continued from p. 33
and emissions should be low, making it quite safe in a well- ventilated barn.”
“Arena footing is often composed of recycled content as well (old newspapers, carpet shreds, and rubber car tires) and is another way to introduce recycled materials to your facility,” Blackburn continues.
________
USING RECYCLED MATERIALS TO CONSTRUCT YOUR BARN CONSERVES
RESOURCES AND KEEPS UNNECESSARY WASTE OUT OF OUR LANDFILLS. ________
ORGANIC MILK PAINT You might have heard of low-VOC paint that contains low levels of volatile organic compounds known to be carcinogenic. Tese paints are an excellent choice for finishing your green barn. But did you know that there is an organic, all-natural paint that contains no VOCs at all?
Milk paint is made from milk protein, lime, clay, and earth pigments. First used by ancient cave painters, it is experiencing
The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co. Inc. is a popular manufacturer of milk paint. Twenty colors are available including the aptly named “barn-red.” The paint is sold as a powder and is available on-line and at select retail stores.
a resurgence in popularity thanks to its eco-friendly qualities. Known for its distinctive flat, course finish, it is a popular choice among furniture makers and historic house renovators and is great at achieving that old country look perfect for the interior of a horse barn.
Anne Tibeau, president of the Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co. Inc, points out that using milk paint in your barn might have an added benefit as an organic fly repellent. “I’m quite sure that whitewashes, a combination of lime, water and pigment, have been used in barns to help repel flies,” notes Anne. Milk paint, which includes these same ingredients plus milk protein as a binder, may share these same beneficial qualities.
As the ultimate testimonial to the safety of milk paint, Anne reported that one of her customers emailed her with a story that they accidentally spilled a yogurt sized container of milk paint into their 70-gallon fish aquarium, turning it a deep rich blue. Rather then clean the tank, the customer let it be. Twenty-four hours later the color was gone and the fish were still alive and healthy.
MAKING GREEN CHOICES Learn to ask the right questions when selecting a material for you barn: • How is the product manufactured or harvested? • Where does it come from and what is required to get it to my farm?
• How long will it last? • Can the material be recycled or reused when I am done with it?
Asking these questions will empower you to select materials that are good for the environment and good for the health of you and your horses.
Clay Nelson is co-developer of Sustainable Stables, an organization of environmental and equestrian professionals that provides information and consulting on eco- friendly horsekeeping.
www.sustainablestables.com,
clay@sustainablestables.com
Learn more:
www.blackburngreenbarns.com;
www.lamboo.us;
www.milkpaint.com;
www.abacussurfaces.com
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www.holistichorse.com Holistic Horse™ • October/November 2010 • Vol.16, Issue 69
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