My Farm Structure to Farm Stand Project

My dreams for a farm stand have been years in the making, but the fact that we live on a double dead end road was holding me back. Then in the winter of 2024/2025 I decided I was going to grow flowers and I wanted a stand.

Summer 2025 was my practice season, and it was definitely a learning curve. I lost hundreds of seedlings to earwigs, and they set back my dahlias by weeks. But by mid August I had the most beautiful garden full of Dahlias, Sunflowers, Cosmos, Zinnia, Rudbeckia and so much more.

I was hooked.

That summer I started planning for a farm stand as well. I found the most beautiful old solid wood doors to make into a stand.

Then the summer got away from me.

This spring my neighbour generously offered their old chicken coop. I hesitated at first. We didn't need another coop. We already have 2 plus 2 chicken tractors. But I wandered over anyways just to look at it. I mean if anything we could use it to store bee equipment.

It was love at first sight. I'll take it!! I said.

Oh the possibilities that ran through my mind.

First step, level the land where it would go. One of our neighbours helped us with that. Scraped back the lane and dropped off a load of stone dust.

As I waited for another neighbour to help move the 8x7' chicken coop to our property, I had ample time to dream up ideas.

In my head it was going to be an easy flip....right?!?

On Canada Day the coop showed up. We were installing some new fencing that morning, the kids had been picking beans, it was 35°C, humid and we were drenched in sweat. So we snuck off for a swim at the river. When we got back, it was here!!!

But... as I looked into the coop all I felt was dread....

Where do I even start?? This is going to be way too much work?? How will I ever get the smell out?? Will people think it's gross I'm turning an old coop into a farm stand??

Doubt crept in hard.

Then I got to work.

The coop was cleaned out that evening. All interior parts that could be removed were taken out. It looked good but man did it smell.

I swept, vacuumed, scrubbed with soap and water and then with vinegar. I pressure washed. Dusted baking soda everywhere. Vacuumed again. Then I brought out the big guns, an enzyme cleaner. Pressure washed again 2x and the smell was gone. Phew!!

Slowly we've been flipping this old farm structure to a farm stand. I work on it when I'm not in the garden or shuffling the kids to the river for a swim. We've been out here many evenings and most weekends this summer working on it.

Could it have been completed sooner? Absolutely, but we've taken our time and have thoughtfully created something for our community that we are proud of.

I wanted a farm stand so I could share what I grow and make with my friends & community.

They have been the reason this stand will come to frution. They set it in motion for me.

Three neighbours have come together to help me, and I am forever grateful for their support and kindness. One leveled the land, one donated the structure & door and one moved and set it in place.

It has truly been a community effort.

So where am I at with it now??

I just painted the back wall. I wanted to make sure it felt bright and inviting inside. We ordered some steel locally and will repair the roof asap. We also acquired a small glass door fridge and have begun to build shelving. I should probably make some signs and stuff now too.

If you'd like to follow along and see how this project progresses or the finished farm stand be sure to sign up for the newsletter, all new blog posts get automatically sent to email so you'll never miss out.

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Thank you for being here. I appreciate the opportunity to share this with you all. Xox

~K