Entries by John Guertin

Film of bluebirds nesting in a “Barns Into Birdhouses” birdhouse

July 1, 2022 in , /by

Film footage shot at a bluebird trail at Boulder Creek Golf Course in Rockford Michigan. Documentary filmmaker David Sizemore. Supervising naturalist Mark DeHaan.Gavotte En Roundeau 4th Lute SuiteExzel Music Publishing (freemusicpublicdomain.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Office of “Barns Into Birdhouses” Wins Historic Preservation Award

March 30, 2022 in , /by

For Barns and Birdhouses owner John Guertin and his wife, Irene Franowicz, historical projects include more than birdhouses! They include real houses too. In March 2022, the Grand Rapids Historic Commission presented them with an Outstanding Residential Preservation Award for their restoration of the Barns Into Birdhouses office located at 144 Fitzhugh St. SE in […]

Hip-Deep in Sawdust

May 14, 2021 in , , /by

In this interview with Brent Ashcroft on ABC’s WZZM13, John Guertin discusses Barns Into Birdhouses, how he salvages parts of vintage barns to make his artistic creations for birds and bats. He also tells the story of President Gerald R. Ford and his personal support for his work. Check out the article for a deeper […]

Interview with MLive

May 4, 2021 in , , /by

John chats with MLive in Grand Rapids, Michigan about his conservationist roots & discusses the origins of Barns Into Birdhouses. Check out the interview with Hope Davison from MLive!

Smithsonian “Craft Optimism” 2021 Exhibit

April 15, 2021 in , , /by

Barns Into Birdhouses recently returned to the Smithsonian Museum’s Craft and Design Show. This time, for the 2021 “Craft Optimism” Exhibit, an event highlighting commitment to the environment and climate change. Check out the show details in the link above!

Why Barns Are Painted Red

December 16, 2016 in /by

“The Archives of the Shiawasee County Historical Society explain that a week or two after a farmer would put iron scraps into a large barrel of buttermilk, that buttermilk would be transformed into a durable red paint. That this paint was so easy and so inexpensive to make explains why so many barns were red […]

Chicago Botanic Garden Show

April 1, 2016 in , , /by

John Guertin and Barns Into Birdhouses make an appearance this month at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Antiques, Garden, & Design Show. Here John is featured with some of his designs, photo courtesy Chicago Tribune.

Patterson Barn

January 18, 2012 in /by

The following is an article from The Grand Rapids Press January 3, 2003 – Page D1 Author: Melissa Kruse / The Grand Rapids Press Barn razing erases vintage landmark KENTWOOD — If it were possible to see time changing, it might look like a barn at 28th Street and Patterson Avenue falling Thursday to the […]

Mlive Article and Video – January 2011

January 17, 2011 in /by

GRAND RAPIDS — Local birdhouse craftsman John Guertin isn’t competing with China. He doesn’t want to. Through a love of all things nature, he’s developed a special process, collecting materials and assembling them in a way that, he believes, beats any mass-produced birdhouse or feeder coming from the Far East. Guertin, 55, has spent the […]

Birding Business Cover Story – December 2010

December 17, 2010 in /by

  John Guertin has an interesting story to tell and he’s not afraid to tell it. One of the hardest jobs of a retailer is getting attention in the community – in a way that does not involve taking out ads in the media. John Guertin’s Heart & Eagle Company manages to do just that. […]