"Barn" Building

While working in a village near Kediri in East Java last December, I got the opportunity to join in building a barn for some of those that work with us in our dried mango business.  Before the actual building got started, the farmer had spent several days preparing the bamboo rafters and wood beams to support the roof.  The old barn was actually torn down and the wood was used again to build the new one, all while the cow and calf waited patiently close by.

Now before we continue, I should take a moment to explain the word "barn."  Many of us from the States would likely picture something quite large like....

Well from that mindset, lets scale it back and consider something that can be built by hand; in about 10 hours; by 6 men; big enough to protect a couple cows and their calves; along with a small storing of dried corn stalks and recently hand-cut grass.  Ya, not your two story barn that can house livestock in the winter and store tons of small squares from the summer's crop.  

Generally my mind has had to go through this process of scaling things back to put them into "Indonesian size" or even "Asian size."  Either way, the work was still difficult as things got started before I awoke at 7am and finished up in the late afternoon.  The neighbors that helped out were mainly family and we enjoyed a home-cooked lunch - fried tofu, a fried batter mixed with corn, vegetables, and rice of course, with coffee to wash it down.  Here's a look at the project...

Getting those support beams up in the early
morning.  The barn is built right next to the house.

Getting it squared away and then adding the  pre-made
rafters (right).  Why the long-sleeves and hoods?
To keep that blazing, dry-season, East Java sun from
burning you up.

After trimming off the extra hang over from the
rafters with a "real-man" saw, all that's left is to add
the shingles.  (Left) The cow and calf chill in the
shade while awaiting their new home.