Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel DiMenichi.
Hi Rachel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was in the hospitality industry for twenty-plus years in Atlanta. Serving and then bartending for the majority of my career. When Covid hit in the winter of 2020, I had quit my job at a sports bar and was assisting my sister with a business venture in Grant Park. I started selling my plants in her bodega and it was during this time period I began taking small handywoman jobs around the city and planting share crops in friend’s back yards, sharing the harvests and saving seeds to plant in the next season. And hopefully someday sell. My neighbor allowed me to utilize two sheds that had long been abandoned in his backyard. I made a path from my house to his, cleared out the contents of the two buildings, adding to my inventory of antiques, and there I created the space where I would begin building and growing my business for the next two years. I have always loved repairing, restoring and reusing things that just need a little love to shine.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Whenever you take a paycut to follow your dreams, it’s gonna suck sometimes. I think I moved about fifteen tons of stone last summer while doing various landscaping jobs. I had help on a few days, but for the most part it was me, a shovel and a wheelbarrow. It was so hard but so rewarding to see the client happy. For them to actually enjoy and live in a space that was previously just an empty corner of the yard is the ultimate goal. I hope to be able to do more of that type of work when I have a full crew. As far as obstacles go, they will always be there for someone like me who is doing a million things that are slightly out of the social norm. Keep hustling. Keep doing what you love.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
So this is always the toughest question for me. “What do you do?” I tend to answer the question depending on who’s asking. You may find me in a backyard in Buckhead planting veggies for a professional who doesn’t have time to garden but wants fresh cucumbers in the summer. You may find me in Greene County at my partner’s farm building raised beds and tending chickens. You may find me on the side of the road digging up a plant to take home and put in my living room. You may find me diving in a dumpster at one of the many houses flips happening around the city for discarded building materials to use in my projects. You may find me at your grandma’s house walking her through letting go of unwanted family heirlooms she fears will no longer be treasured. You may find me at a single mom’s in east point repairing a kitchen window. I hope you find me at my pop ups where I pull all these things together to transform spaces and bring you beautiful handmade things and healthy plants.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am an open book. I probably share too much.
Contact Info:
- Email: Shed.atlanta@gmail.com
- Website: shedatl.com
Image Credits:
Shari Thompson
