do we dare????

Yes, you can. You just have been conditioned to think you can't. It won't be fun all the time or what not but it's very do-able. No it won't hurt your kids mentally..some of them may find it fun. You will have to tell the kids not to expect the same routine and the same level of comfort they're accustomed to when living in a rv or used mobile home. I want to do the same thing myself but have to wait til I finish my schooling and get some $ saved up and to pay off my college loans and car payments first before I consider doing it. It'll take me a couple of years to maybe 3 before I get it all paid off. I am getting married this coming Saturday and found out we're expecting a 2nd child in several months so that is going to hold us back because we will have to figure out what to do with our cars since ours are small ones.

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Ted H

You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas.
-Davy Crockett

I'm with TedH.

You can do it, it will be a great adventure, and your family will struggle together and grow through the experience.

Nick and I learned that if you have your feet in two different places, eventually you will have to let go of one or the other. If your dream is your land, then get on to that land and go for it!

Just my two cents worth, not totally knowing your position, but answering your original question.

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Je ne suis pas Alice

http://homesteadingfamilies.proboards.com/

I actually like the "pole barn" idea..... Because the term " pole barn" just refers to a style of contruction; it doesn't preclude one from installing water pipes, insulation, stove pipe, electricity, etc.

I have seen two "apartments" built within a pole-barn frame/roof that were really exceptional and not expensive.

I won't guess as to the funding options the OP has, but if the have their OWN land, and a barn for the critters, and need a shelter for themselves and their teenage daughters, then a 30x30 pole building (900 sq feet) would be quite adequate, in my opinion. INSULATION for roof and walls will be the priority, of course, and access to clean water (which I bet they have, for the animals already).

As a veteran, on disabilty and social security, I would be HUGELY leering of pinning all my hopes and dreams on a government program! It took me 22 months to get my VA disability, and 3 YEARS to get SSD....how long can this family hang by a thread waiting for the red tape to build them a house?????

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...'o shame on the mothers of mortals, who have not stopped to teach; of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes; the sorrow that has no speech... from -'Voice of the Voicless', Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Your gov't experience was a good thing. More should have the same with the same results.

You sound very apprehensive to alternative housing which is probably your greatest obstacle next to listening to your children's objections. People have lived in everything from caves on up. First thing to consider is water and waste. Do you have a water source now for drinking water? Do you plan on a conventional septic or a composting set up? Do you have the money for these 2 items before you plan any building?

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"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self confidence"
Robert Frost

If you have enough to build a pole barn, could you instead build a very small cabin with one bedroom and a loft? It could be tiny, the girls would have their own room (to satisfy our wacked out American idea of acceptability) and you would have an actual house. Maybe design it with the intention of adding on? At $100 a square foot (very doable if you are DIY types) you could build a 600 sq ft cabin for $6000.

If I had land owned outright and only 2 kids I would be living in an RV on the land until we could afford to build and would then build as we could with cash.

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Blessings,
Jean

Our neighbor built a pole barn with a concrete floor. Then the grown kids moved home and they added some interior walls, kitchen and bath and it's home. We have built pole barns in our younger years and you can get the kits fairly cheap, at least compared to building a house. As for the kids, I was once a volunteer for CASA (foster kids) and they taught us as long as the children weren't going to die or be sexually abused, they stayed at home. I would check with zoneing laws though to make sure the county would allow you to live in it.

You're not nuts. In fact, given the current economic situation and the long term prospects of global affairs, you are in a fantastic position.

Pole barns as mentioned above, is really just a construction style. Stop calling what you want to do "Pole Barn" and start calling it "Timber Frame" or "Post and Beam". Seriously, because from an engineering standpoint, there is no significant difference. When describing what you are going to do with family and friends, including the kids, simply say this......

"We are building a Post and Beam house with an open floor plan." or "We are very concerned about the current environmental problems and wish to build in an environmentally conscience style, such as timber frame, with minimal use of energy intensive building materials." and then you add things like....... "We intend to heat and cook with wood, a domestic renewable energy source, instead of contributing to potential future terrorist attacks by funding rogue States by purchasing their fossil fuels." and "We have chosen a composting waste management system because of the increasing pollution levels in the local ground water and wish to be a part of the solution, and not part of the problem such as installing more septic systems or lagoons."

Everyone wants to be PC these days, use it to your advantage. As far as the kids are concerned, I think you are being a little over concerned. As long as they have proper nutrition, aren't being sexually or physically abused, have adequate clothing for the colder months and have a roof over their head, your fine. You may have heard horror stories of kids being taken away from their parents. Most of these are either pure hubris, or you didn't hear any where near the whole story. But since your children are daughters, I would make arraingements for them to have their own personal space, like a bedroom or other divided area for their own well being.

Check your PM's, I sent you an ad for a free 2 bedroom mobile home that needs to be moved.

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I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam.

Popeye

tomorrow i start calling for our best deal to get a small post and beam (yeah, i like that term better!) structure kit. the kids are apprehnsive, but the more we get excited the more it seems like an adventure. kids do generally follow parents lead, so the more we are good with it, the better we'll be.

we'll also call on that freebie mobile,thanks for that! we're open to most options. right now, it might be as well to get a rv within a half hour from home. (that mobile is a good 6 hrs away, much more i am sure if towing such a structure) the older DD is now fine as long as she has that. we may just make the post building do-able for us, and leave the rv for them to sleep in. she just needs that private space. (a real introvert, so this situation will probably be hardest on her) we could either sell the rv or keep and use as a 'guest room'. maybe it will bring her 'out' a bit more!

you've all voiced so much of what i feel--these times are not for racking up huge loans, and yes, i DO like the idea of causing our planet less stress. the rv would take care of alot of our needs short term.

in fact, i am getting so excited, but trying not to after a year of let downs. and you know, NOT getting that govt loan just might be the best thing yet, as someone mentioned! if we can pull this off, its so much more like 'us'!!

and lucky us, last night we visited some friends who did build one of these kits, and had the old farmhouse to live in yet. the farmhouse is still there, and oh gosh, the woodwork, floors and doors! all in great shape, those old gorgeous woods, etc., and the owner siad, hey, take what you can use! free! yes!

its funny how anything out of the norm tho., makes a person wonder if its even possible! which is dumb, as we are not a 'normal' family in many ways! we are fledgling homesteaders, and even here in sd, that's not normal!

geesh you guys, what a great bunch! i love all the advice we've gotten, thanks! having a hard time containing my excitemnet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH SO WELL SAID!! we have also come to the conclusion its time to jump. the landing might not be real cushiony, but we can no longer live this way! as for my work, i'm stalled big time, which doesn't help anything. the mental aspect of this situation is tearing me apart, i'm very stressed, so even living in an rv, but MOVING FORWARD will cool my anxieties.

and yes, it has water and elec, we only have to hook it up. we have the fencing nearly finished for the animals, too. today we chose the spot to put up our 'post and beam'. and we are looking into a 20x40, with eventually a loft, but for now blocking off just enough for a bathroom kitchen and living space. wood stove.(we have access to lots of free wood, and our area often has power outages) with the rv, it'll be like mild camping. the structure will have enough space and protection for our belongings til they are either put to use or put out. but what ever size we can do, we'll make do.

i also look forward to using this time to purge ourselves of all this crap. why is it here?? we dont' need this much stuff!! i also love the idea of doing this ourselves, what better way of self-satifaction?? wow! i am just relieved hearing others tell me we are doing a good thing, aren't nuts and it can work! (and has for others too!) *i have a huge grin, swelled heart, and feel so much more hopeful*

My neighbors (not next door, but within a mile of us) live in their barn. They have a pole barn. One portion of it is walled off as their house. This is a four season climate in the Midwest. It is do-able if you have the skills to build it. You will want to check with your zoning in your county, and your building codes (if any) to determine if this will be legal to build in your county.

Also, their barn houses HORSES. So, it isn't as though you cannot co-exist in the same building as livestock. Since you already have one barn on your property, don't discount that as an option IF it is in good shape. Keep in mind that in New England, houses in the 1800's and earlier often had attached LIVESTOCK barns.

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CowgirlGloria

God forbid that I should go to any Heaven in which there are no horses. ~R.B. Cunninghame Graham, letter to Theodore Roosevelt, 1917

Sounds like you have a plan. May I make a suggestion? You say you have lots of friends in the area. I just helped a friend this weekend. He did a "Barn Raising". Had a lot of the neighbors over and we got his garage up in no time at all. Everyone had a good time. Just have lots of lemonade and beer!

Good Luck!

SC
PS I know where you can also get some deals on Mobile Homes in Wyoming and Nebraska.....

Recheck yer 'rith-me-tick please100x600 is not 6000where I went to school..

Hi Chewie,

I would really like to hear how things work out for you!

I was thinking about the free mobile home and I think if you want it you should act quickly, before it's gone. If it is too late for that one, keep checking craigslist, advertise for what you want, get the word out. But if you do get it, you could be on the verge of living debt free! In my area I have seen nice mobile homes for free occasionally, but usually for a few thousand dollars.

I saw this picture of what someone did.



He built a snow roof over his mobile home and porch. That looks big enough for additional living space upstairs. Imagine windows on the gables and a couple of dormers! I was wondering why he didn't wall in the mobilehome, and add insulation? That would make it warmer and it wouldn't look like a mobile home anymore. It would look like a cute cabin with a big front porch (which I would run the length of the mobile home with the steps off the front of the porch)!

Anyway, like I said, I would love to hear how it works out!

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I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam.

Popeye

Now hold on there a second! I never said you weren't nuts -- all of us are nuts in our own way.

But you have a grand idea, and a great dream, and you have the guts to go for the glory, with family and friends to help. The end result will be a life much better than the one you have, and you'll be working toward your dream.

Keep on dreamin', keep on movin'!

I am so excited for you!!!

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Je ne suis pas Alice

http://homesteadingfamilies.proboards.com/

I haven't read every post so forgive me if someone already mentioned this but have you checked with your County Buidling Department? I live in a very strict county so that is my experience but there is no way you can live in your place while you are building it, you have to have your final approval (with septic, electric, and things like heat in every room) until then you can not move one box in. Just something to check into before you get too far in your process. Here at least you can live in an RV for one year while you build though, you just have to get the right permit. You might not live in such a strict area but always good to make sure.

Good luck, have fun and tell the kids it's an adventure! We've spent 5 years living in Yurts and it has probably been the best time in our entire lives, even with three kids sharing one room with us. We are actually moving on now but I will never regret it and I think the kids are better off for having the experience.

today i started calling around, getting quotes etc. the county code guy said he thought it looks fine. most worries there are if its back off the road enough, and it well is. the other thing is they won't let you build without the ok of the commitee, on anything less than 40 acres. guess no one has ever been turned down, but they get the say so. ugh! but if our lenders don't demand a parcel of 1 acre blocked off for the project, (which won't be that way going with a pole structure) the county dont' care if we build on our 16 acres. we will probably get a small loan to make it livable sooner, but it sure won't be anything near the original plan! and very doable! still getting us debt free in a short time, with a home on our own place!!

another question--we've looked at gambrel roofed types but i wonder if that is less efficient? space wise, and structural soundness? maybe we should go with the standard style roof?

thanks for posting the mobile with a roof thing! that option is not washed out yet, we're jsut trying to get permanant stuff first, and if we can't swing it without big payments, we'll go that route.

since there was a house there before, there is already septic in place (the guy who put it in is certain its fine yet, but we'll test first!) and elec. and water. all it needs is a house! and yes, if this works out with the pole building, we'll have us a barn-raisin'!

and i can live with being only a little nuts!

I am no engineer, but this roof style hs been around for hundreds of years and some of the oldest buildings of this style are still standing. This site has excellent graphics to show headroom at various roof peak heights. Scroll down for the graphics. http://www.barnplans.com/gambrelroof.html

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I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam.

Popeye

hiya from north east iowa (we get real winters here some years)
We've got friends who build this awesome machine shed. its a pole barn big enough to store the combine, 2 large tractors and a shop to fix them in, plus has a fully stocked tool room with parts for the equipment. Its HUGE. the best part of this monstrosity is that there is a break room for the employees of this farm that has a couch, large screen tv, kitchenette and washing machine and dryer plus a locker room with shower. UPSTAIRS, is more of a store room for smaller parts and the farm's business office. The office has a fireplace, desk, couch and chair area near a big screen tv. It also has a bar/kitchenette and bathroom with shower.

soooo to answer your question, can a pole building/barn be home? YES IT CAN!!

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There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.