Singing Cedars Farmstead Pack Shed Rebuild

What did you do?

In later spring/ early summer of 2018, we tore down our existing packroom, which was a short shed room off the side of our barn on a ply wood floor. We brought in several loads stone to grade the site then poured a slab onto the existing footprint. We then rebuilt the space with a roofline that matched the existing barn's, which created a storage loft and a much more functional and plesant working space. As opposed to the old space, the new is bright, fully enclosed, wired, and eventually insulated.

Why did you do it?

We felt that our former space was not up to par with food safety. There was no way to keep out rodents and because it wasn't weather tight, we couldn't keep out rain and wind. Often times boxes and papers would scatter everywhere during a wind event. We also wanted to have better work flow and efficiency. The slab allows us to clean it and for water to drain appropriately.

About how much did it cost?

$14,000 in materials, farmers did all the labor

How did it help?

It is an amazing differnce. We can use all four walls of the barn now, whereas with the shed roof we could only formerly use 2 of the walls. The loft storage space helps keep our boxes and packing materials rodent proof. The space is easy to clean, secure, and a very pleasant working environment. We are really excited to use it this summer!

What are you most pleased with?

Everything! Aesthetically it is a game changer for our farm. Flow wise it will keep us from tripping over each other and surfaces will not be cluttered. Having a floor drain is also a bonus for quick and safe cleaning.

Any mistakes or lessons learned?

To not trust the autumn weather to cooperate with roofing projects!