This is a news feed for things I find which have some interest or relevance to barns, rural history, and agriculture in Ontario. It may not be pretty, often I just add a link. I will also add the OBP social media posts here, as an extra feed. I'm Laura, the Admin. Asst. working with Ontario Barn Preservation. Hello, Welcome, and Season's Greetings (its always a season).
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Sunday, July 23, 2023
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Building on Past Foundations - In The Hills
Sunday, July 2, 2023
10 Agritourism Ideas for Your Farm - Countryside
Heritage Farms in Mississauga Area
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Friday, May 19, 2023
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Canada, farm with old and new barns in Ontario
TitleCanada, farm with old and new barns in OntarioPart of SetRobert S. Platt Collection I - Nitrate NegativesSpecial NoteDue to a malfunction inside Platt's camera, the majority of his first 8,000 images, dating from 1919 to 1933, have blurred areas where the unexposed film was not laying flat inside the camera. His 35mm photography after 1933 does not show this defect, but the condition of the film is rather poor, having been housed between loose sheets of paper in cardboard boxes for over 50 years. The majority of images he took from 1933-1963 are severely scratched. Therefore, only a small portion of Platt's photography has been chosen for online presentation.Date1936Photographer's Note8/21 Farm with new barn, old sod barn - cabbage. EPhotographerPlatt, Robert S. (Robert Swanton), 1891-1964
Prince Edward County barn photo
Prince Edward County barn. Photograpyed by Craig Moy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZWxav0glHx/
https://amainsider.com/on-the-road-in-prince-edward-county/
The Archives of Ontario Celebrates Our Agricultural Past
Barn Paint Colors
There are several theories as to why barns are painted red. One belief is that barns are red so a farmer's cows can find their way home, but if so, that's a failed strategy since cattle are colorblind to the colors red and green. Others believe the popularity of red barns came from copying Scandinavian farmers, who painted their properties in rusty hues so that they would appear to be made of brick, a material they considered to be a sign of wealth.The truth is barns weren't originally red, in fact, they weren't painted at all. The early farmers that settled in New England didn't have much extra money to spend on paint, so most of their barns remained unpainted. By the late 1700s, farmers began looking for ways to shield their barns' wood from the elements and began experimenting with ways to make their own protective paint. Reportedly Virginia farmers were the first to become paint-conscious. In Pennsylvania, the Dutch settlements latched on to the custom of red bricks, red barns, red geraniums, even reddish-brown cows. Painting your barn a red color caught on. Inasmuch as ready-made paint was not available, a farmer mixed his own paint. He discovered that skimmed milk, lime and red iron oxide made a plastic-like coating that hardened quickly and lasted for years. Linseed oil was subsequently added to the recipe to provide the necessary soaking quality. Thus American “barn red” was born. It came into being through function and utility, rather than decor or superstition.So where does the red come from? In historically accurate terms, "barn red" is not the bright, fire-engine red that we often see today, but more of a burnt-orange red. As to how the oil mixture became traditionally red, there are two predominant theories:Wealthy farmers added blood from a recent slaughter to the oil mixture. As the paint dried, it turned from a bright red to a darker, burnt red.Farmers added ferrous oxide, otherwise known as rust, to the oil mixture. Rust was plentiful on farms and was known to kill many fungi, including mold and moss, which were known to grow on barns. By mixing oxide into paint it not only protected the wood, but gave it its deep dark red coloring.Regardless, farmers also noticed that painting their barns with the homemade paint kept the buildings warmer during the wintertime, since the darker color absorbs the sun’s rays more than plain, unpainted wood. Red paint spread in popularity due to its functionality and convenience, becoming an American tradition that continues to this day.
What Does a Barn Star Mean?
What Does a Star on a Barn Mean?
Sure, the Americana style is a decor trend we love. However, a large five-point star prominently displayed on a barn does have a deeper meaning.
Sometimes, barn stars may be painted right on the wooden structure, but more often than not, they’re made out of separate pieces of metal and wood and then installed in place. No matter the material, these bold stars are also known as Pennsylvania stars or primitive stars. The primitive stars were commonly installed on barns by early Dutch and German settlers to ward off evil. The stars are known to bring good luck to farmers, too.
Is the Color of a Barn Star Important, Too?
While the meaning of a barn star is important, the color of the barn star can hold meaning as well. A brown star is known to symbolize friendship and strength, while white stands for purity and energy. A violet star is considered holy, while a green star symbolizes hope for growth and fertility on the farm. If you see a blue or black star, they symbolize protection for the farm. And a bright sunny yellow star? It holds a meaning of love of man and the sun.
Those who choose to hang a star on their barn can use the color meanings to help guide their choice, ultimately making a statement while also adding a unique piece of decor to their barn.
Source - Taste of Home
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
An Age of Barns, US Book.
This is a photo showcasing the book for sale on ebay. Author Eric Sloane, 1967. It's about US barns and history. The drawings look great. I wish it was about Ontario/ Canada instead.
Mennonite Archives of Ontario
Saturday, April 29, 2023
House and Barn Drawings by Thoreau MacDonald
Friday, April 28, 2023
Save Ontario Barn Cats
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Reverence for Our Vanishing Rural Heritage
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Sunday, March 19, 2023
Midwest US - Barn Builders Movie
https://www.barnmovie.com/ - A documentary about the men who built barns across the Midwest.
Friday, March 10, 2023
This Old Barn - YouTube
Monday, February 27, 2023
Friday, February 17, 2023
Monday, February 13, 2023
The Do More Agriculture Foundation
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Winter Barn Peter Sheeler
Farmer's Advocate
Farmer's Advocate and Home Magazine Published from London, Ontario 1900's.
https://archive.org/details/farmersadvocate4519unse/page/n7/mode/2up?view=theater
https://archive.org/details/farmersadvocate5319unse_0/page/n5/mode/2up?view=theater
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Monday, January 23, 2023
Links from Successful Farming Publication in the US
I may or may not come back to these. Right now they are taking up a lot of space in my web browser so I'm going to post the links here that I think could be useful. Of course, they are US based so not exactly the source I'm looking for.
* https://www.agriculture.com/podcast/successful-farming-radio-podcast/can-your-barn-roof-handle-the-snow
* https://www.agriculture.com/family/living-the-country-life/dont-let-snow-collapse-your-barn-roof
https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/buildings-and-bins/Start-with-a-good-foundation_221-ar6498
https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/buildings-and-bins/Barn-bling_221-ar3785
https://www.agriculture.com/family/century-old-barn-becomes-a-canvas
https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/top-shops/gaining-a-second-income-from-a-barn-farm-shop
https://www.agriculture.com/family/women-in-agriculture/farm-families/barn-wedding_339-ar45158
* https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/farm-shop/12-ideas-f-barns-buildings_240-sl16211
https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/buildings-and-bins/get-barn-again-with-se-resources_221-ar28729
https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/buildings-and-bins/About-BARN-AGAIN_221-ar6507
https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/buildings-and-bins/storage/barn-again-befe-after_223-ar28908
https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/buildings-and-bins/barn-again_221-ar6508
https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/buildings-and-bins/BARN-AGAIN-Articles_221-ar6494
https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/buildings-and-bins/Financial-help-for-barn-preservation-projects_221-ar6497
https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/buildings-and-bins/Signature-barn-is-a-winner_221-ar2340
https://www.agriculture.com/farm-management/farm-land/10-unique-round-barns-1
https://www.agriculture.com/podcast/successful-farming-radio-podcast/keeping-wildlife-out-of-the-barn
https://www.agriculture.com/podcast/successful-farming-radio-podcast/what-to-do-with-the-old-barn
https://www.agriculture.com/podcast/successful-farming-radio-podcast/scrubbing-the-barn-air
https://www.agriculture.com/podcast/living-the-country-life-radio/caring-for-barn-cats
* https://www.agriculture.com/podcast/living-the-country-life-radio/toy-train-barn
https://www.agriculture.com/family/living-the-country-life/controlling-spiders-in-barns
https://www.agriculture.com/machinery/buildings-and-bins/storage/old-barn-still-having-heyday_223-sl26570
https://www.agriculture.com/podcast/successful-farming-radio-podcast/preventing-hay-and-straw-barn-fires
Home - The Barn Artist - Scott Hagan
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Sunday, January 15, 2023
Friday, January 13, 2023
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Pen and Ink Sketches by Artist Keith Strike (1931-1997)
These image,s and the information about each of them, can be found at Halton Images, a collection from Ontario museumes, historical socities, and other sources.
A pen & ink sketch of the barn at 9468 4th Line is owned by Jim Archdekin. It features a working barn, a crumbling barn, a silo and a water windmill.
A pen & ink sketch of the barn at 10054 Trafalgar Road. It was built in 1875.
A pen & ink sketch of a barn along Highway #25.
A pen & ink sketch of the barn off Trafalgar Road on a Wellington County Road. It was named, “Sunset Acres.”
A pen & ink sketch of the barn on 9th Line north and 17 Sideroad.
A pen & ink sketch of the barn at 11820 10 Sideroad at “Pine Haven Farms.” This barn was built for cattle but now is used to store apples by the McCarthy family.
A pen & ink sketch of the barn at 15316 Ten Sideroad, near 10th Line. It has been demolished.
A pen & ink sketch of the barn at 16469 Ten Sideroad, at Winston Churchill Blvd. William Russell (1845-1917), father of owner Margaret Russell (1903-1996) built the barn after purchasing the farm in 1878.
A pen & ink sketch of the barn at 13198 Trafalgar Road. It has been demolished.
A pen & ink sketch of the barn on south-east side of Trafalgar Road. It was named “Shadow Acres” farm.
A pen & ink sketch of the barn at 12775 3rd Line owned by Harvey Kirkwood. It was built about 1900 using wood from two older barns.