How Our Farm's Little Pergola Was Built

www.oldworldgardenfarms.com

It's a bit funny how it all started. I would love to tell you it was a grand business scheme complete with well thought out ideas, a marketing plan, and great advertising. A grand plan to build a business that would allow our little farm to earn an income and become self-sufficient.

It was however, all by chance. After clearing the land for the first time and putting in the raised bed gardens – we sat in lawn chairs in the upper northwest corner of the "farm" and took in the view. While sitting, Mary simply said..."wouldn't it be nice to have a place to sit and enjoy the garden and look out at the barn and farm".

We both liked the look of a pergola over other choices of garden structures like a gazebo 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 couldn't find one we liked. We seemed to have two choices – flimsy metal canopies that came with a not so flimsy price – or ultra expensive wood kits on the markets that required the equivalent of a house payment. So we decided on a third option...design an old world pergola and build it.

With no power still at the farm, and much like our chicken coop – we built our farm pergola in the driveway of our suburban neighborhood. We cut our own pattern for the edges from a piece of cardboard until we liked the curves – then proceeded to cut out the purlins with an old jigsaw. Looking back now – I laugh thinking how long it took to cut those boards – having to stop every 15 minutes just so the ol' jigsaw would stop smoking from overheating. We cut every curve and notch by hand – even cleaning out the notches with a hand chisel to get "just the right look". At the end of a couple long days – there she stood – our "old world" garden pergola – an all wood, all natural hand-built pergola erected in our driveway. We headed out to a local dining establishment for a celebratory beverage and meal - and then it happened. Mary's phone rang, and our little business started. The call was from parents of our neighbors down the street. They had just driven by our driveway while we were at dinner and the pergola caught their eye. She innocently asked where we had purchased it , because like us – she had been looking for a "real wood" pergola. We laughed and said we looked too, and finally had just built one. Before we both knew it – we had made our first sale. We built another one in the driveway for them – and during the process another note appeared on the half-built pergola asking if we would sell it....and then another. That year, in just a few months we built and sold 15 pergolas...and every single bit of the profits were poured back into our farm. It was and continues to be our way to build our little dream farm. We still both have our days jobs – with no immediate plans to stop. But our ultimate goal, is to have a completely self-sufficient little farmstead. A little vineyard, an orchard, a full garden, chickens, with hopes of more future livestock as well. And ultimately – a little bed and breakfast to share it all with others. For now, our little business is helping us build it that much quicker, one pergola at a time. It's why that little upper garden pergola is still my all time favorite.

To see more: http://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2012/03/18/self-sufficiency-building-our-farm-one-pergola-at-a-time/

15 Comments

Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Pergolas are wonderful things—I'm sure glad I added mine—and yours comes with a great story.

on Aug 28, 2012 · Like 1
Old World Garden Farms Newark, OH

They really are a great place to enjoy the outdoors - You will have to send us a picture of your's sometime - we love to see what others build too!

on Aug 28, 2012 · Like 0
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cot... North Bend, OR

Love it!! Had two at the last house. This is completely charming :) Just so pretty!!

on Aug 28, 2012 · Like 0
Old World Garden Farms Newark, OH

FoxHollow - Thank you so much! It is one of our favorite places to sit at the farm.

on Aug 28, 2012 · Like 0
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Here are a couple of shots of mine. I wanted something in the character of my mid-century house.
on Aug 29, 2012 · Like 0
Becky H Tampa, FL

Douglas, your pergola style goes perfectly with your home! Did you design it? The supporting posts have the same angles as they used to use on the old carports. Cutting the exact angles on those posts to establish that look must have been approached with great attention.

on Aug 29, 2012 · Like 0
Acorn Landscaping Rochester, NY

Nice job on the Pergola! It complete your outdoor living space.

on Aug 29, 2012 · Like 0
Marg C Middletown, NY

what a great story! congrats to you :) I love the old world design.

on Aug 29, 2012 · Like 0
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

I did design it, Becky. My house has a very wide overhang in front with angled supports like that. I wanted to repeat that feature with the pergola.

on Aug 29, 2012 · Like 0
Old World Garden Farms Newark, OH

Douglas - Looks fantastic! It really does fit the space perfectly.

on Aug 29, 2012 · Like 0
Old World Garden Farms Newark, OH

Marg C. - Thank you - It's a story still in progress..but we love living it every day!

on Aug 29, 2012 · Like 1
Marg C Middletown, NY

I bet you do! I'm sure you would have never thought of this story unfolding in your wildest dreams! love it.

on Aug 29, 2012 · Like 0
Becky H Tampa, FL

Douglas, great job! You must have been very cautious cutting those angles.

on Aug 29, 2012 · Like 1
Marg C Middletown, NY

it has a modern design Douglas and looks so cozy. Nice job!

on Aug 30, 2012 · Like 0
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

I can't take credit for the cuts. But I did make sure my contractor "measured twice."

on Aug 30, 2012 · Like 1

Oops! Leave without saving?

Hometalk.com

Hometalk is where people share and help with everything home & garden

How Our Farm's Little Pergola Was Built

NOTE: You can drag and drop your photos to reorder them