Building a Rustic Gate

Having fenced around the orchard it was time to replace the temporary gate with something more permanent.  The temporary gate (if you can call it that) was two pieces of 4x2 wire attached together and hooked onto the gate posts.  While it looked pretty secure from a distance and apparently fooled the dogs and chickens, every time it was moved there was a risk it would touch the electric fence and give you a shock.  As I have discovered with farm projects, I have a tendency to apply the get-80%-done-100%-fast-philosophy.   This approach means you end up with something functioning when you need it with some component being left to finish at a later date.  Alas, the temporary component has a nasty habit of becoming permanent.  So now it was time to build a more permanent gate.

Looking at the options, a metal farm gate would not fit in with the rustic coop and building a traditional gate out of wood would take time and skill I do not have.  I was thinking about using a pallet as another temporary (albeit upgraded) option when I came across a photo of a rustic gate in this month’s GRIT magazine.  It was a replica of a gate used on a 150-year-old barn.  Most importantly, it looked simple to build; highly utilitarian and the materials could also be re-purposed at a later date. 

It is difficult to see the wires of the electric fence in this pic and thus gives an impression of being a gate to nowhere.  The gate “opens” by sliding out the wooden rails.  Removing the top rail is enough to comfortably step over the gate.  Removing all of the rails (a bit of a pain) is required to completely open this gate but this is something that is rarely required.  Another feature of this gate is that it appears to be relatively pig proof.  This is important since the American Guinea Hogs will graze in the orchard.  While this gate was made out of store-bought materials that were lying around (approx. $40 retail cost), this style of gate could be constructed out of natural (and thus free!) resources found on the property giving an even more rustic look.