Window and alternative use questions

[bigschuss]

Our sugar shack also serves as a garden shed. We keep all of our garden supplies, wheel barrow, tools, potting supplies, soil etc. in the shed. My shed also has a 2nd floor half loft with pull down attic stairs. I use that space during deer season to hang all of my clothes and keep them scent free. It's also where I get changed before and after the hunt. Finally, our shed sits on a full root cellar with bulkhead access.

When I built it it just didn't make financial sense to spend that kind of money on a nice looking building that I would only use 6 weeks out of the year to make less than a dozen gallons of syrup each year. Had to make it multi-function to rationalize the cost.

[Ghs57]

I put three salvage Andersen casement windows in mine. They have screens, which keep out the flies/moths, and believe it or not, birds, who insist that the shack is the perfect place for their nests. I keep the upper windows open all season to help draft out the steam, and in the off season to keep the place aired out. This is particularly necessary while the pans are soaking in sour sap, which can smell disgusting.

My shack is really too small for any outer purpose in the off season, but it's attached to a bigger barn which holds everything else. I will just put all my supplies in there, and aside from the occasional maple tour, don't visit too often except when working on the building or equipment.

[grapestomper]

I have screens. We use the building for other things during the year.
Nice to get the airflow thru without the bugs.

[Tweegs]

Yes, screens.
Yes, we open the windows, usually late season.

We only store maple stuff in there during the off season (tubing, buckets etc.).
It’s a single purpose structure and treated as such.