A good ol’ fashion American Barn raising

For the first time I’m starting to give real consideration to the shed build.  Still a fair few weeks away (given construction has not started!), but it is a reasonable expectation that the number of weeks can be counted on my fingers (whew!).

There are (as I see it) 3 options.

1. Pay for the shed to be erected.  Cost – about $3200 (ouch)

2. Do it myself. Time – A very long time!

3. Do a barn raising, and my thought is to pay for a site manager who is experienced in constructing these sheds to direct whatever size group that is available.

So here is the thought – I was wanting to see if there is anyone willing to participate?  I’m only looking for non-binding expressions of interest at this stage, just to see if the concept has any legs at all.

It would be a weekend (so either a Saturday, or Sunday, or both), and some time around mid-November.  For the early starters, bacon & eggs on the BBQ.  Lunch would be potentially Subway.  To finish the day, BBQ and beers/wine (for those interested).

So – if that was the rough timing, and what’s on offer, would anyone be interested in helping Stu’s Shed get established in its new location? (Remember, this is expressions of interest only!)

Probably should have mentioned – South East Melbourne!

Blokes and Sheds

I knew about the Blokes and Sheds book by Mark Thomson for ages, but I’ve not had a chance to sit down and start reading through it, until today when I found a copy at the local shops.  (The copy I got is “The Complete”, so includes his second book – “Stories from the Shed”.)

Blokes and Sheds

So I find, with a sense of relief mind, that I am not as strange as people around me seem to think.  There are plenty of others out there who see in their backyards a space with the same potential that I see in mine, and not just potential as in the potential to create, but just a space to be, organised chaos.

Mess is allowed, and expected.  As are cobwebs, sawdust, and items that are far too useful to throw away, but I have no idea what they will be used for until they are.  One home truth from the book – keep an item for 7 years.  In that 7 years, you will find a use for it.  Of course the tax department got the same idea so expect us to keep records for that long too.  Now there’s a group of people who would benefit from a lot more shed time.

One thing that stood out like the proverbial, is the average age of the blokes featured in the book.  I sure hope that this isn’t a part of the traditional Aussie psyche that is fading away because the younger generation isn’t keeping it alive, and carving their own space out in the Aussie backyard.

It isn’t just Aussies that have sheds either, and it is a bit of a shame that the book doesn’t reference Australia’s closest neighbour, both physically, and socially – New Zealand.  I guess that could be the subject for another book 🙂

I’m glad to see that the dartboard is regarded as essential shed equipment, and I got mine last Father’s Day, so my shed is slowly gaining a sense of real credibility.

Finally, a reference to “The Institute of Backyard Studies” – Mark Thomson’s website.  Wonder if he know’s Stu’s Shed exists yet (in real or cyber space)?