Sharing Shed

Providing a place for sharing useful but intermittently-used goods thereby reducing the need for “everyone” to buy/maintain /store/dispose of stuff.

Project Team: 

Michelle Fisher, Rob Pfeiffer, Virginia Richardson, Lana Austin, Phil Jackson

A Sharing Shed is a place to share items and ideas, and connect with the community. This project seeks to complete a community consultation to test the assumptions that our project team has identified. The Sharing Shed concept is similar to toy libraries, providing a place for sharing useful but intermittently-used goods thereby reducing the need for “everyone” to buy/maintain /store/dispose of stuff. It could include things like tools, sewing machines, gardening, kitchen and camping gear. To ensure that the Sharing Shed is relevant, viable and sustainable, and utilising our network of expertise in business planning, community consultation, and facilitation, we reviewed existing models and engaged the community to identify those items they would find most useful for inclusion in the Shed’s inventory and the preferred delivery structure.

The aim was to develop a community centered business model to lay the foundation for setting up a Sharing Shed tailored to the needs and aspirations of any community. A model that could address waste and social isolation by offering a way to consume and waste less, while valuing the abundance of skills and resources already in our communities, and creating opportunities for sharing and connection.

We have carried out background research on libraries of things operating around the world; we used the business canvas model to identify our aims and assumptions, and then we tested these through a targeted community survey which confirmed a desire and enthusiasm for sharing skills and things.

Like the facebook group “Sharing Shed Melbourne” to keep up with developments that may ensue across various municipalities.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharingShedMelbourne

Email: sharingshedmelbourne@gmail.com