Category: Workshop

After months of planning, dirt work, delays, concrete, more delays, then finally some steady progress, the carport portion of the shop expansion is finally complete. This project took far longer than we expected, but it feels good to see it standing and in use.

The tractor and mower are now parked under cover instead of sitting out in the weather. That alone makes a big difference. Keeping equipment dry and protected saves wear and tear and makes daily work easier when we are not fighting mud, rain, or ice.

While the carport is finished, the workshop itself still has tons of work ahead of us. The space is there and the foundation is set, but the interior build out will come next as time and budget allow. We still need to wire receptacles and lights, and sheath the interior walls with plywood. For now, having the covered equipment space is a big win.

This project has been a reminder that nothing on this land seems to move fast, but progress still adds up. One section at a time, the infrastructure is taking shape.

When we moved from Florida, my mom and stepdad came with us. We live upstairs and they live downstairs. It has been a blessing to have family here, but it also means two households trying to share the same space. As time went on, we found ourselves running out of room in the shop building no matter how hard we tried to organize and reduce.

After a lot of sorting and frustration, it became clear that the only real solution was to expand. We are adding on to the existing building so that we can have more functional room. The current structure will stay as general storage. The new section will serve as a wood shop as well as a semi-enclosed carport area for the tractor, lawn mower, and the tools that are constantly in use around the property.

We hired a local contractor named Jake to bring the ground level up around the shop. He graded the slope and built the area up so it meets the existing foundation height. Once the soil settles, concrete will be poured for the new floor and the driveway will be extended.

Right now the project looks like bare dirt and a wider footprint, but it already feels better. There is more space to work and breathe, and room to keep equipment out of the weather. It will make day to day tasks a little easier and the entire place more organized.

It is a simple change, but an important one. A little more space means fewer headaches, smoother projects, and a shop that can keep up with the needs of the farm as it grows.