Now here's an intriguing idea. In The Hague an experiment is underway whereby the local council in collaboration with campainging group De Natuurlijke Stad is encouraging residents to turn their car parking space on the street into something greener. This could mean that you would be able to turn your section of concrete into a garden office. Pictured above is an example of what can be done, quite a shedworkingesque setup, called the ‘Debatmobiel’ (debate-car) belonging to Eline Keus. A little more about the project at The Guardian.
Back in December I mentioned that John Coupe and I were working on a Shed Manual for manual specialists Haynes. It's coming along nicely and John has put together a short video all about splitting 25 Sweet Chestnut logs to create the 'Shakes' (roof tiles)
for one of the sheds we are building and documenting for the book.
Here's one of Garden2Office's latest Sportskabin models in Nordic Noir cladding with a variety of optional extras, a new office for an interior design
company. It includes a small central heating system that also heats the
shower, plus there is a custom desk fitted with its own 5amp
lighting. LED strip lights are fitted in the bathroom and under the wall
shelving. To let in extra natural light, Mark and the team fitted three 1m square
skylights over the work area.
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The excellent Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society - 'We pledge to keep handwritten letters alive by encouraging people to carry on writing them' - run by Dinah is taking a shedworking turn this summer when it appears at the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival in August. It's one of Plankbridge's finest which has appeared at Chelsea Flower Show (silver medal) and spent time at various National Trust properties, as well as Kate Humble's garden. Dinah says that she hopes its 'wow factor' will "entice people over to have a go at writing a letter to a friend or loved one."
The hut will also play host to folk singer Hannah Scott who will perform her song letter (see video below) on its steps.
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While this is arguably the world's fastest office on wheels, Kevin Nicks's motorised shed (pictured above) is certainly the fastest shed after reaching just over 100mph on Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshireat the weekend (Kevin's previous best was an official 80mph though I know unofficially he has been much higher). The shed is based around a Volkswagen Passat which now has a Audi RS4 engine installed. Below you can see it in action. More details at The Independent.
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Although it's nice to get out of the office for a bit sometimes and come back to the house for rest, many shedworkers kit out their garden office with enough kitchen machinery to make their own meals out there. I've spoken to many who have their own kettle, fridge, toaster, and even microwave.
If all you're doing is boiling pot noodles and drinking cupasoups, then here are a couple of cookbook suggestions you might like to investigate. The first is Meal in a Mug by cookbook specialist Denise Smart published by Ebury. It includes 80 recipes featuring stews, salads, and an impressive range from sticky toffee pudding and elderflower jelly to spinach lasagne and kedgeree. And Christmas pudding.
Here's an example below:
Slightly more complex but also useful is Made in the Office by architect and office worker Rachel Maylor, published by Frances Lincoln [full disclosure: they also publish my books Book Towns and Shedworking].
Here's what the publishers say:
The book shows you that you don't need to have a fully equipped kitchen to knock up avocado and poached eggs on toast (you can poach eggs in the microwave!); and you don't need chef training to make pesto courgette pasta. And you don't need to think ahead the night before, either. You can make 70 quick, simple and healthy dishes in your lunch break.
