Is This 9×7 Shed The One For Your Garden? Bespoke Options

I have always been amazed about the garden shed even from when I was a child. The 9X7 shed in the house where I grew up in Cleethorpes was a mysterious place which my Mum and Dad told me and my siblings to stay out. This made the shed an even more attractive place to get into than it would have been. At that young age you don’t realise the dangers of the items stored in there such as garden tools, paint, timber treatment and all sort of nasty chemicals. And back in the 1960’s the paint probably contained lead, the timber treatment would have been crescote, which is now banned as being dangerous, and the chemicals – well – I shudder to think about what they could have done to me. With the array of garden tools we could have done untold harm to ourselves and I might not be here writing my blog and reminiscing about it.

As an adult I now know better and thankfully many of the nasties which use to lurk in the garden shed have now been outlawed so our children are even less at risk. So if you have not done so ensure that your garden shed is secured so our children and burglars can’t gain access. And ensure that any nasties, such as chemicals and old crescote etc. left in there are disposed of at your local refuse depot.

Generally the garden shed is used for storage but they can be used for a myriad of different uses. The only limitation is your imagination. Whether you use your shed as a haven from the noises of the world and enjoy the peace to write or read, or maybe as a garden craft room or a nursery for the flowers and seeds which enables them to grow. Using the shed as a workshop where your DIY and woodworking skills can be put to the test is another option.

Some garden sheds are used to run little businesses and this is good as it segregates your work time from your home time. This is an inexpensive and relatively inexpensive way of starting a business. No rent to pay and no travelling to get to work – great positives for this style of working.

Other uses suggested include turning the shed into a children’s playhouse enabling you to give your children responsibility to look after their own space. This also give them their own little world where they can develop friendships with their friends. By involving the children in the decorating the shed this will make them feel more involved. Character building is not too strong a word for this.

These aesthetically pleasing and practical garden buildings can be seen as an extension to your home, in fact, can be seen as part of the home. So you don’t want to waste this valuable resource, you need to embrace it and make the most of it. If you see some of the 9X7 sheds entered in the Garden Shed of the Year annual competition you would be amazed at what people do with their sheds.

It goes without saying, or should do, that your garden shed needs to be watertight which might not be the case if you buy one of the cheaply made sheds available on the web – just a thought if you are thinking of buying a new garden shed. You can find a useful garden shed buying guide on this site which can point out some of the items to consider before spending you money. Thank goodness for the garden shed.

During this recession which we have been enduring since 2009 charities through out the UK have also been finding it hard to help their respective causes so, where ever you can, try to not forget these important causes. Whether it’s an occasional cheque in the post or even your loose change in your local charity shop. This will help these important organisations to carry on their good work. However, the charities I have trouble with, well not really the charities but the companies doing the fund raising, are the ones which preach JUST £2 per month can help so much along with pictures which pull on the heartstrings. Well £2 does not sound much but after only a little while, if you agree, you are getting them phoning you up or writing to you in emotional terms to increase this £2 up to £5 or £10 per month. This is not want you want as a caring person but there is only so much you can do. There are many charities out there so how to you choose?

I also read an article stating that most of your first year’s money goes to the companies making these appeals. They don’t tell you that when you sign. I know that the companies have to make a profit but I find it a little misleading that you are not being told how much of your hard earned money, which you thought was going to charity, is diverted elsewhere. A better item is to make a donation directly to the charity of your choice and this would ensure your money will work its socks off for you.

Volunteers, at one of these charities Age Concern in Marlow, were delighted to have received £1,200 from their local Marlow Round Table, who had arranged a series of events to generate funds for Age Concern. This money is going to be invested in two new 9X7 sheds for their centre. These sheds will be able to help them help others so is great news. Besides these garden buildings the money will help with decorating and painting required to the outside of their main building.

Likewise another charity, The Nancy Oldfield Trust, were trying to raise £15,000 to develop a shed, I am assuming this is more than just ‘A’ garden shed, because for that money you could have a string of garden sheds. If they were silly enough, which I’m sure that were not, they could buy some cheaply made sheds off the Internet. I hope not because these cheap and cheaply made garden sheds made using chipboard and OSB boards and with doors with no braces, so they will sag and with wafer thin wood and matchstick thick framing will only last a couple of years at best. That would be a waste of any money spent.

Another interesting charity project was by a Cornish couple in their garden shed. Their aim was to complete a book which would show nearly 350 people from their local town of Porthleven. Their 9 x 7 shed was used greatly in this project and this gave them a dry place to work whilst they put this charity book together.

They have been photographing residents of Porthleven, ranging in ages from a three month old baby to elderly residents, which would become the subject of this fine charity book. It was hoped that proceeds from this book will go to the Children’s Hospice South West’s Precious Lives Appeal.

Besides raising a lot of money for this great charity but this book produced in their garden shed will become a brilliant achievement for this delightful village. It’s also a great feeling, as a garden shed maker, that the humble – but important – garden shed can be used for so many different and worthwhile activities.