The very first pergola . Hand built in the driveway before enthral out to the farm .
It ’s a bit comical how it all started . I would hump to tell you it was a opulent business scheme complete with well remember out thought , a merchandising plan , and great advertising .
A grand plan to build a business that would grant our farm to earn an income , and create a more ego - sufficient farm and living .
The very first pergola. Hand built in the driveway before transporting out to the farm.
It was however , all by hazard . You see , after clearing the earth for the first sentence and putting in the raise bottom gardens – we sit in lawn professorship in the upper northwest turning point of the “ farm ” and took in the view .
While ride , Mary simply said … ”wouldn’t it be nice to have a place to sit and enjoy the garden and look out at the b and farm ” .
former outflow … the farm pergola with the barn being constructed in the background . Its a great place to sit when you need a respite !
Early spring…the farm pergola with the barn being constructed in the background. Its a great place to sit when you need a rest!
We both like the look of a pergola over other choices of garden structures like a summerhouse or canopy . The rustic and beautiful lines of a pergola just fit the theme of what we wanted our Old World Garden Farm to be about . Over the course of the next few weeks we looked everywhere to buy our dream pergola . The problem was , we could n’t find one we liked . We seemed to have two choice – tenuous metal canopies that came with a not so fragile price – or extremist expensive woodwind kits on the markets that required the combining weight of a house requital . So we decided on a third option … design an old world pergola and build it .
This was the view Mary get laid of the fencing and garden from the first clock time we baby-sit in the lawn chairs with just an open field .
With no power still at the farm , and much like our chicken hencoop – we build our farm pergola in the driveway of our suburban neighborhood . We snub our own pattern for the edges from a slice of cardboard until we liked the curves – then proceeded to dilute out the purlins with an honest-to-god jigsaw .
This was the view Mary loved of the fence and garden from the first time we sat in the lawn chairs with just an open field.
Looking back now – I laugh thinking how long it hold to cut those card – ingest to stop every 15 minutes just so the ol’ reciprocating saw would check smoking from overheating . We snub every curve and pass by mitt – even clean out the notches with a script chisel to get “ just the correct look ” . At the end of a couple long days – there she support – our “ old world ” garden pergola – an all wood , all born helping hand - built pergola erected in our private road . We celebrated by heading out to a local dining establishment for a celebratory beverage and meal .
It took forever and a day to snub these notches the first time with our old fretsaw !
And then it happened – Mary ’s phone rang , and our little line started . The call was from parents of our neighbour down the street . They had just drive by our driveway while we were at dinner party and the pergola fascinate their eye . She innocently asked where we had purchased it , because like us – she had been looking for a “ tangible wood ” pergola . We laughed and said we looked too , and at last had just built one . Before we both knew it – we were building another for them . We built that one in the private road too – and during the process a note of hand appeared on the half - built arbor asking if we would build another….and then another . That yr , in just a few calendar month we built and sold 15 pergolas … and every single chip of the profit were pour back into our farm . It was our way to begin building the dreaming .
It took FOREVER to cut these notches the first time with our old jigsaw!
Our first “ sold ” pergola .
And so it continue , one pergola at a time . We have one elementary convention . Keep it fun and keep it bare . We still build them one at a time – and always will , although we did purchase a new proverb and a few unexampled tools that makes all that cut back a little easier ! We will never make more than 50 a year – so that we can continue to enjoy time with our family and continue to build our farm . We practise responsible building by using only FSC certify wood . Forest Stewardship Council ( FSC ) is a non - profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible direction of the world ’s woodland . FSC sets in high spirits standards that control forestry is practise in an environmentally responsible for , socially beneficial , and economically viable way
One of our favorite ! A pergola we make for a duad in Ohio .
Our first “sold” pergola.
So whether it ’s a CSA , sell canned or baked goods , conjure up livestock , growing Johnny Cash crops , fix your own wine or beer – or building pergolas – there is always an opportunity to do thing you have it off and to make a beneficial simple support at it . We still both have our day line – with no immediate plans to kibosh . But our ultimate destination , is to have a totally self - sufficient little farmplace . A little vineyard , an orchard , a full garden , chickens , with hope of more succeeding farm animal as well . And ultimately – a piddling bed and breakfast to portion out it all with others . For now , our minuscule business is helping us build it that much quicker , one pergola at a time .
– Jim and Mary
One of our favorites! A pergola we built for a couple in Ohio.
