Woodland man wins award for a “honey” of a backyard build

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Behold, the “Honey Hut.”

What began as an idea in the mind of Woodland resident Brian Trembley back in 2010, grew into a two-year labor of love and culminated in Trembley being recognized by Indianapolis-based saw mill manufacturer Wood-Mizer in their annual “Personal Best” contest.

The contest highlights people across the country who use Wood-Mizer’s portable saw mills to create their own dream projects, from full-scale homes, to barns, sheds, stairways and furniture.

Trembley, who owns and operates a Wood-Mizer LT70 as part of his milling business, Sticks Milling, set out to make a simple shed in his backyard, but ended up with a grander plan.

“We were starting with a 10’x10’ shed on pier blocks, but I ended up with a 12’x18’ monster with concrete footing,” Trembley said. “We keep honeybees in the top story, hence the name ‘Honey Hut.’ ”

The bottom floor sits open through an angle-faced front door, and Trembley likes to keep picnic tables there for guests to enjoy meals and card games in the quiet space behind their home.

“Some of our friends were worried at first about the bees, but we built it so they can’t get downstairs to bother anyone,” Trembley said.

One important feature of the Hut is Trembley used local wood that he hand carried to the building site. Trembley used nine different varieties including Douglas fir, western red cedar, black and English walnut, sequoia, wild cherry, and burled maple. By using what he could find around his home as building material, Trembley estimates it saved him over $20,000.

His daughter, Ember, an aspiring photojournalist, took the pictures that were submitted to Wood-Mizer for the contest, and when he got the call that he’d taken first place, Trembley was very skeptical at first.

“I actually asked them to talk to the judges because there was no way I expected to get anything, let alone first place,” Trembley said. “If you look at what people put together every year, there is some amazing creations that make mine seem kind of silly.”



While Trembley came up short of Grand Champion for the Category 4 division for small barns and tool sheds, the winner was Bob Brothen of Minnesota for his 1800’s-era barn, the $800 in credit he received from Wood-Mizer for placing first is going to good use.

“I’m able to put it towards equipment upgrades and replacements for my LT70, so I’ve pretty much already spent it,” Trembley said.

The ‘Honey Hut’ was also recognized by the company as part of its 2012 company calendar, where it represents the month of March.

“I couldn’t be happier that they included it. I get to see it every day this month,” Trembley said.

Trembley noted that while being put in a nationally-published magazine is nice, it hasn’t done much to drum up business yet.

“Ninety percent of the work I do is local so having someone in Florida see my work isn’t going to help me much, so we’re still looking for customers,” Trembley said.

When not working as a portable saw-mill for hire, Trembley can be found in the off-season filling in as a certain jolly ol’ elf from the North Pole.

“For the last two years I’ve been the Santa Claus for Lloyd Center,” said Trembley, who maintains his likeness to St. Nick all year long, “I really enjoy it because it’s another chance I have to interact with kids. When I’m running my saw mill, it’s always great to see a 14- or 15-year-old kid’s eyes get wide when he sees what it does. The same thing happens when you have a little boy or girl sit on your lap and tell you what they want for Christmas.”

For more information about Sticks Milling, visit their website, www.sticksmilling.com, or contact Brian Trembley (360) 225-3932.