CBJ Lure 9.10.18

He-Shed, She-Shed
If she had her preference, Jeanie Geers would up the scale in decorating the potting
shed she shares with her husband, Jerry, outside their Marion home. But because
they both use the 12-by-20-foot space, Jeanie doesn't exactly consider the structure
a "she shed."
"It's a working shed," she said, noting that at the height of their business, Dry
Creek Hostas, she would spend entire days in the outbuilding potting hostas and
more. The two have since retired and are winding down their hosta growing, which
takes up much of their 2-acre, shaded yard.
Their cabin-like shed, with a 7-by-20-foot porch, was designed by Jeanie, 65,
and built nearly 20 years ago by Jerry, 67, with about $7,000 in materials from
Menards, including cedar siding.
"I'm the visionary and it if involves building, he makes it happen," she said,
noting that her husband at first was skeptical about constructing a porch on the
shed. "He couldn't understand why. Of course, our customers always sat there and
he sits there all the time. Now he gets it."
The couple built their shed as large as they could to fit their property and use it
not only as a potting shed, but for storing tools, birdhouses, containers and other
items for their gardens. Their dogs and grandchildren also hang out on the porch,
which includes whimsical finishing touches, such as an old mailbox and frogshaped
door handles.
"I wanted it to fit the space," Jeanie said, pointing out boulders at each end of the
structure, with a backdrop of trees. "It nestled in there quite perfectly." >
Jerry and Jeanie Geers enjoy their potting shed outside their Marion
home with their granddaughters, Haylee and Rylee. Because they
both use the cabin-like space that has a front porch, the don’t exactly
consider it a “she-shed.” The area has whimsical finishing touches such
as a wheelbarrow garden and frog-shaped door handles.
6 LURE FALL 2018