Blogs

Discover stories, insights, and technical know-how from barn owners, preservationists, and OBP experts dedicated to keeping Ontario’s barns standing tall.

All things Ontario Barns

Agricultural Urbanism: Linking sustainability, food production and rural heritage protection

As an practicing urban planner, farmer and an entrepreneur, much of my work triangulates around the intersection of heritage, urban planning and food security, Over the past 13 years I have...

A Farmer’s Tasks in Winters Past: Some Reflections and Advice: Part 3 of 5

Winter Works: Did the climate have an effect upon the type of work done, how was it recorded, and did any re-occurring patterns emerge? From his Williamstown farm, former explorer, cartographer...

A Farmer’s Tasks in Winters Past: Some Reflections and Advice: Part 2 of 5

by John C. Carter Daily Pursuits: Todmorden Mills, U.C. brewer and farmer William Helliwell, mixed his tasks with his chosen avocations. Some of his diary entries for December 1830 reflect this;...

A Farmer’s Tasks in Winters Past: Some Reflections and Advice: Part 1 of 5

by John C. Carter Introduction: Winter may be considered by many as the least palatable season of the year. With its onset, we often hear “winter whinging,” and experience a period of hibernation...

Preserving Old Ontario Barns in the On-Line World: Part 5 of 5, Creating a secure, centralized and sustainable database

This blog appears throughout November and December 2020 with the following topics that build upon each other. They explore some reasons why barn databases may have failed in the past, how OBP is...

Preserving Old Ontario Barns in the On-Line World: Part 4 of 5, Creating an Informative Database

by Hugh Fraser This blog appears throughout November and December 2020 with the following topics that build upon each other. They explore some reasons why barn databases may have failed in the past...

12-sided Barn!

One of 2 in Ontario. Dug this out of the archives this week, enjoy!...

Preserving Old Ontario Barns in the On-Line World: Part 3 of 5, Creating a Consistent Database

Farm Severance Council presentation

We have had a few requests for presentations at local council meetings or planners meetings. As I cannot present at all 444 municipalities in Ontario and the content of the Farm Severance policy is...

Preserving Old Ontario Barns in the On-Line World: PART 2 OF 5, What’s an old barn, and why are they difficult to document?

Ontario Barn Preservation By Hugh Fraser, OBP Director This blog appears throughout November and December 2020 with the following topics that build upon each other. They explore some reasons why barn...

PRESERVING OLD ONTARIO BARNS IN THE ON-LINE WORLD: PART 1 of 5, INTRODUCTION

By Hugh Fraser, OBP Director It should be no surprise that Ontario’s oldest barns were built where peoples of European descent first settled. However, those areas have become filled with hundreds of...

CBC Interview

On October 14, 2020, Krista Hulshof our VP was Interviewed by CBC to get an introduction to Ontario Barn Preservation. The interview is a great synopsis of our missions, visions and passion for...