Photo essay

Under the guidance of Alison Wicks, Jessica Malpage and Karen Martin participated in the Berry Men's Shed one day a week for 6 weeks in 2008. The shed experience was part of international fieldwork organised by the University of Western Ontario, Canada at the Australasian Occupational Science Centre at the University of Wollongong, Australia. As they worked alongside the men on their own woodwork projects, Jessica and Karen observed that the shed enables members to socialize while being active and productive. They recognized that the shed is a place where men and women, from different backgrounds can gather to share tools and expertise, acquire new skills and contribute to their community. They also observed that mentoring and learning by doing were key characteristics of the Berry Men's Shed. The following commentary with quotes from the shed participants highlights the benefits of this community‐based, occupation‐focused program for older people. The accompanying photographs illustrate these comments.