Loud & Upfront in Columbus: Backyard Living

While visiting the Food Truck and Cart Festival this
summer, I came across a wonderful set up for a brand
new business called Backyard Living. Stepping under
their awning I found myself surrounded by bird houses,
wine holders and planters hand crafted by Jeff Johnson.

Devon Johnson said, "although we just started selling
this summer at local festivals, my husband Jeff has
been building things forever. You may say he has it in
his blood! His Grandpas on both sides were builders.
They taught him many things about tools and were
also builders of birdhouses which is where Backyard
Living began.”

Using barnwood from Devon’s dad’s 100 year old barn,
Amish fresh white oak and cedar and reclaimed wood
he finds from pallets, Jeff had filled their basement with
the birdhouses he had spent his winter creating. "I told
him he needed to start selling some or we would run
out of room!”

Devon added, “He has had a very successful first year
going to the North Market Artisan Sundays twice a
month, Worthington Plant Festival, Food Truck
Festival…”

Jeff has expanded his business from a wide variety of
birdhouses to making end tables out of logs, jewelry
display frames, floating wine holders and a few other
items.

Devon also told me: “Of course Jeff’s dream is to go
far and own a store front some day, but I am happy
with where we are now getting in to local festivals and
giving people local items that are unique.”

You can purchase Jeff’s handiwork from $10 to about
$50. So far most of their business is done in person at
the festival type events. But you can also call or email
an order to them.

The phone number is (614) 353-7987 and their
business email is jbuilder78@gmail.com. Make sure
you visit their Facebook page and “like” it here.

Backyard Living will be at North Market Oct. 5.
They will also be set up at the Yellow Springs Street
Fair on Oct. 13.

Get out there and help build this worthy Columbus
business! Support Local by Shopping Local.

For The Fans, By The Fans. Look Beyond The Mainstream.