Viewpoints

The Value of Old Barns

I certainly did not have an award in mind when I moved to my great-grandparents farm almost thirty years ago. Back then I simply wanted to keep it in the family and fix it up after decades of neglect. But as I was "fixing it up" I began to get a sense of what a special place it was. Although I knew little about restoration I soon realized that was what I was doing. I felt I had to match the quality and workmanship of the original builders, which were excellent on both the house and the barn. I came to understand that I was not only doing this work for my family and myself but also to honor the memory of my great-grandparents and their descendants who lived and worked there before me.

These old buildings are rooted in the past. They give us a connection to a way of life and a way of thinking that many of us know little about today. So in that sense they have much to teach us. I know that to be true because of what I have learned by living and working on the farm. I have learned the rewards of working hard at something you believe in. I feel the satisfaction of living on the land of my ancestors and knowing that my children will continue care taking the land after I am gone. I have learned how satisfying it is to stay put in one place so that I could get to know my community and my place in such meaningful ways.

Just last night I went to my class on 'Discovering a Sense of Place' that is held in the barn. I think it is important for us all to be aware of these things - to have a different way on looking at how and where we live. The barn is used to hosting many local groups and I think all of these groups get more than only a place to meet. They have a living example of why they are doing what they do. For example, Sno-Valley Tilth, which is dedicated to bringing sustainable agriculture and locally grown food to the valley, has their meetings in my barn. They meet in a space that makes real that time in the past when people in the local community bought their food from local farmers. It makes me very happy that the Carnation Farmers Market is doing so well and that the market in Duvall is starting up. The Tolt Community Club, which has been working for 25 years to educate the public on the value of sustainable farming and forestry and protecting the water quality in the Snoqualmie Valley, has meetings in the barn. Even though my farm is in the urban growth area of the City of Carnation, they can see how I am trying to preserve and enhance the native vegetation and protect the open space of where I live. The 'Discovering a Sense of Place' class is just one of many offered by the Northwest Earth Institute that are held in the barn. These classes help motivate us to live our lives in ways that accept responsibility for the earth.

I feel blessed having this land and such a fantastic barn where these kinds of things can happen. Put in the strictest sense of the law, the barn is not in compliance for all of the meetings that take place there. I hope that the Barn Again Program will provide me some help and advice in that area. I know first hand how important it is to use these old barns in new ways so they can be put to use. By restoring these barns today then we can help assure that future generations can enjoy them as well. For myself I hope that not only will I be able to continue what is taking place now but that the barn could someday become an educational center for the benefit of all those who want to make our Valley and our world a better place to live.

Thank you so much.

Roger Thorson
Delivered May 5, 2006 at the Vincent Schoolhouse, Snoqualmie Valley

related links

• Dow Constantine
• Save Our Sanctuary