When Harlem Valley Homestead became the stewards of this property eight years ago, we knew we wanted to approach the restoration of both the land and the structures with care, intention and the principle that "what we need is here". Under the guidance of the New York State Historic Preservation Office along with numerous experts, from conservation specialists to sustainable landscape designers to traditional timber framers, we have worked with our team of architects, engineers and designers to make plans for the restoration of the historic barns and buildings.
Simultaneously, we are also undertaking a project to source timber from trees on the land to create building materials for use onsite, from timber frames, to firewood, to furniture. We have worked with arborists, engineers and timber framers to select trees that are close to the end of their lives, need to come down for the site improvements we have planned, and could be of use onsite. Soon we will start the process of felling and milling the trees. We will also begin the work of dismantling the barns, to be restored to more sound construction. Some of the structures will be moved offsite to be rehabbed with care, and then returned to their existing locations. We will be starting this work soon so that it can be completed before the season when bats come out of hibernation, and when barn swallows return to nest, so that no harm comes to them.
We are appreciative that with the guidance of craftsmen, we are able to pursue this project in alignment with our guiding principles. We can breathe new life into these historic buildings to keep them standing for centuries to come. We will also be removing some structures that are in disrepair and not original to the historic Homestead, and building some new structures, in many cases utilizing lumber harvested from the site, to create spaces for people to gather and experience the farm. We look forward to opening our (old and new) barn doors to you in the near future.
