I am so excited! Last month, after a three-day long weekend, our new summer kitchen was finished and in order. Hubby built shelves, hung curtains, and just put himself at my disposal. WOW!
The “Summer Kitchen Project” was planned in order to be more economical (propane is very expensive here) and to keep the heat out of the house. And also because I want to be self sufficient and protected in the event of a disaster. Last year, I did all of my canning outside on an old wood stove and each day of canning was controlled by the weather. We had a very little cook shack that hubby used to do maple-syruping in. After the family barbeque, he ripped it down and said he was building a bigger and better one to accommodate both of us. I had NO idea that it would turn out to be this.
Let me take you on a tour! To begin with, the 10×20 building is kind of kitty-cornered to the garden and the garden shed.
Through this window is the garden shed.
Looking through the window above the sink, I see my garden.
This is our little eating nook area. Excuse the tools with all the cast iron on the shelf. He hasn’t gotten to all of that yet. There is a ledge at the top to hold wooden boxes with empty canning jars ready to fill (not in picture).
I cooked in there that whole weekend long and it feels very efficient. The real test will be when we get to harvest. That same weekend, I had to test out the canning, so I canned kidney beans. I even accomplished bread in the wood stove! Yay!
Hubby also built a chimney barbeque inside and we have been dutch oven cooking as well.
I am feeling very spoiled and grateful. I count my blessings every day that hubby shares this dream with me. Having a sawmill on site and a logger, hubby kept the costs of this adventure to $1000+ with the new-to-me wood stove cost. This was just one more step to our self-sustaining life.
It is going to be whole bunches of fun!!!
Glenda says:
Congratulations! Not only will you be saving money, the mess will not be in the house proper.
I am thinking it will still be very hot in there though.
On June 14, 2011 at 5:48 am
GrannyTrace says:
How cool and wonderful rolled into one Birdi!
Propane is sooo expensive..Meanies just came and filled my tank..UGH!!
Love your summer kitchen..Thanks for sharing.
Granny Trace
http://www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com
On June 14, 2011 at 6:45 am
Pete says:
Wonderful, Birdi! So happy for you, and so glad that you shared it with us all. It gives some inspiration, for sure.
On June 14, 2011 at 11:56 am
temijeva says:
this is great. I can tell how happy you are to have this ! Enjoy….
On June 14, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Miss Judy says:
Very happy for you. I know it will be wonderful this summer.
On June 14, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Jeannie Brazell says:
What a nice little kitchen, I know you will make use of it to the fullest!
On June 14, 2011 at 3:15 pm
sal says:
Now that looks like fun. A dedicated room for all your cooking/canning. Like the song says “Memories are made of this” Congratulations on a job well done. Sal
On June 14, 2011 at 4:02 pm
whaledancer says:
Congratulations; your summer kitchen sounds great. I’ve always thought that summer kitchens were a practical idea. So nice to be able to cook, especially all-day cooking for canning season, without heating up the whole house. Nice, too, to have a dedicated space for canning. Even in cool weather there may be times when the extra cooking space comes in handy.
I admire your window over the sink overlooking the garden. Lovely!
On June 14, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Leah's Mom says:
Wow! Wish I had one! 🙂
On June 14, 2011 at 7:41 pm
TeaCup says:
This is very nice….
You are lucky!
Judi
On June 14, 2011 at 10:57 pm
farmershae says:
It’s just fabulous! So jealous 🙂
On June 14, 2011 at 11:16 pm
wendy says:
I have been dreaming of one of these for years! I need to get my husband on board though. I do have a wood cookstove that will b e mine in the near future. After I get my new goat barn I am going to start really lobbying for one of my own.
On June 16, 2011 at 3:01 pm
cincyjojo says:
Birdi, how did your summer kitchen work for you this harvest? I would love to have one. I have a large outdoor kitchen but it just doesn’t seem as homey as a summer kitchen.
On November 2, 2011 at 7:14 am