Finally made it to the top

Spent three days shoveling and hauling but we got the big barn clean. Rented an excavator that dug down two feet deep to loosen all the years of hay, straw and poop. Then we spread a layer of DE and lime, turned on the fan to dry things down, hauled three loads of pine straw and leaves from the woods to cover the floor, kind of antibacterial. Looks so inviting, like living in the woods with a cover overhead. I will have to put down a layer of fresh straw but will wait a few days to let the ground  breathe.  I'll let the pile compost for several months, then spread on the pastures. Chickens are upset, all their nests were cleaned out.