The roof of the barn was repaired within a week of moving here. Neighbours came up my driveway to introduce themselves, shake my hand and say, "I've been looking at that hole in the roof of that barn for 20 years, and you've repaired it! Thank you." They also mentioned that most of them have mighty family roots in the community since the War of 1812, I replied I had tiny roots that were a week old!

20 + years of old cattle manure was a huge resource lying knee deep in the barn. Some of that was removed and added to the forest garden and edible landscape around the house. The remaining manure was spread onto the area for the future market garden.

In winter, the ash wood for barn and bridge repair, and cedar for the deck and fences was cut from the woodlot (Sorry, Zone 4 action) and milled the following season. The ramp to the barn's upper mow was replaced and replacement boards to weatherproof the interior for hay storage were installed. The nasty cesspool that was the barnyard was drained by cutting channels in the bedrock to allow the runoff from the barn roof to seep by way of drainage to the lower pasture, then the entire yard was filled and graded. Take that, mosquitoes! The paddock and barnyard fences were rebuilt using the traditional local lanark rail fence technique, and all was ready for the draft horses. Hay was cut, baled and stored. Paddy and Mazy, the Percheron/Hackney cross team moved in.