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Warkworth Showgrounds would be the last place to spring to mind when thinking of somewhere to buy a gift or something useful for the home, but tucked away in a corner near the entrance there’s a surprising – if small – supply of quality items for sale.
The unlikely shop is at Warkworth Men’s Shed, the community space started six years ago where Mahurangi men can share skills, socialise and exercise their practical and creative muscle on a wide range of projects.
Since its launch in 2019, the shed has become a valuable source of practical items to benefit local schools and communities, producing seats, benches, planter boxes and play equipment using donated timber.
\Members have also made little libraries, ‘weta hotels’ and tinker carts – trolleys packed with useful items for science and technology students. Most recently, the team has made two mud kitchens – outdoor play kitchens – for local preschools.
Their most popular ongoing project, though, has been the supply of pest traps for conservation groups throughout Rodney.
“The most common thing we make is rodent traps, which is ongoing for a whole range of local groups – they get funding from government or council and we get paid to make them,” current Men’s Shed chair Don Alford says.
“The last run we did was 90 traps and we must have made an awful lot over the years – it must be well over 500.”
Members don’t confine themselves to large-scale projects, however. With an eye to sustainability and minimising waste, they also make sure they find a use for as many leftover materials as they can – which is where the Men’s Shed retail collection comes in.
Odds, ends and offcuts are transformed into a range of items made from all types of wood – for the home, there are chopping boards (plain or checkerboard pattern), cellphone stands, coasters, photo frames, trivets and Lazy Susans.
The men also make coat racks, key holders and turned wooden bowls, as well as boxes of wooden blocks for children and sugar water feeders to attract tuis and other birds.
Alford says they’ve always made items from odds and ends, but have increased the range recently and are open to suggestions if anyone is looking for something in particular.
Men’s shed members also spend a lot of time fixing or restoring items brought in by the public.
“We’re not ‘The Repair Shop’, but we’ll have a look at anything. We do quite a bit of taking off old varnish and cleaning up furniture for people,” Alford says.
Fees for repairs and restoration are flexible, depending on the materials and time required for each job, while retail items cost between $10 and $60, with most priced from $20 to $30.
There are currently 45 Men’s Shed members, most of whom are retired, though Alford says they occasionally get a younger person coming through who is looking for work experience or to learn new skills.
As well as being set up for all types of carpentry and joinery, the shed also has facilities for metalwork and engineering.
New members are always welcome – it costs $50 to join, with a $50 annual fee thereafter, which helps pay for supplies and equipment.
The Men’s Shed is behind Kowhai Arts & Craft at the showgrounds and it opens from 9am to 1pm, Monday to Thursday. New members always welcome.
Info: Email mensshedwarkworth@gmail.com
