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Barn raising was a community event in colonial America where members cooperated to build structures. The tradition has largely vanished, but is still alive in the Amish community and in organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Barns were important for farmers and required community cooperation. The concept of working together for a common goal still exists in some communities.
A barn is a community event where all members of a community cooperate to build a barn or other structure, such as a house or church. Raising barns was an integral part of life in colonial America; a well-organized barn would take less than a day to put together the necessary materials into a recognizable barn, although the structure may need some finishing later. By collaborating on projects like these, communities have ensured that they grow and stay strong.
The concept of barn farming has largely vanished from modern society, although in the Amish community, barn farming is alive and well. This shift is partly due to changes in how buildings are designed and constructed, but it also has to do with a growing sense of isolation among many Americans. Many modern American communities lack the tightly knit cooperative ethic that is necessary for successful barn construction, much to the regret of some critics of American society.
In a traditional barn raising, all members of the community were expected to cooperate, with the understanding that the favor would be returned. Skilled men would work on the actual construction of the barn, while women and children could help prepare food for the workers, distribute drinks, and operate various tools around the workplace. Typically, the stable crew frames the stable, roofs and encloses it with exterior walls, leaving the finishing of the interior up to the individual farmer.
For people in urban communities, the importance of the barn may not be fully understood. For farmers, the barn is the most important structure, providing a place to store food for animals and creating a shelter for cows, horses and other farm animals. Many farmers built barns before anything else, as a farm cannot survive without a barn, and barns were often expensive to build due to their size, making community cooperation much appreciated.
Classically, the people who own the barn do some prep work before a barn is erected. They order all necessary tools and supplies, assuming the crew brings personal tools such as hammers. They also order the necessary lumber, cut it to length and draw up basic plans for the barn. The cellar and foundation can be laid first, or left for the morning of the barn’s construction, and it’s not uncommon for a few professionals to be hired to ensure the process runs smoothly.
For some Americans, raising the barn is an iconic concept. The idea of working together as a community to build a barn may fade, but some communities still come together to achieve common goals like supporting their schools and churches or helping underprivileged people in the community. Organizations like Habitat For Humanity also carry on the tradition of barn farming, rounding up teams of volunteers to build homes for the needy.
Barn farming is also common in the green building movement, where people get together to build houses out of eco-friendly materials like straw bales or corn on the cob. Many participants view the building experience as a learning opportunity, allowing them to imbibe the skills needed to build their own homes in the future.
