruits in jars/cans etc. For example: while baking a loaf of bread and selling it at a market or farmstand is exempt from food processing licensing and production establishment reviews, as soon as you add a processed vegetable such as a pepper or an ingredient such as cheese that requires refrigeration then the State Department of Agriculture regulations will need to be addressed and permits/licenses obtained as it negates the food processing exemptions in most States. It always pays to check the specific requirements for your region before setting out goods for sale.
When you combine various farm uses under one roof, certain requirements for separation of animals from the food processing area is likely to be onerous, and in that case the build of a separate production space is advantageous.
It is prudent to consult your local Zoning Officer and Town Building Inspector before beginning construction or making material or product purchases. This is because while agricultural buildings may be exempt from building permit requirement in certain areas, the distances between structures, their siting and design features, may be affected if there is a commercial use planned for their use, however micro in size such businesses may begin.
The Convenience Of The Mix and Match Building Options
A compound of different buildings all with specific uses can also provide a mix and match building option particularly is some similarity in aesthetic is followed.
This type of project can be easy to complete if you work with a ‘one stop shop’ modular structure company that overs a huge line up of products and will offer a multi-purchase discount. The modular concept builds are not only factory-built and quality controlled. They appear almost as if by magic with delivery and set up completed in hours or a few days depending on the complexity and scope of the structures.
A company that offers nationwide delivery of all types of buildings and will customize any structure to suit a specific need, is a great partner for your project collaboration particularly if you appreciate working on your development project with a minimum of fuss and bother.
Consider for example, the leading modular construction company Horizon Structures LLC..Just look at the variety of farm-related structures you can buy! Many at discount on their sales lot (don’t forget to sign up for their newsletters where big discounts appear on a monthly basis).
When designing your mix and match farm project opting for matching or complementary siding and roof colors and low-maintenance materials can provide a harmonious look to the property.
Significant added value and curbside appeal at time of property sale can be enjoyed by considered choices of top-quality builds that offer longevity and durability in both aesthetic appeal and function.
If you have purchased open land and are interested in enjoying a rural living lifestyle without the need to build a residence but do want to keep horses or other animals, consider the Barndominium option. This build offers an amazing way to avoid the costs of building a residence immediately on moving to an open piece of land, or indeed at all, and/or perhaps later using the “Barndo” as business opportunity to produce an income from short term rentals may be an option.
If you are attending 2024 Equine Affaire in W. Springfield, MA, you can take a tour in person of one of the four available Barndominium designs Horizon Structures has on offer, as it will be showcased at the event.
The advent of the wide availability of sturdy, Amish built barns and buildings nationwide has made a huge difference in the selection process for barn buyers. Whether you want a cottage greenhouse or a bevy of buildings, working with one manufacturer that can supply them all can save money as well as make the entire experience not just workable, but highly enjoyable too.
