Spring Cleaning in the Equipment Barn

March 31, 2017

My outdoor grounds crew is busy with springtime chores.

Here in the Northeast, March is usually when we get a lot of our outdoor grounds work started here at the farm - pruning trees, mulching beds and tree pits, and cleaning up the branches and debris left over from the winter storms. This year, March brought a lot of erratic weather conditions - a late season snow storm, followed by milder temperatures and then most recently, several days of rain. And today, we're expecting another two-inches of drenching precipitation. During the inclement weather, the crew keeps busy with indoor jobs, such as cleaning the Equipment Barn - a large storage building near my allee of pin oaks, where we house our tractors, mowers, blowers, and garden tools. Keeping our seasonal supplies well-maintained and properly stored always saves time in the long run.

Here are some photos - enjoy.

: This is the Equipment Barn, which I had built soon after purchasing the farm. There are two large sliding doors at either end for accessing the equipment. The building is approximately 40 by 120-feet with substantial height.

: Here, Fernando is organizing the many gardening tools we store in this structure.

: Chhiring is putting a wheelbarrow back in place. We keep wheelbarrows on end to conserve space.

: They look much better stored vertically, don’t you agree?

: Each wheelbarrow has its tire checked for air, so it is completely ready for the next task.

: All the garden tools are hung on sturdy hooks.

: We use these flip-up tool holders – they’re made of steel with a vinyl coating, and can hold up-to 50-pounds each.

: Tools are hung so that they are easy to find. Dirt is rinsed off outdoors before tools are put away.

: Here are the rakes and spades. Do you know the difference between a shovel and a spade? Shovels are broad-bottomed tools for moving loose materials, while spades tend to have a flat bottom edge for digging.

: On this section of wall, we hang all the leaf blowers and weed-whackers, or string trimmers.

: And here – broadcast spreaders are also suspended on hooks.

: When something is found that doesn’t belong in the Equipment Barn, it’s placed in the back of the four-wheeler, so it can be returned to its rightful location.

: Ladders of various sizes rest against one wall above the wheelbarrows and close to one set of large barn doors.

: I use very utilitarian lighting and fans where I can on the farm.

: This bank of lockers is for the crew. Everyone has their own set of lockers, where they can store extra shoes, clothing, and other personal items.

: Also on this side, blowers, tillers and generators.

: Mowers are all parked neatly together and ready to use.

: This John Deere tractor is great. It is often used for mowing the hay fields.

: Next to the John Deere tractor, and protected with a sheet, is this vintage Allis-Chalmers tractor from the 1940s.

: And, do you recognize this? The Martha by Mail truck was a postal delivery truck from the 80s, which I bought years ago and had painted green.

: This John Deere tractor with its front loader, is used constantly around the farm to haul logs, planters, etc. It sits in the back of the Equipment Barn.