In high school, I built skateboard ramps in my barn; measuring boards, cutting angles, drilling through pipes, working with any scrap piece of wood we could find. Later, teaching theater classes in a school with a full scene shop, I learned to read CAD (barely), manipulate power tools, and collaborate creatively around a workbench. Those two worlds—skateboarding and theater—gave me more than hobby skills; they gave me confidence in making things real.
Fast forward to today: when my wife started her cottage bakery, we needed to build a good selling point, something more than your kid’s folding table lemonade stand. So I sketched a sturdy frame, and pulled in all that shop-savvy precision: the right cuts, supports, and a desired paint color.
When I stepped back after the final coat of paint, I didn’t just see a farm stand… I saw a bridge between my past and present. The old ramp feeling of ‘nailed it’ paired with scene-shop polish of ‘made to last.’ Turns out, helping our bakery shine starts not just in the kitchen, but in a hand‑built farm stand where visitors’ mouths begin to water with the scent of cinnamon and a nostalgic treat brings warm memories to mind.
A hay mow half pipe brought me to this point, looking forward to where it all will lead.
Want building specs or interested in renting out this farm stand if you’re in the area? Send us a message and I’m happy to work with the baker. Until then—here’s to making, baking, and showing it off in the open.
Farm Stand DIY Video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pHzXqX2rz9E
Ethan Avina 