Here’s some background about SHED OF THE YEAR and its creator Uncle Wilco, a cyber friend who lives in the UK in South Wales, and is the creator of We (Heart) Sheds and several other projects.  I was thrilled to discover that I was not alone on this quest for finding and documenting awesome backyard structures, that many kindred spirits existed on this globe to share my journey. Here is the original story I wrote about Uncle Wilco nearly two years ago. A memorable quote about his Shed of the Year contest:

. . . the British have a love affair with the shed, so really it’s just snowballed. I was lucky to do a few radio interviews. I got the impression they thought I was a nutter . . . ! But at least people realise that I have a passion for sheds, so that’s all that matters.

Imagine my surprise when Wilco asked me to join his illustrious team of judges to represent as the International Judge for the 2010 Shed of the Year competition! The event culminates with an announcement in early July, during National Shed Week, and I’m eager to participate. I’m hoping to get over to the UK to join the others, but at the very least, I will do my part on this end. I encourage any of my readers to submit photos and enter. That is all it takes!

Thought I’d kick things off by telling you a little more about the competition. In the words of Mr. Wilco himself:

Q. You started Shed of the Year in 2007, right? So you’ve had 3 winners!
What has surprised you most about the scope and diversity of sheds
around the globe?

A. I have run readersheds since 2001  and thought it was time I should celebrate all these great sheds. So I started Shed of the Year. The last three winners have been very different: 1) A Roman Temple,  2) A Pub Shed, and 3) a Cabin. I look forward to shed of the year 2010 — it could be a workshop or studio or even a hut. That’s the thing — we don’t know until the public have voted and the judges have made their decisions for Shed Week 2010.

Q. Who does Sheds better, the UK shed aficionados or the North American ones?

A. Well, I am biased. UK sheds Rock- or should I say UK Sheddies rock. But you US sheddies have a different view on sheds. The UK history with sheds as mainly a man thing is very long and it’s the sheddies that make readersheds.co.uk

Q. Can you please describe “wossname” and how I can explain it to US readers?

A. I am not great with words , so I tend to fill in things I can’t think about with “wossname.” So it’s a term in the UK, like a thing or a “wotsit,” when you can’t think of the real word!

Q. If you had to spend your final days inside your own shed, what three essential items would you need to bring with you?

A. That’s very difficult. I would say family and friends and  my dog, but as for items it would have to be some home brew (beer).

Q. What kind of swag can I expect for being a Shed of the Year judge?

A. What, the glory of being a judge in the World’s most favourite Shed competition is not enough?

Q. How many entries have you had from North American shed owners (in past years)?

A. Well, it’s not just North American sheds. It’s International, too. We love sheddies from the Americas, Canada, Europe and Australia and New Zealand. You can view all the international sheds entries (199 of them to join the 1200 UK ones) here.

Q. What else do you want my readers to know?

A. That we are welcoming entries to Shed of the Year 2010 now and would love to have some more  Stylish Sheds added. All I ask is that the sheddies add a few good images — including external/internal shots. The more images the better, so the public can get a  good look.

Thanks so much Uncle Wilco – I will do my best to pump up the entries from the International contingent. See you soon.

Uncle Wilco, my UK penpal who presides over We*heart*Sheds and Readershed blogs, has announced his 2009 Shed of the Year Contest.

I encourage anyone who owns a backyard shed to log onto his site and enter. Submit your photographs – we need international participation, folks!

Of course, I am angling to be tapped for the popular competition’s “International Guest Judge” slot, but I may have to butter up Uncle Wilco with chocolate chip cookies (or more likely, a keg of good English ale). I’m not sure what it takes to bribe these Brits, but flattery and admiration should help, right? He shouldn’t forget that I’m the gal who named him the “Bad Boy of Sheds” – a term of endearment, of course.

Here are some details on last year’s winner, a decidedly Man Cave sort of place that is part shed-part pub (pictured above). Very cool – congratulations, Tim!

Here’s Uncle Wilco’s official announcement:

Take Part in Shed of the Year 2009

“Do you have a garden shed that is unique?” asks Uncle Wilco, head sheddie of www.readersheds.co.uk.

“Maybe it’s your own little bolthole away from the trials of life. Maybe you have converted your humble garden building into a pub, or are a treehugger at heart and are building an eco shed, or maybe it’s just a normal wooden building that’s special to you.”

If you as a sheddie are proud of your shed then now’s the time to enter this year’s ‘Shed of the Year’ competition, which takes place during the third National Shed Week commencing July 6th 2009.

Entries are already flooding in for Shed of the Year 2009 and you can add your shed online using this link

This year’s celebrity judges are Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans, shed fancier and property guru Sarah Beeny and shed-based inventor of the windup radio, Trevor Baylis. They will be joined by shedworking expert Alex Johnson from shedworking.co.uk, eco architect Lloyd Alter, and Uncle Wilco, head sheddie from readersheds.co.uk and organiser of National Shed Week.

Together they will be deciding if your shed will make the grade and take the top shed crown.

[Hint to Wilco: What about DEBRA as your guest North American judge?!!!]

Following a public vote starting June 2009 which will produce a shortlist of winners, the judges will pick their “Shed of the Year 2009” during National Shed Week itself.

Last year’s winner was Tim from Suffolk with his amazing octagonal Pub Shed. Sheddies can join Tim – whose shed was featured in national newspapers and on television – and the hundreds of other sheddies by ‘sharing your shed’ on the internet’s favourite shed fan site, www.readersheds.co.uk

Last year there were more than 800 sheds fighting for the title of Shed of the Year from garden pubs, TARDIS sheds, allotment sheds, ones hand made from English Oak, cabins, summerhouses and even a shed on wheels.

National Shed Week 2008 was mentioned both on-line and off-line by national and international press.

Comments included:

“The excitement! The anticipation! Shed Week 2008 starts on Monday, and we sheddies are in a frabjous state. Shed Week celebrates the importance of the shed, hut or gazebo in our culture as a place of refuge, storage and amusement” – The Times

“I can say that Tim in Suffolk did a wonderful job with his pub shed, with complex framing and difficult trapezoidal skylights” Lloyd Alter – treehugger

“All things shed-like are being celebrated up and down the country.” -Radio 4’s Women’s Hour

“It’s been a while since sheds came into it – and in the interval this splendid blog devoted to sheds and shedmen” – Brian Appleyard

“National shed week was the result of a typical touch of creative thinking from long term enthusiast Uncle Wilco” – The Daily Express

“Shed of the Year is a great excuse to wallow in the gorgeousness of all our sheds – and aren’t they all fine” -Sarah Beeny, judge of Shed of the Year 2007, 2008 and 2009