Greenwood Primitive Timber Framed Shed Build

It was time to replace my temporary generator shelter so I thought I would use it as an experiment to learn some building techniques that I can apply to other shelters and buildings that I will need to build around the homestead. I wanted to try using wood from the red alder that grows everywhere on our place to see how it holds up. Local lore tells me that alder is a very soft hard wood that decomposes quickly and won't hold up well to the elements. I've also learned that much of Venice Italy is built on alder so we will just have to see how this experiment goes. I used this build as a chance to explore different timber framing joints and get used to measuring and cutting them. It is tricky to work with round wood that isn't always straight or true but I feel that I have learned a lot and the next project will go much better.
I looked into a list of materials to use for the roof and I ended up using this clear pvc roof panel. I am glad that I was able to work with it to learn that it isn't worth using on a bigger project. It is nice to have good light transmission in that area but otherwise I will keep my eyes open for cedar shingles next time.
To see the video of my previous generator enclosure
• Inexpensive Shelter fo...
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[@simonforget280]

Low cost experiments are the best way to learn. Here's a few points: - Most of us have a simple yet useful carpenter square. Learn how to use it. It is fundamental in (timber) framing. You won't need a calculator after learning how to use it. - No one needs expensive and/or specialized tools to do timber framing. If I'm not using mortises, tenons and pegs, I'm using lashings way more than metal fasteners. Good cordages and a few knots can get you a long way. - Rebar is really cheap and useful. I've been using it as nails on numerous occasions because I was too broke to use anything else. Use what you have or have access to is better than spending a fortune, especially for a test. - I don't like using only clear polycarbonate on sheds. I only use the minimum required and get metal sheats for the rest. It's just too expensive for what you get. This being said, I'm not avoiding it altogether: I'm just using the minimal amount of it to beneficiate of day light when working in the shed. - I laugh so hard when I saw you using a small chunk of wood as mallet, thinking of the wooden maul that you made after moving a few years ago. 🤣 Keep up your excellent work!

[@Simplegroundlife]

Great advice as always. I have a couple carpenter's squares but I could stand to get more comfortable using one. I got a lot of use out of my combination square on this build though. I understand the humor about my firewood mallet the truth is, I split one mallet on this project using it with my hatchet so I switched to using the firewood with my hatchet and my other mallet with my chisel. Hope all is well.

[@albertfallson6604]

Excellent Video! Sorry for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you researched - Mahorrla Wooden Paradise Method (just google it)? It is a smashing one off product for building better sheds and woodworking minus the normal expense. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my old buddy Taylor at last got excellent success with it.

[@wolfGalliano3124]

Love ! You did a great work and all hand made .

[@jamesfox8930]

great video man. doing more with less is a hell of a lot tougher than most people think.

[@maxlvlnpcboss4812]

It always seems alot easier planning it in your head haha

[@kimberlyziegler6034]

Thank you letting us in while you learned. Cool looking shed and admirable living. Well done and inspirational. You just do and don’t talk which is a great to teach.

[@BillLowenburg]

Great build! I’m totally in the “use-what-you-got” school of DIY projects. I made a garden shed almost completely out of left-over lumber and it turned out fine. I use it every day…sure, the framing is improvised, but it’s solid and will last just as long as one that was ‘properly’ built. I learned a few nice points about working with logs from your video, thanks again.

[@wildmantann]

Great work!

[@bruceshearer1719]

Thank you for posting....a great education for us all.

[@bama1857]

We live out in the country. About to build a patio and wanted a gazebo. Well, im building out gazebo just like this with trees off our land. Thank you for this video !!!!

[@enriqueecheverria8592]

More of these please. Great job!!!!

[@edjohnson9494]

Great job man! Really inspiring!

[@MyLife-lg6tg]

If you make several closely spaced chainsaw cuts, and then chop the flats, things will be easier. Dan S. from Michigan and Texas

[@mikewagenblast8504]

Good work - thank you for the inspiration.

[@sashanealand8315]

way to go! Im building out of poles from my property too

[@EpicSquid37]

This thing is dope and I'm super excited to try to make one 👍👍

[@davidthegood]

Very nice work. Good job using what you had!

[@drahunter213]

I live on reserve And my dad needs a tool shed so Here I am looking for tips on how I should start that lol I’ve helped build houses before but I’ve never actually did it myself I was just a helping hand but I learned quite abit doing that so yeah I just need to get started and find the right trees

[@rmojo23]

Great job. Only thing I would add is a few nails next to your screws. Screws tend to break and nails bend under load.

[@wolfGalliano3124]

You’re absolutely right !

[@OEF_Vet_0331]

Nothing odd about any of what you did in my opinion! I love this. I do the same thing. I’ll take all sorts of different things that I’ve heard and seen others do and combine it all in certain projects and do things to see how well it holds up!

[@zenpuppets]

Nice! Nothing like using what you got. I started with building a 4 x 6 outdoor shower this past spring using cedar reclaimed from slash piles. Learned a lot. Now I just finished setting the posts for a 20 x 24 pole barn. The money I'm saving on lumber will go towards a heavier gauge roof.

[@Simplegroundlife]

That is so cool. I'll have to look into slash piles for my future builds. Best wishes on your pole barn.

[@fuluboi]

Great work bro u just inspired an idea for me

[@multidimensionaltraveler806]

I think that came out nice. It is a nice structure to store chopped fire wood in

[@OleGuy55]

Enjoyed the vid. "What if" is a good enough reason to findout. Doing It with what is at hand is good practice.

[@albertfallson6604]

Excellent Video! Sorry for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you researched - Mahorrla Wooden Paradise Method (just google it)? It is a smashing one off product for building better sheds and woodworking minus the normal expense. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my old buddy Taylor at last got excellent success with it.

[@LolitasGarden]

Great looking shed!

[@Simplegroundlife]

I'm honored that you think so. It isn't fancy being built in a hurried fashion. I am really happy with it.

[@kbs5150]

Good job sir!

[@suphahameh5712]

Awesome ingenuity, good little shed, lol

[@GrowingLittleCountryhomestead]

Love this video dude.

[@dutchbanderlindt4227]

Great video man! 👍

[@LogHewer]

Very nice!

[@nicktozie6685]

Makes beautiful flooring and t n g

[@AnYaDang]

Nice job

[@richardroyles1423]

Looks good

[@eddiewatson3759]

looks good i like it .good to see you

[@Simplegroundlife]

Thanks. It took me longer than I expected but I like the result.

[@dirtyswayze6017]

Who needs lumber when you have what the outdoors provides great video. Although I'm not a fan of electric chain saws.

[@Simplegroundlife]

You know, I was hesitant to buy it but this little chainsaw has been just right for what I have to do around the homestead and my pace. It is the right size for the young trees around my place and because everything is so overgrown I often have to set the saw down after each cut to move the tree. I was having real issues with restarting my gas chainsaw so often and the instant on off of this chainsaw has been a perfect solution. I agree that it isn't my sthil by any stretch but is has been one of my best investments this summer.

[@dirtyswayze6017]

Milwaukee makes great tools. I'm sure for the price and what you need it for was a perfect fit. Cant wait for next project keep up the solid work!

[@GrowingLittleCountryhomestead]

Hey free material is best material. Looks fantastic.

[@oneofthosepeople2101]

I built a dozen alder log cabin style raised garden beds last spring. I am hoping they last three years at least. It was fun and it looks cool though. I am really curious how the wood will hold up if it is off the ground and mostly dry. I too have a ton of alder and don’t want to just use it as firewood. Thanks a ton for the motivation boost. I have been delaying building an alder greenhouse far too long.

[@WolfpackRez]

Got any photos?

[@braeburn2333]

Great job. I like your technique of building those. Quick, cheap build, looks good and its sturdy.

[@loriyamaoka7498]

Use what you have to get the job done and gain knowledge along the way. ✌

[@Simplegroundlife]

Thanks a million.

[@Void_And_Absent]

looks like fun

[@Simplegroundlife]

It really was, I'm already looking forward to the next one.

[@davidjames2145]

Good job. 👍 Recommend a draw knife as well as a side axe, just to make life easier. 🇬🇧

[@GrayBrandon26]

That did knot look fun 4:45

[@maxdecphoenix]

How has this held up this passed year? My concern is the barked posts and sills on the low end of roof side. During rain you've had to have gotten a bunch of splash up of water shedding off that. Secondly was the roof itself. The transparent panels typically let UV through unless they've specifically been designed for that (which means more expensive) Which would cause the wood to dry more rapidly. Luckily though round wood is fairly stable, warping only gets REALLY bad when the rounds are squared off into dimensional timbers which unbalances the internal tensions the log had.

[@gabydeville5177]

Awesome

[@hazlox]

I cut mine with an angle grinder and a smooth tile blade. It kind of melted it so it didn’t shatter. Nice framing! I’m about the to do the same to build a roof structure for a wood fired Kiln. Thanks for sharing! I like that rebar nail technique. How’s it holding up? What tool did you wish you had to make it easier?

[@aramirez3538]

It looks awesome I like how you used Dos rebars as nails someting I will try plus I believe that there's no such thing as not the right tools if it works and gets the job done it was the right tool grat job I like it

[@Simplegroundlife]

Thanks!

[@mariomartinez2219]

Good Job I Learn Alot from U...Ill Be Using Pine Tree n Pine Wood Peck n Roofing Also With Wood Shingles...Thank U I Learn Alot From U.....MM

[@phillipmcsorley7840]

that's a lucky generator

[@nancygorman]

We have a 100 year old shed made out of cedar logs with some of the bark still on it!

[@JR-xw5dk]

If you could get some kind of a gear box where you could lift weight during sunny days and use that energy to recharge batteries during cloudy days. The stored energy would not decay over time, but would have more danger than the ram pump idea. Ok I will leave you alone for a while.

[@Simplegroundlife]

I'm liking all of the ideas. I'll definitely explore them. Best wishes!

[@mrs.jessicav.7740]

QUESTION....have ALOT of those type of trees... I just watched your video... im thinking of doing a tree house using these skinny trees onto a ring of large trees... so I was wondering how your shed was holding up 2 yrs later... did the logs bow at all ..is it strong enough do you think to do something like that...

[@indogoUI]

Wonder would ash or beech be any good for this job

[@mayamachine]

I'd like to see a follow-up, how's it working out? I have to build with the same stock your using this spring.

[@Simplegroundlife]

It took a little while but here it is. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYHbo2Bpg9ispbs

[@dirtyswayze6017]

The singing made the video epic!

[@Simplegroundlife]

I agree. Just before that moment she told me that she would sing a song and it could be the music for my whole video.

[@dirtyswayze6017]

She killed it! Tell her we all enjoyed the vocals to keep up the good singing lol

[@CJINW]

How is it holding up?? I have a lot of the same wood here in North Idaho.

[@andrewsackville-west1609]

I'm in need of a simple shed for a well house. I have some coppiced maple, and a good bit of alder that I'd like to coppice. I'm thinking I'll end up with something very much like this. But I might close it with wattle and daub. And dude, peace and love, but build yourself some sawhorses and a way to secure your work ;) Looks great for a quick utility shed! Keep us posted on how it goes.

[@myfrequencies1912]

Question: It's ok to use green & untreated timber in this case because it's off the ground - correct? The timber will dry & season as the shed stands there. I want to use green sycamore trunks of a very similar dimension & straightness as legs for a deck I'm building. They will be set on a stone slab about 1.5ft below ground, & so that much of the trunk will be buried, & therefore exposed to the damp earth. Is this going to be a failure long term? Will they rot in time? Any help/advice is appreciated.

[@Simplegroundlife]

Hello, good questions. I used green wood like this because this structure doesn't need to be square in the end. I built it off the ground to slow the decomposition of the wood. Remember that green wood warps and shrinks significantly as it dries, I would be hesitant to use green wood to support a deck on my house because it would be unlikely to end up level or pleasant to walk on in the end. Also don't let it touch the ground if you want it to last more than a few years. The bugs and the fungus will take care of the wood quickly. I haven't worked with it personally but it looks like sycamore has almost no rot resistance. Hope this helps. Here is a helpful website about your wood. www.wood-database.com/sycamore/

[@myfrequencies1912]

@@Simplegroundlife Thank you for the information. I've just moved into a rental property. I've got the owner's permission to build a deck at the end of the garden away from the house. It doesn't have to be superb craftsmanship, & the thing is, I just happen to have some nice stout sycamore trunks from a recent job. I'm thinking this might be a good low cost option. I will check out the wood database also.

[@BillLowenburg]

All wood in contact with the ground will eventually break down - no matter how you try to waterproof it. It could take many years, though, depending on your local climate. You can use pressure treated and also build the shed or whatever off the ground on blocks or stones or - rad idea- old tires filled with dirt. The main thing to me is just to build something that suits your needs and don’t worry about getting it perfect. Enjoy the process and learn from figuring stuff out as you go. The experience builds up over time.

[@syedalhussaini4385]

Great Job 👍 Was wondering what type of wood did you use for this project ?

[@Simplegroundlife]

Hi. I used western red alder.

[@syedalhussaini4385]

@@Simplegroundlife would you recommend eucalyptus wood as I have hundreds of trees on my property

[@Simplegroundlife]

I don't have any experience with eucalyptus wood so I don't know. I can't say one way or another.

[@syedalhussaini4385]

@@Simplegroundlife okay that's great thanks

[@HarveyCarrollJr]

Looks like an interesting build... Two thoughts... 1) Your kid wanted to play... lol Maybe drop a bunch of alder and while waiting for the bark to fall off, build him a model playhouse out of sticks, then build a cool clubhouse with him/her... 2). Lots of nice chicken coup frame materials that could be welded onto the container... perhaps build a roof out of wood post or rip some 2X4s, and cover tin...

[@HarveyCarrollJr]

PS: Enjoy the process of pre planning and working in each piece of wood... Simple tools can make mortise n tenons... kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXvMlGmBmbOeqac

[@HarveyCarrollJr]

PS: The simplest Tiny Home construction I’ve ever watched on KZbin... I think that small logs/post like you are using could be formed up in much the same way with a bit of thought... Maybe a bit smaller to start with, but I think you will get into garages, tractor/equipment sheds, garden greenhouses, etc... kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbOoXejg99-irM

[@buzybgo]

His video was awesome. I need to build a small shed for my tools and am planning to build using what wood I have on my property. I know it won’t be a long lasting structure but I just need a temporary fix and to learn how to build a structure for my upcoming projects. I’m documenting my process since I’m a newbie so I can look back at what’s been leaned in the process. My channel name is BuzyBgo. Definitely going to subscribe to your channel to see what else you decide to try out. Thanks again!

[@larrygrove9689]

If you're happy that's ok

[@LarsKiel]

👍

[@ohske]

😯👏👏👏👍👍👍😊👌

[@Simplegroundlife]

😅🙂👋✌

[@russellcuster8684]

If it saved you money than you did great.

[@mohacorafic5965]

primitive and first thing i see is an electronique saw

[@richardhumphrys7907]

Did your wife kick you out.

[@joryhoskins423]

Of course not, her boyfriend did

[@ZeroFloat.]

Alder is extremely fragile wood, a very bad construction choice.