The Equipment Barn at the Farm
I've posted many photos of the exterior of the large equipment barn at my farm, but I don't think I've ever given a blog tour of the interior. It's a rather substantial building, built to house heavy equipment and tools of all kinds. It's important that it be kept clean and organized so that tools are found quickly and easily. Without further ado, welcome to the equipment barn.
1 With the snow now melted, the farm crew has been concentrating on clearing garden beds.
2 And also giving the lawn areas a good raking, removing dead grass and other debris. If you've ever wondered where these hard-working fellows keep all the farm tools and equipment, I'll give you a peek inside a very important building.
3 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.
4 The building is approximately 40 x 120-feet and, as you can see, I wanted the structure to have a substantial height.
5 The building is large enough to park all of the heavy farm equipment.
6 All the garden tools are hung on sturdy hooks.
7 Ladders of various sizes rest against one wall and wheel barrows are stored on end.
8 Riding mowers are used to cut large areas of grass.
9 Rather than Bedford gray, I chose to paint the interior a sort of pale butterscotch yellow.
10 Tools are hung so that they are easy to find. Dirt is rinsed off outdoors before tools are put away.
11 Broadcast spreaders are also suspended on hooks.
12 As are leaf blowers
13 This Hi-Lo machine is so versatile and has many uses at the farm.
14 This John Deere tractor, with its front loader, is used constantly.
15 Lesser used pieces of equipment are parked in the side bay. Do you remember the old Martha by Mail truck?
16 I just love the antique Allis Chalmers tractor, circa 1940s.
17 This is the other John Deere, which Dominic uses for mowing the hay fields and for plowing the carriage roads.
18 This area houses more mowers, blowers, tillers, and hand trucks. The wood chipper is also parked here.
19 This corner of the barn is reserved for mechanical maintenance and repairs. One of the vehicles had an oil leak and an oil absorbent was spread over the puddle to soak it up.
20 Garden sprinklers are kept on top of these storage cabinets during the winter.
21 When I designed this building, I chose to panel some of it with wainscoting, giving the interior a handsome character.
22 Through the glass paneled door is the cozy lunch room, where the crew takes their coffee break and eats their meals. The picnic-style tables are from the commissary kitchen of my original Connecticut TV studio. The chopping block is from my great-uncle's butcher shop many years ago.
23 An old neon diner clock brightens the room.
24 Extra layers hang on pegs.
25 The sink area
26 Martha Stewart Clean, of course!
27 It must be lunch time.
28 The crew takes their lunch from twelve to one.
29 That's Gyurme, Chhiring, Dominic, Fernando, Wilmer, and Phurba.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
thanx for inspiring organization. Makes me aspire to do better. Best wishes.
Posted by: ann | March 5th, 2013 at 1:02 am
Martha,
Thanks for showing us the equipment barn, pretty neat.
Posted by: KLBrown | March 5th, 2013 at 5:45 am
Thank you for sharing more details about the equipment barn. This inspires me to get my garage, and tool shed in shape! Many things can hang from hooks...and big hooks are a good thing! I plan on upgrading in the hook department! Hosing down the tools and rinsing off the dirt before bringing them back inside to store, is an excellent idea! This is why I read your blog, Martha...for ideas and inspiration...thank you!
Posted by: maggie c | March 5th, 2013 at 5:51 am
Martha, we wouldn't expect anything less than a well organized space for your tools and machinery. What I love about the equipment barn is it's not only functional and practical but you've designed it to be pleasing to the eye!
What a great break/lunch room for your crew. The old neon clock on the wall is fabulous and I like the chopping block from your great uncle's butcher shop, what a treasure!
Thanks for the tour Martha!
Posted by: Cindy F | March 5th, 2013 at 7:45 am
Great pictures. Especially the Martha by Mail truck. I love all the new products but I felt great nostalgia for the catalog when I saw this picture. I never did get to order the Wedgewood dishes that I wanted from the catalog.
Posted by: Laura Maxwell | March 5th, 2013 at 7:54 am
Hi Martha,
I love going inside the Equipment Barn at the Farm. I was wondering where you kept all the equipment and tools to keep up your gorgeous farm. You probably have the cleanest barn and farm in all of America! Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if you had the most pristine farm in all the land. And I love remembering the Martha by Mail truck! Wow, what a wonderful memory. Loved your post this morning. Thank you!!
xo
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa Gordon-Miller | March 5th, 2013 at 8:05 am
Oh Martha, this is a dream. I am so immersed...and I must admit a bit envious! We have dreamed of building a barn...a place to store our gardening equipment, the lawn tractor, and possible goats and chickens. The $$ doesn't allow that at the moment, however our little Prince Snow Farm has little areas for our equipment everywhere....tractors in the rustic red worn shed...plant pots in the cottage armoire....we have gotten creative....a bit frustrating at times, but for the most part, it works. I will be planting heirloom seeds for our little Massachusetts plot of land within the next week or two....you??
Posted by: nantucket Daffodil | March 5th, 2013 at 8:30 am
Hi Martha, Saw you entering the court in NYC on the news a few minutes ago and my fingers are crossed and my prayers are with you that everything between Macy's and J C Pennies will work out! I love to buy your products anywhere! Thanks again for sharing another fabulous blog about your great farm and I love seeing your equipment barn again! You have the greatest crew at your farm and they sure do love being in the equipment barn at any time, especially for their lunches and rest times! Every bit of the inside is marvelous and I love the color of the walls! That sure is a large barn to keep even those large equipment items inside to protect them from bad weather! Everyone of these photos and your information is fantastic! As I've said before, I wish I had a big farm with space to have such wonderful barns and the stable, etc.! Your crew sure are getting things ready for their spring work coming soon! I absolutely remember your Martha By Mail truck from years ago-fantastic! I love photo #26 with your Martha Stewart Clean product-I use it all the time! What a happy crew in photo #29! Sure hope you and your MSLO partners have a great day! Off to see The Daily Wag about "Frenchie Hide and Seek"! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | March 5th, 2013 at 9:08 am
I wish our breakroom/lunchroom at work was this nice--I would stay and eat instead of going home everyday!
Posted by: Alisa | March 5th, 2013 at 9:50 am
Beautiful, but simple and clean. A bit of what's old along with what's new, and a crew that has a beautiful environment to enjoy their passion. Very inspiring. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: kim hartt | March 5th, 2013 at 9:54 am
Martha, this is simply a triumph!
Thanks so much for posting these exquisite pictures.
Now, if you've got a moment, could you please help - I ordered eggs from room service about an hour ago, but they haven't arrived yet. It's getting rather late and I'm hungry. Thanks in advance.
Posted by: Penelope Keith | March 5th, 2013 at 9:58 am
Martha, love the barn tour! Also love the color on the walls. What is it??
Posted by: Laurie Poole | March 5th, 2013 at 10:18 am
Hi Martha,
You once gave us a glimpse of the equipment barn because I remember being ga-ga over the tools hanging on the wall and all the lawnmowers and edgers, etc. I think I said it looked like Home Depot in there as in wow! Thanks for a more thorough look today though and I'm still ga-ga over it. I love tools of any kind and especially garden tools. I'm always browsing around in Home Depot or Harbor Freight for tools if I'm not looking for plants. Have a great day and I hope its a favorable one. You are in my thoughts as I continue to wish good things for you. Trish
Posted by: Trish | March 5th, 2013 at 10:26 am
History being made on Wall Street today. GO MARTHA
Posted by: ann | March 5th, 2013 at 10:35 am
Inspiring building, so organized and clean. The wainscotting was a really nice touch, makes for a great lunch room that's really homey for the crew. Glad to see you use John Deere tractors, we did too on the farm.
glen
Posted by: Glen Nyhus | March 5th, 2013 at 10:57 am
Hi Martha, I love when the right tools for the job are readily available. And organization is key, especially in a tool shed that size. I don't have that much equipment but I like to clean what I have before putting it away too. The caked on dirt makes me insane. And what a break room! Any job openings? I'd like to work there so I can take breaks. (Kidding of course.) Thanks for sharing as usual.
Posted by: ceecee | March 5th, 2013 at 11:04 am
Good Morning Martha,
To me, an organized thing is a thing of beauty. Your equipment building is beautiful! Thanks for the tour and the inspiration to get my garage into better shape.
Posted by: Cindy M | March 5th, 2013 at 11:30 am
Great "barn"! Everything has its place...and is in it's place!
I, too, miss the Martha by Mail catalogue. No other catalogue had/has the quality or diversity. There are many "Martha" items through out my home!
Posted by: Jodie | March 5th, 2013 at 11:57 am
An awesome farm... the resources and staff to run it right... so jealous.
Posted by: Holiday Baker Man | March 5th, 2013 at 11:59 am
Would you or Alexis come organize my garage, please? Thank you.
Posted by: Jane | March 5th, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Your blog is so interesting and I especially like all your posts out and about on the farm. Your equipment barn is amazing. I love that you are always highlighting the very hardworking crew and staff on your farm and take absolute interest in all the work they are doing everyday.
Posted by: Camille L. | March 5th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
I loved seeing the Martha by Mail Truck!!! I am still using so many items that I purchased through Martha by Mail AND I think 2 of my favorites still on my counter is the set of 3 Green glass apothogary jars for my sugar/flour and tea AND my Bread Box!!
Miss Martha by Mail!!
Thank you again for your everyday blogs!
Posted by: nina zeumer | March 5th, 2013 at 12:32 pm
Hello dear Martha
Congrats on the beautiful barn. Everything on the right place. Your farm must be a very nice place to work.
Thank you for the pics.
Posted by: Maria Lúcia | March 5th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Very organized...love it! Thanks for sharing : )
Posted by: Liz Bilinski Di Bari | March 5th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
The Martha by Mail truck!!! I loved that truck! And, I miss Martha by Mail!! Is it used at all anymore?
Posted by: Leon Miller | March 5th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Dear Ms. Stewart,
Thank you for sharing this part of your world.
The space (Barn) that you have created is just
amazingly Beautiful.
I must say I've never considered an Equipment Barn
before. I live in California and all we have are Equipment sheds
for the most part. I hope to own land one day and I think I'd like
to try your idea. You have inspired me. Thank you again.
Warmest Regards,
Aundrea A
San Jose CA.
Posted by: Aundrea | March 5th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
A wonderful space...love the designated area for the staff lunchroom..the clock is very cool. Just curious...is all the watering done by sprinklers or do you have irrigation systems in place in some key areas?
Posted by: Sherey | March 5th, 2013 at 7:07 pm
Martha, I, too, am envious of your large equipment barn, and all the tools. If I had the choice between clothes shopping and going to a hardware store, or a builder's supply, I'd choose the latter, and if you could see my clothes, you'd believe me.
And, if I had the money to buy one thing that would be an extravagance, it would be a back hoe/front end loader.
I have a chopping block like that, except one leg is bad, and I'm not sure if it is as thick, or not, but if I ever get to fix my old house and live in it, that chopping block will have a place of honor in the kitchen.
It belonged to my aunt's step-father, and he used it in his store for many years.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | March 5th, 2013 at 7:25 pm
Martha,
Your equipment barn is enviable and beautiful. Please give an update on your beehives. I especially like those posts. Thank you.
Posted by: Evelyn | March 5th, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Martha, loved the photos. I buy a barn calendar every year. This makes me nostalgic, because as a child in upstate New York, we had a big red barn (but no animals in it) and I loved to explore every nook and cranny and dream of fixing it up into an art studio (the upper floor had the most amazing view of the Catskills) or a library or even a home. I especially love that your hardworking crew enjoys a break room every bit as pristine as your homes. I do miss Martha By Mail. I ordered some lovely Aracuna egg soaps for my mom once, but never got the beaded snowflake craft kit I longed for. (Along with diamond-paned windows to hang the ornaments in.) I also miss your KMart line. When I was first married, I purchased a blue and yellow wedding ring quilt which was eventually damaged beyond repair by my youngsters. My best friend bought one too, for her guest room. Thank you for selling at KMart so things of beauty were affordable on my budget. Your blog is very enjoyable.
Posted by: ValerieInSLC | March 11th, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Martha,
I love the barn farm and all your equipment's, good energy!
Flo miller
accessorizeit247.com
Posted by: flo Miller | March 27th, 2013 at 9:00 am
Thanks for the equipment barn. Nice post.
Posted by: farm sheds | June 18th, 2013 at 8:53 am