Anyone who has been out traveling the old roads, looking for neglected barn “goodness” knows that “picking” can be fun, but it can also be tough.
We were recently in an area in the Smokey Mountains where we have had a history of filling up our truck.
However, after two flea markets, a barn pick, and a storage warehouse we had all but struck out.
Dreading the thought of returning home half empty and knowing the area we were in was rich in tobacco-growing history, we perused the local on-line marketplace(Craigslist….) to see if we could locate a few bundles of tobacco sticks.
After looking at several ads the one we settled on was a listing for 500 tobacco sticks.
A few more than we needed but what the heck…we can always sell them in bundles or do a few projects!
We headed over to pick them up to discover that 500 was actually more like 5000!
The owner inherited the barn and just wanted them gone.
I don’t know that we needed 5000, but the price was right so my hubby loaded them up into a heaping pile that almost spilled over the sides of the truck!
We used an old furniture cart to move bundles of them to our barn.
Tobacco sticks are like snowflakes, no two are ever alike.
This is what gives them their unique country charm.
They range anywhere from a 1/2 inch to an inch with varying lengths.
I made a pile on the porch and then started to sift through to make a few stars and gates.
Here we have the start of a simple tobacco stick gate.
Lay the first few out and stagger them depending on how you want your gate to look.
I like the center to be the highest point.
Now take two tobacco sticks and make two straight cuts and two 45 degree cuts.
After you’ve made your cuts lay them in a “Z” shape.
Keep in mind that you don’t need to make a “Z”, but I like the look of it and it adds structural stability to the gate.
Use small nails or screws to secure the gate.
Once you have the tobacco sticks nailed into place cut the bottom straight across.
We also made several stars in different sizes.
These little stars are perfect year around, but definitely popular as we head into Fall and dare I say Christmas season 🙂
For the stars, you’ll need 2 or 3 tobacco sticks.
Cut them so that you have five identical lengths.
Then simply lay them out in a star pattern and fasten them together.
These are so easy to make and a cute addition to your porch paired with a wreath or little lights for the stars.
They also look great layered with old doors and windows.
Since we have 5000 I’m off to make a few small ladders and arrows!
As always I would love to hear from you in the comments below 🙂
Kindly, xo
Jane
24 Comments
WOW!!!! I love the gate but WOO 5,000 sticks! Just WOW
Lol..I’ll be doing projects forever!
Hi Jane, that is quite the haul! and you’ve made some lovely items with those sticks – amazing! xo
thank-you Barb! they’ll be fun for the holidays 🙂
What a great find.
lot’s of projects Kitty 🙂
Well now I know what a tobacco stick is – how neat!! I love adventures like you mentioned. You could do a circular shape as well for a wreath, add a few greens, pine cones and berries and would look neat for Christmas. I’m also thinking a centerpiece box. Oh man I love what you’ve already done but the continued possibilities are endless.. with thousands you can have so much fun!!
I never thought of the wreath Carole…great idea 🙂 I was thinking of doing a seed box.
What a great find! I love the gates, but especially love the stars. We don’t have tobacco sticks out here in California. Have fun..you are going to be SO busy! 🙂 Can’t wait to see the arrows!!
Hi Jamey, the stars will be great for the holidays 🙂 I had never seen them before until moving to NC
LOVE this gate and the stars! I’ll be in NC soon, and hope to find some tobacco sticks to take back to the Midwest!
thank-you Karen 🙂 I may still have some left…I’ve been selling them as bundles.
I ‘ve never heard of tobacco sticks before.
So, just look on craiglist?
Love your projects!
Hi Kathy, it depends on where you live. I had never heard of tobacco sticks until I moved to NC from Canada. If you can’t find them you could try kindling.
Thanks for visiting and happy hunting 🙂
I love tobacco sticks, I’m from Ky. my family raised a lot of tobacco when I was growing up I have a lot of tobacco sticks. There’s nothing like growing up on a farm.
Hi Sarah, I think I would have loved growing up on a farm. I now get to enjoy seeing the cows grazing as I work outside. mini gourds would have looked great! Thank-you for sharing 🙂
what are tobacco sticks? Love all your creations
We purchased my husbands’ family farm and his uncle left hundreds of tobacco sticks in the barn. I had no idea what to do with them until now. I had used a few for staking tomato plants but this has great possibilities now. Tobacco was once the number one crop to grow here in Tennessee but no longer.
Hi Diane, using them for stakes is also a great idea. I also made some small ladders…not to stand on, but cute for towels etc. Have fun and thank you for visiting 🙂
Beautiful!
thank you 🙂
Do you still sell the tobacco sticks in bundles. I’d like to buy about 50 if you Fido or ever how they come
sorry I don’t sell tobacco sticks