Big Barn’s Retirement Farm Shop

[TMGT]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

I didn't want to go in debt to have a shop so waited until I could pay cash. My youngest Son was 17


If doing it over I would borrow the money and build it for my boys to grow up in. Could have benefited from many, many hours of Father/Son time together.

I didn't want to go in debt either, but we were in a position where we could pay for a majority of the shop outright.
I went a little over what I had planned to spend, partly because I didnt want to compromise on a few areas.
I started building in late 2017 and just finished paying off the equity line last month so I'm pretty happy, I don't like being in debt (especially when I'm paying interest!).

As of right now I just have a mortgage payment, hope to keep it that way for awhile.

 

[Big Barn]

I never had a dedicated shop area on the farm until I was in my early thirties.

Whenever we had funds available to construct a new building it would be designated for cold storage of carrots. That was the only way we could extend our fresh sales into early February at which time we imported product from California for repackaging.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I didn't have a shop either till I was in my early 30's. We bought an acreage in 1989 that had a 20 x 30 garage on it. I've worked out of that all these years and it will do now till I move off of this place. I added an 8' lean to along one side two years ago but I have it filled with too much stuff already.

Most farmers around here have pretty nice shops and if I need to work on their equipment I just go there.

 

[sodamo]

Didn’t get my shop until until 61 when I built this house. I did have a small area under the deck in my 50’s. Maybe if I’d had something when younger our son would have learnt more, but we lived mostly in rentals or military housing when he was growing up. Not much opportunity to even use a shop, but I always had a sufficient tool box.

 

[dragoneggs]

Unfortunately I believe DIYers and home shops are a dying breed. The next generation likely won't have the interest or real estate to afford the 'luxury'

 

[TMGT]

Unfortunately I believe DIYers and home shops are a dying breed. The next generation likely won't have the interest or real estate to afford the 'luxury'

That could potentially increase the amount of people going into trades and bring back the trade schools.

I hear things like this a lot but dont really see it. With the amount of information available at your fingertips Ive actually seen a lot more DIY stuff, at least house/yard related.

 

[Big Barn]

That could potentially increase the amount of people going into trades and bring back the trade schools.

I hear things like this a lot but dont really see it. With the amount of information available at your fingertips Ive actually seen a lot more DIY stuff, at least house/yard related.

^^^^All good points. ^^^^

 

[TMGT]

I never had a dedicated shop area on the farm until I was in my early thirties.

Whenever we had funds available to construct a new building it would be designated for cold storage of carrots. That was the only way we could extend our fresh sales into early February at which time we imported product from California for repackaging.

We had a 2 car garage growing up that I took over at some point, my dad also built a wood floored shed that I work in, at least until I started messing with cars.

I had an area at my uncle's shop (where I worked) and when the building where I had my stuff was sold I worked out of a 20x30 storage unit for a few years.

When I bought my first house I made sure it had a shop, it was a 24x32 so not huge but decent room to work.

When I moved to my current house it had a 24x32 attached garage, worked out of that for 5years with the idea of building a larger detached shop one day.

Finally was in a position to build as close to my dream shop as I could afford in 2017 and haven't stopped working on it since!

Having a decent shop to work in was a goal of mine and I worked hard to get it while I was younger and could enjoy it, looking forward to enjoying shop time with my boys when they get a little older.

 

[dragoneggs]

That could potentially increase the amount of people going into trades and bring back the trade schools.

I hear things like this a lot but dont really see it. With the amount of information available at your fingertips Ive actually seen a lot more DIY stuff, at least house/yard related.

Small DIY I can see but investing in shop stationary tools for DIY means real estate and that is becoming more of a premium unless you are located in a more rural area.

I hope it does bring back the trades. Our disposable society with the likes of IKEA, and lot of plastic, promotes the idea of instant gratification. Also careers at one company are becoming more rare. This means uprooting and moving for jobs. Not conducive to owning lots of tools and needing decent shop space.

 

[sodamo]

An interesting aside.
We have 2 fairly new neighbors. Bought the house a couple years ago, rented it out and just moved in June from San Diego now they retired. Actually still on young side of retirement, age wise. So an email this morning to our local Happy Hour group looking for handyman. This HH group somewhat eclectic bunch of hands on homeowners. Several encouraging email responses, but no handyman name.
So we log on to our Zoom HH this afternoon and Scott is not there, told he is finishing a project. About 15 minutes later Scott appeared. He had just finished one of the items they were seeking the handyman to do. Seemed a bit proud of himself.