Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: Welsh Merf on April 06, 2021, 18:16

Title: Sheds - reality check!
Post by: Welsh Merf on April 06, 2021, 18:16
I know there's a post already about sheds, but it hasn't been viewed since January last year, so the instruction in bright red told me to start a new topic . . . hence thus!

I need a shed on my allotment . . . obviously.

The original Great Escape had an 8'x 6' wooden shed and all was good. The one in our back garden is a 6' x 4' shed (from the same manufacturer), and all is good with that as well, storing my fishing gear and other bits and pieces. Now here's a thing: this time round on the farm, I don't intend on buying any machinery/mechanical aids; it will all be hand tools. I can hire/borrow what I need in the form of machinery at a reasonable price. So, the question is will a 6' x 4' shed do for my needs, rather than spend money unnecessarily on a larger 8' x 6' shed? I can get a camping chair into my smaller shed at home quite easy, for sitting down out of the sun/rain, and having lunch/beer, and all because I've arranged things tidily.

Reading back, it looks like I've answered my own question . . . unless someone else has any comments/ideas/ words of wisdom (which I seriously lack)??
Title: Re: Sheds - reality check!
Post by: Subversive_plot on April 07, 2021, 03:01
If you're doing all work with hand tools, except for the occasional borrow or rent, you can probably make do with a smaller shed, but as a shelter from a storm, you might want to be sure there is room for you, the chair, the tools, an lunch/pint at the same time!

I also use only hand tools.  It is better exercise, which I definitely need! I have no objections to rotavators or similar equipment, I just prefer to do it by hand for as long as I'm able.  (Here, we call rotavators "roto-tillers", BTW).  You will see me use a string trimmer though, and a lawn mower.
Title: Re: Sheds - reality check!
Post by: Growster... on April 07, 2021, 05:32
When we had 'The Patch', I found that the bigger the shed there, the more stuff I kept down there instead of at home, like pots, spare tools, yards of wire, plastic bags, acres of netting and cloches etc! Now we only garden at home, all that has either been diminished to necessities only or given away, and seems to work OK.

I'd have thought a 6 x 4 was perfectly OK for an allotment, but of course, if there's no space at home, you may like the idea of extra storage space!

(I knew one lovely old boy down at the plots, who just kept his hand tools under a plastic sheet on the ground all the year round, and was perfectly happy)!
Title: Re: Sheds - reality check!
Post by: mumofstig on April 07, 2021, 08:31
I had a 6 x 4 on my first small plot and it was crammed full to the rafters, with fleece, netting, canes, bags of fertiliser and obviously some tools - fork, spade, rake, 3 pronged cultivator, string etc etc.
Then I moved to the big plot complete with a MUCH bigger shed, in fact it's a small old wooden garage  :) But guess what? It is still crammed to the rafters  and you can't see the bench for 'stuff' :lol: :lol:
Come the summer I'll have a sort out - I don't suppose much will actually get thrown away, but it will get stacked in some kind of order. At the moment I can never, easily, find what I want  ::)
So, I reckon it depends how tidy you are, which size shed you should buy  ;)
Title: Re: Sheds - reality check!
Post by: snowdrops on April 09, 2021, 16:51
Well, down at my allotment I have an 8x10 on both half plots that are side by side (plots not sheds lol) 1 is the tea shed & 1 is the chicken shed. The tea shed I can get into & has most of my tools, tea making facilities, & the chicken shed has the chicken feed & associated stuff, plus some spare pots etc, also the large forks, shovel etc that I use in the nearby compost bins, I’ve also put my swoe back in there as I open the chicken shed twice a day to see to the girls & it’s  easier to get the swoe out & do 10 minutes weeding.  At home I’ve a purpose made for the space shed that’s about 9 x 7 plus I’ve got 2 of those tall plastic outdoor cupboards down the side of the house! Maybe I need to downsize lol
Title: Re: Sheds - reality check!
Post by: Welsh Merf on April 09, 2021, 18:44
Well, down at my allotment I have an 8x10 on both half plots that are side by side (plots not sheds lol) 1 is the tea shed & 1 is the chicken shed. The tea shed I can get into & has most of my tools, tea making facilities, & the chicken shed has the chicken feed & associated stuff, plus some spare pots etc, also the large forks, shovel etc that I use in the nearby compost bins, I’ve also put my swoe back in there as I open the chicken shed twice a day to see to the girls & it’s  easier to get the swoe out & do 10 minutes weeding.  At home I’ve a purpose made for the space shed that’s about 9 x 7 plus I’ve got 2 of those tall plastic outdoor cupboards down the side of the house! Maybe I need to downsize lol

I'm now changing your name to a more professional one. It's going from Snowdrops, to Shed Girl! I am totally convinced that you have a shed fetish.  :D

I have a 6x4 shed in my back garden, and that's where all my gardening tools are at the moment - and I can still get the patio stuff in there over winter, plus a camping chair (for peace and quiet purposes). The shelf by the window has fly-tying stuff, and a couple of boxes of "bits". Not too bad at organising I reckon!

However, I must state at this point, that I would dearly love a yard full of wooden sheds, which is why I reckon Snowdrops and I will be forever friends!  :lol:
Title: Re: Sheds - reality check!
Post by: Welsh Merf on August 02, 2021, 17:07
Update:

I have ordered a shed, and it is neither a 6x4 nor an 8x6. I went middle distance and ordered a 7x5 - not able to get it until 29th October though!
Title: Re: Sheds - reality check!
Post by: Growster... on August 02, 2021, 17:45
Well done Merf!

Timber is in short supply at the moment, so you're lucky!

In Rolvenden, not too far from you, the good guys at the timber firm there are pulling their hair out because every import seems to be snapped up by everyone but the Brits, so it goes elsewhere!

Back in the sixties, a good chum worked importing timber into Rye, on The Strand! It made all the papers! I think much of it goes to Rye Harbour now, so pop down there and pick up a few offcuts for your new shelves...
Title: Re: Sheds - reality check!
Post by: snowdrops on August 02, 2021, 18:00
Hi Wmerf, sorry I never saw you reply & new name for me all I can say is :lol: :lol: :lol:.
Well done on the decision & hopefully October delivery will give you plenty of t8me to clear the area, put a path to it, purchase the wood stain etc & as Mr G says get some off cuts organised for shelving, although that garage shelving is quite substantial & a good price (our son has just bought some from Amazon I think it was) plus you’ll be able to install a nice range of tool hooks & maybe a stove & kettle lol. Pictures will of course be required  :nowink:
Title: Re: Sheds - reality check!
Post by: Welsh Merf on August 02, 2021, 19:02
Well done Merf!

Timber is in short supply at the moment, so you're lucky!

In Rolvenden, not too far from you, the good guys at the timber firm there are pulling their hair out because every import seems to be snapped up by everyone but the Brits, so it goes elsewhere!

Back in the sixties, a good chum worked importing timber into Rye, on The Strand! It made all the papers! I think much of it goes to Rye Harbour now, so pop down there and pick up a few offcuts for your new shelves...
I know the place, and thanks for the tip - I can see me having a little hunting trip there quite soon!
Title: Re: Sheds - reality check!
Post by: Welsh Merf on August 02, 2021, 19:04
Hi Wmerf, sorry I never saw you reply & new name for me all I can say is :lol: :lol: :lol:.
Well done on the decision & hopefully October delivery will give you plenty of t8me to clear the area, put a path to it, purchase the wood stain etc & as Mr G says get some off cuts organised for shelving, although that garage shelving is quite substantial & a good price (our son has just bought some from Amazon I think it was) plus you’ll be able to install a nice range of tool hooks & maybe a stove & kettle lol. Pictures will of course be required  :nowink:

One of my jobs for winter is rearrange the garage into a small workshop, so I will be looking at ordering shelving - might get bulk discount!