Community Garden Shed/Workshop
For our 15th anniversary, help Us Build the Next Chapter at Benson Community Garden
For 15 years, neighbors have grown food, built friendships, and cared for this corner of Benson together. Now we are asking the community to help us build something that will serve into the future. We need a new workshop shed. And we would love your help making it happen.
Why We Are Building
Our current shed was built in 2011. It has done its job, but it no longer keeps up with the needs of a garden that has grown and evolved. Tools are crowded. Equipment storage is tight. There is no covered workspace for repairs, project prep, or those days when the weather does not cooperate.
A well-run community garden needs solid infrastructure. Without it, even the most dedicated group of gardeners struggles to stay organized and productive.
What We Are Building
The new structure will be 12 feet by 10 feet, set on six ground-anchored posts sunk 48 inches deep, with a raised floor and a roof sloped from west to east for drainage. It is designed to be durable and practical.
Inside, it will house our mower, irrigation supplies, hand tools, seasonal materials, and educational equipment. It will also give us a protected workspace for repairs, material prep, and project organization as needed.
This is not a luxury. It is the kind of infrastructure that keeps a community garden running well for years to come.
How You Can Help
We are accepting donations of building materials, skilled labor, and financial contributions. Every bit of support moves this project forward.
Materials We Need
We are looking for the following: new or reclaimed.
- Reclaimed lumber in structurally sound condition, free of significant rot or pest damage, is completely welcome.
- 6×6 posts for the foundation (set deep, so sturdy material is essential)
- 2×8 and 2×10 lumber for floor joists
- 2×4 and 2×6 lumber for wall framing
- Plywood and OSB sheets for wall and roof sheathing
- Used windows (4), a used exterior door with window (1), and bags of concrete.
If you have materials sitting in a garage, barn, or leftover from a job site, we would be glad to put them to good use.
Lend Your Skills
If you have construction experience, framing skills, or just want to show up and help during a build day, we welcome you. If you are connected to a local construction company, supplier, or trade organization, your expertise would mean a great deal to this project and to this neighborhood.
Make a Financial Donation
If you do not have materials or labor to contribute but still want to support the build, a financial donation lets us purchase what we cannot source through in-kind gifts. No amount is too small.
- Donate via Venmo: @BensonCommunityGarden (last four digits if prompted: 0290)
- Donate via Cash or Check: make payable to Benson Community Garden, c/o 6004 Lafayette Ave, Omaha, NE 68132
Every board, every dollar, and every hour of skilled work helps us build something that will serve this community for a long time. If you are ready to get involved, reach out to us directly. Thank you!
Benson Community Garden operates on an intentionally lean annual budget. Our revenue comes entirely from member plot fees, and our expenses cover only the basic costs of keeping the garden safe, legal, and functional. That leaves very little room for anything beyond the essentials. When projects like our new workshop shed come along, ones that will genuinely strengthen the garden for years to come, we rely on the generosity of our neighbors and the wider community to make them possible. That support has always meant everything to us.
ANNUAL BUDGET OVERVIEW
| Category | Detail | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| REVENUE | 18 plots at $35 each | $630 |
| 15 plots at $45 each | $675 | |
| Total Revenue | $1,305 | |
| EXPENSES | Insurance | $300 |
| Property taxes | $300 | |
| Tool replacement | $150 | |
| Lawn mower fuel | $60 | |
| Fence lumber replacement | $225 | |
| Total Expenses | $1,035 | |
| Net Annual Balance | $270 |
A $270 annual surplus sounds workable until something unexpected happens. One broken piece of equipment, one fence repair beyond the usual, one unplanned expense, and that cushion is gone. There is simply no room in our budget for a project like this shed. It is just the reality of how a small community garden operates. We keep our plot fees low on purpose to make this space accessible to anyone who wants to garden. What makes projects like this possible is not our budget. It is the people around us who believe in what we are building here and want to help it last.
FOUNDATION POSTS (48″ deep into ground)
(Must be new for structure stability)
- Quantity: Two (2): 6″x6″x16′ Ground-Contact Pressure-Treated Posts – estimated cost $80 each
- Quantity: Two (2): 6″x6″x14′ Ground-Contact Pressure-Treated Posts – estimated cost $70 each
FLOOR STRUCTURE
(reclaimed lumber is acceptable)
- Quantity: Four (4): 2″x10″x12′ Pressure-Treated Boards – estimated cost $22 each
- Quantity: Four (4): 2″x8″x12′ Pressure-Treated Boards – estimated cost $20 each
- Quantity: Ten (10): 2″x8″x10′ Pressure-Treated Boards – estimated cost $14 each
- Quantity: Six (6): 2″x8″x8′ Pressure-Treated Boards – estimated cost $12 each
WALL FRAMING
(reclaimed lumber is acceptable)
- Quantity: Forty (40): 2″x4″x8′ Studs – estimated cost $4 each
- Quantity: Twelve (12): 2″x4″x10′ Studs – estimated cost $6 each
- Quantity: Fourteen (14): 2″x4″x12′ Boards – estimated cost $8 each
- Quantity: Six (6): 2″x6″x8′ Boards – estimated cost $10 each
ROOF STRUCTURE (Sloped West to East)
(reclaimed lumber is acceptable)
- Quantity: Eleven (11): 2″x8″x12′ Boards – estimated cost $20 each
- Quantity: Six (6): 2″x4″x12′ Boards – estimated cost $8 each
In addition to lumber, we will need a variety of exterior-rated screws, structural fasteners, bolts, and hardware to properly and safely build. Because we are using ground-contact pressure-treated lumber, all fasteners must be rated for exterior use and compatible with treated wood. If you’re interested in donating screws or hardware, please reach out to us for a detailed list so we can be sure everything meets the proper specifications. – Call 402-714-0290
Why This Project Matters
The new shed will allow us to:
- Protect and extend the life of shared tools
- Organize irrigation and seasonal equipment
- Create a safer, cleaner environment for garden operations
- Secure and protect our mower from the elements
- Provide a limited, temporary workspace during projects and weather challenges
- Support educational demonstrations and hands-on learning
Infrastructure may not be glamorous, but it is what keeps community projects strong and sustainable.
If you’ve ever enjoyed the beauty of the garden, grown food here, volunteered, or simply believe in neighbors growing food together, this is your opportunity to help build something tangible and lasting.
Let’s build together!
Are you in the Construction Industry?
If you are a construction company, contractor, or building materials supplier in the Omaha area, we could use your leftover lumber, surplus sheathing, and unused framing materials, which are a normal part of any active job site. Rather than let good material sit or go to waste, consider donating it to a project right here in your community. Reclaimed and surplus materials are completely welcome as long as they are structurally sound.
We would love to find a construction partner willing to lend their expertise to this build! If your team has framing and roofing experience and is interested in taking on a meaningful community project, we would love to talk. We will be documenting the entire process across social media and our website, and any company that helps build it will receive prominent recognition throughout.
A professional crew would be invaluable to the outcome, and the exposure you earn in return reaches an engaged local audience that remembers who shows up for their neighborhood.
Reach out and let’s talk!
402-714-0290
How to Donate Lumber
Supporting the build simple, and we are truly grateful for any help you’re willing to give. You can donate new or good-condition used lumber directly on site, or contact Kurt and Jenny Goetzinger at 402-714-0290 or bensongardens@gmail.com to coordinate delivery.
If you prefer to contribute financially toward the purchase of lumber, you may send funds via Venmo to @BensonCommunityGarden (last four digits if prompted: 0290), or write a check payable to Benson Community Garden and mail or drop it off at 6004 Lafayette Avenue, Omaha, NE 68132-1234.
Our garden operates on an annual budget of approximately $1,400, which covers essentials like insurance, taxes, tools, and basic operations. That means every board, every dollar, and every act of support makes a meaningful difference in helping us build and sustain this space for the community.
Thank you!