I’ve been working on something called “the old depot project.” Earlier this year Brett stumbled upon this old building that needed to be moved and of course I fell in love with it immediately, before I even knew how I was going to move it. I instantly thought:
Restoration!
Tiny house!
She-shed!
Potting area!
Art studio!
Guest house!
So I jumped on it before I had even figured out how to move it 50 miles to our property. That’s a whole story in itself, and I think it might have had something to do with the cute gingerbread detail:
The depot sat through most of the summer waiting for attention as I brainstormed what direction to take with it. Over time it will morph into different things but right now it’s going to be an organic gardening area with something I’ve always dreamed about: a picket fence. The building itself will be a studio/she-shed with an area for potting as well. I started sketching out an initial sketch:
We are working on raised garden beds, pea gravel walkways and a picket fence connecting to the depot:
Any project this scale seems like a really big project until you break it down into smaller projects. In small stages it becomes a fun manageable project. I like to have a grand plan in place: 50% reality and 50% dream, then I can take my time implementing it and researching all the little smaller parts. Everytime we finish something like this our reaction is:
We did this! We can do anything!
And it’s true….Brett and I aren’t an experts at any one thing, but we can figure things out for myself with a little research and determination.
Most of my dreams these days lean toward self-sufficient living. And most of my research leans toward affordable, eco-friendly, and small imprint living. I hope you’ll be inspired by the projects coming up as part of the depot project.
The Old Depot Project is sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement.
i have been anxiously awaiting this post, even though I have to confess this little depot has caused me to sin. (hee hee) I have coveted your little building since you first mentioned it! I want it so badly. I would turn it into my art studio. How stinkin cute would little white Christmas lights look strung all overhead!!! Have fun with this!! SO HAPPY YOU HAVE IT!!!!
Can I make a tiny suggestion? The gate that is smack dab against the depot should probably swing the other direction, as in so that it will lay flat against the depot wall as you walk out of the enclosure towards the rain barrels. Otherwise the you might have trouble getting larger items (wheelbarrows? wagons?) in and out. From a former architect and avid gardener I love the whole concept an can’t wait to see it play out!
Thanks Jen! It actually does now. We changed the locations of the gates as we went. Thank you!
SHEd – love it!! So excited to follow along…been wondering what the plan would be, and knowing it will be wonderful!
What a wonderful shed…I love the shingles on the wall. Have fun!
Regarding the pea gravel – My veg garden is basically 4 rectangles all connected by pea gravel paths. Around each garden I have large rocks to keep the dirt in and the gravel out. Around the whole thing there are also rocks, again to keep the gravel in place. this might sound like over-kill, but when you are laying the path, I would use two layers of the heaviest, most durable cloth possible. You can’t believe the weeds that can grow through. I am constantly weeding my gravel path. Granted the weeds do pull easier than in dirt, but I have better things to do. It will be awesome and can’t wait to see STEP BY STEP progress (hint hint).
I can see it before my eyes 🙂 It will be lovely. I dream of a big vegetable- flower-fruit garden too. Gardening is so good for the soul and body. Enjoy.