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The Tree that Keeps Giving: Tree Stump Drum Set

 

Did you ever read The Giving Tree when you were a kid?

 

It’s like part of the kid lit canon.

I just picked up a copy for my kids on Amazon. [Click here to peek inside.]

The tree that keeps on giving.

We have one of those…

You see, our country house is heated by a wood-burning stove.

So, we collect wood from people who are getting rid of it during the summer to heat our house through  the winter.

 

 

 

The trees continue to give to us in the form of a toasty home.

I don’t know about you, but a warm winter home helps me stay sane through the long, dark winter.

Anyway,

We happened to have this one really huge, wonky hunk of wood in our backyard.

And a bunch of metal bowls.

An idea was born…

The tree stump drum set!

I have wanted to make a backyard drumming area for the longest time after discovering Soule Mama’s banging wall several years ago, and suddenly the pieces all came together with that hunk of wood.

So, my husband got on the tractor and cleared an area for me.

I had him leave one tree trunk for a seat and I got to work.

I arranged the metal containers where I wanted them to go and pounded in a nail for each of them to hang from. I also pounded two nails into the side to hang the metal spoon “drumsticks.”

 

Then, I revealed the finished tree stump drum set to the kids who proceeded to knock out a jam session.

 

 

Exactly!

That’s exactly what I wanted to create for them.

A creative outdoor space where they can be as noisy as they want,
like a kid ought.

 

How to Make a DIY Tree Stump Drum Set

If you want to make one of your own, inquire with a local tree-cutting service for the wood. We found ours on Craigslist. Or you could use an existing tree stump in your yard.

Most of the metal “drums” and metal spoons came from the Dollar Store. Two came from the kitchen section, one came from the pet section, and one from the garden section. I added a metal colander and garbage can lid we had lying around.

The thrift store is another great place to collect metal items.

 

 

You can see how this project had me thinking again about The Giving Tree.

This here tree just keeps on giving.

 

By the number of tree rings on the trunk and the heft of the piece, it lived a long and fruitful life in front of a local home.

It must have provided heaps of shade and homes for countless animals. Hundreds of thousands of ants must have scaled its ridges over the years.

And it continues to live on and serve a big purpose in our backyard.

A place to create memories.

A place to encourage creative play.

A place to sit and gather.

[For more nature-based DIY projects, check here]

 

Tell me a story…Do you have a tree that keeps on giving?