Farm Tip: Build Using Recycled Materials
One of the biggest expenses when raising animals is the housing. The more animals I get, the more I want, meaning I need to find a place to keep them safe from the elements and protected from other critters. On an extremely limited budget, buying building materials is sometimes out of the question. Knowing this, we set out on a path to figure out how to re-purpose materials we already had or could acquire at little to no cost.
Start With the Environment Around You
Fencing was a purchase we anticipated when we moved into our new home. We already had children and dogs, which needed to be kept in, along with our other animals that we had. In order to put the fence up, we had to cut down trees along the fence line. Trees that were stout and straight were used for fence posts, as well as corner posts for our new chicken coop. Smaller trees and branches can be used for roosts inside the coop.
Be on the Look Out
Pallets are easily my favorite recycled material. You can find them online, in the paper and through businesses. Some people charge a small fee, but most are thrilled to have you take them off their hands. We have used pallets to build quail cages, birthing stalls, brooder cages, run in sheds for the goats, and gates for pens. A quick online search results in even more ideas for recycling pallets, such as building sheds, decks and composting bins.
Check with Builders
It would probably amaze some of you to know the amount of usable materials that go from building or rebuilding sites to the landfill. When a building or houses are being constructed, it is important to use the best materials possible for support purposes, leaving a lot of less desirable wood to go to waste. Check with local builders and contractors about possibly being able to pick up materials that could be reused for building on the farm. A bowed board might be a little harder to work with, but not impossible and you can’t beat the price.
If you come across a place being gutted for a rebuild, consider the materials being removed. Paneling could be used inside a coop or barn in place of plywood walls for tack rooms. Metal can be used in place of wood for roofing and exterior walls. We were actually able to build our barn and coop using metal from an old out building torn down by a family member. Windows are a great addition to a closed greenhouse or chicken coop to allow for ventilation.
No matter what your project, using recycled materials should be your first consideration. It is less costly, better for the environment and actually a lot of fun to work with.
