I think every gardener needs a garden shed. This is ours. I'm not sure how I got to this age of my life without one. I've used outdoor cupboards, garages, outdoor chests...you name it, I've probably tried it. But a walk in shed dedicated to nothing but gardening and all of the paraphernalia that seems to go along with it is a wonderful luxury to have.
I didn't build ours. I wish I did. This one was inherited from my father-in-law, the previous owner of our home. Along with my mother-in-law, of course. This shed is built on skids simply placed directly onto the ground. I like the construction. Don't overcomplicate things. It's a garden shed, for crying out loud not a guest house. Well, I guess that would depend on the guests. Before you think me an anti-social cad, the guest I'm referring to is our in-laws dog, whom we occasionally take care of. We have coyotes roaming our area and one dog has already been lost from this house. This shed keeps them protected.
My father-in-law maintained, well I guess you could say started since he was here first, the process of reusing materials. The sheathing on the shed was taken from a building which had fallen and was going to be sent to the dump. He scavenged the lumber and reused it to build the outer shell of this shed. It has now stood for about nine years and is as solid as the day it was built. I'm quite impressed with it every time I step in. The only issue I have is that I am over 6 feet tall and the door is exactly 6 feet tall. I've only split my head on it once. At least I'm a quick learner. Until next time.
I believe the key to a successful shed is the discipline to actually keep it for its intended purpose. Ours has a habit of filling up with non-gardening items, such as toys, furniture and sporting equipment. Clutter is what it becomes and items begin to simply be dropped closer and closer to the door until one cannot open the door to get in. You happened to catch us on a good day, since my lovely wife, M2, spent a good portion of the day cleaning ours out. We had lovely weather today and she couldn't stand the sight of it anymore.
One last change we're going to make is to put plywood on the inside. Trying to hang all of the tools on the exposed studs calls for an organizational talent I do not have. The plywood will allow me to hang more tools and keep everything off the floor, where it has a habit of falling over and becoming difficult to find.
So, the moral of the story? Get yourself a shed. You won't regret it.
That is a really neat shed! We actually just got rid of our ugly metal shed and are having one built next week. Trying to keep it for just garden related things will be the biggest trick.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fancy shed; I have three at present. I have a large wooden cabin that doubles as an office and potting shed, a small wooden one that holds junk, tools and timber odds and ends, and a metal one that stores my babies!
ReplyDeleteThank you both for stopping by. It is a constant battle to keep the shed for its intended purpose. Especially, when your wife doesn't agree that the children's bicycles should be stored inside right next to the china. I've fought that fight.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, the children were out with their grandparents and I was able to drag their beds out of the shed to another part of the yard. Don't worry, I put them back before they returned.
Love that garden shed!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dirty Girl. And, might I say you have the best name in gardening blogging land.
ReplyDeleteI like it! It looks "established."
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