Old grain silo serves as basis for ‘Binzebo’
Couple’s rustic gazebo is ideal for hosting functions — and attracting a few tourists
Faced with a decades-old grain silo on their farm property that was no longer in use, a Missouri couple decided to find a way to make better use of the empty Butler bin.
Instead of tearing it down, Gayle and Doug Voepel converted it into a rustic gazebo — or, what they affectionately call a “Binzebo.”
The idea was simple: “We were just trying to reuse and repurpose something we already had,” Gayle Voepel told CountryLiving.com, “and we’re amazed it turned out as well as it has.”
As Gayle explained, the bottom of the grain bin featured a concrete floor, which wound up becoming the gazebo’s base. The couple then broke down the original bin and used its roof to create the gazebo top. From there, Doug Voepel designed and constructed the rest.
The Voepels use the Binzebo whenever they host gatherings with friends and family. It’s both fun and functional, as well as preserving a piece of their family farm’s history.
It’s even an attraction of sorts in their small town.
“We’ve had people call us wanting to see it — we’ve had a few tourists,” Gayle said. “My husband is always ready to show it off. We’re pretty proud of it.”
Complete step-by-step instructions on how the Voepels created their Binzebo can be found at blog site A Gentle Word (agentleword. com).