Front Porch Hack

Missional thinkers/pastors often bemoan the loss of the front porch in neighborhood architecture. It used to be the place to relax after the work is done, sip tea, interact with our neighbors, etc. The back porch has become prominent, and it's where we hang in seclusion from our neighbors and do our own thing. 

Here's a "front porch" hack: Turn your garage into your "front porch." 

Drive down your suburban street sometime and notice how the garages are the most prominent feature on the homes. It's right out front. It's an ugly design. And when lumped in together with missing or minuscule front porches makes our homes seem missionally helpless. We can redeem that by hacking the garage to make it a place of neighborhood friendliness, fun and conversation. 

Three easy steps.

1. Clean It Out. Toss stuff in the trash. You don't need some of that stuff. Give stuff away. Find another place for it. Tidy up whatever you need to leave in there. Make as much space as possible. If you think you can't, you're wrong.

2. Fill It Up.  If you don't have one in there already, put in a fridge (even if only a college-sized one). Put yummy stuff in that fridge. Drinks, snacks, more drinks. Can't afford that, at least put cold stuff in a cooler. Then get a dart board, a bags set, iPod speakers/radio, chairs, basketball hoop, frisbee, or whatever you and others find fun. Keep the door wide open. Let the sound & fun bleed out into the neighborhood. Take the grill from the back porch and put it in the driveway.

3. Invite & Be Inviting. Start right after work. Wave at folks in as they drive home from work. Ask them over. Wave them over. Yell as they get out of their car, "Come on over!" Give them an special invite, if that's helpful. Offer them something to drink and ask about their day. Play a game. Stuff will happen naturally as neighbors feel welcome and stop by regularly.

Hard to get rained out (it's covered). You can do this regularly in most seasons as it's inside-ish (get a heater, fan, etc to stretch that time out). 

Don't just do this every so often. Make it a rhythm of family & neighborhood life. I think it will make for a nice front porch for your home, and a great way to share life with your neighbors.

Comments

[Brad Brisco]

Steve, great post. Our garage fridge is the focal point of the kids in our neighborhood. Lots of drinks and Popsicles, as long as they pick up their trash the fridge is open to all.

We also have one of those rubber-made storage boxes that is filled up with all kinds of bats, balls, and "weapons." Since you have boys, you know what I mean about the weapons!

[Steve McCoy]

Oh, shouldda mentioned popsicles. Nice. Perfect for neighborhood kids. And unlike inside our homes, we aren't so concerned about concrete garage floors.

Weapons & sports box is a great idea too. We have family friends who have literally dozens of nerf guns (Nerf brand so they last) and nerf water guns.

Thanks for sharing, Brad. Good stuff.

[Chris Price]

Brilliant. Simple. On point. So great I had to tweet it. Way to go.

[Chris Gallagher]

We do this in our houe and it has sparked a neighborhood revolution of sorts. We host neighborhood cookouts and gatherings at our house.

Everyone loves the idea. Some were skeptical at first because no one else does it. But now when we have a cookout, most people stay until 11 pm or later!

Great idea. I will pass this along.

[Jonathan Herron]

Simple yet brilliant!

[Jay]

My pagan, redneck neighbors used to do this and it drove people crazy. The played heavy metal music and drank beer and it went, way, way later than anyone else thought was appropriate.

Eventually, they turned the music down and settled down a bit. Soon they pretty much knew everyone in the neighborhood and ended up being very well liked before they moved.

I could see this working as a missional endeavor, so long as it is tempered with -- not everyone will want to come on board with this right away, so don't be obnoxious. You might think that people want you to share your music and frivolity with them, but they're more likely to call the police if you're over the top about it. Probably common sense for most of us, but it probably needs to be said.

[Steve McCoy]

Jay, I think it's safe to assume my blog readers know that playing loud & annoying heavy metal music deep into the night while swilling light beer & making your neighbors want to call the cops is a bad approach to loving your neighbors. :)

[Jay]

Maybe. But when you put it that way, it kinda sounds like one or two of the 'relevant' churches I've attended recently.

[Joe Thorn]

Steve, great post, brother. I actually see this happening a lot in our neighborhood. In fact, many are buying these screens that are designed to hang over the open garage door to keep out bugs but allow the porch fun to go on into the evening.

Jay, your comment really seems to assume the worst instead of reading the advice fairly. Why would you assume this means anything other than friendly hospitality? Of course "pagan redneck" people would approach this differently than followers of Jesus. What your neighbors did was selfish and rude. What Steve is suggesting is kind and generous.

[Jay]

Joe, you asked: Why would you assume this means anything other than friendly hospitality/
I didn't. I merely offered an application caution, as I live near a college campus, and younger people who read this could go beyond what Mr. McCoy obviously intended.

In addition to my neighbors who were part of the motorcycle gang (pagans), young adults are also particularly prone to a lack of discernment with regard to music, drinking, and appropriate hours of frivolity. Of course, my comment did not imply whatsoever that Mr. McCoy was making such a suggestion. Simply, that I thought a word of caution IS in order for the younger generation, because their older neighbors might not appreciate certain taking it too far.

I really don't see any trouble with a cautionary word and still believe it to be wise advice for those who do not find such advice too obvious (of whom I also believe there are far too many.)

[Steve McCoy]

Jay, I think you would comment on a post about Bible reading with a caution of carpal tunnel. :) Seriously bro, you need to move along. Thanks for sharing your concerns.

Joe, the "screen" idea is a good one. Thanks man.

[Jay]

"Invite & Be Inviting"
"bro, you need to move along"
Yeh, thanks, I guess. Bye.

[Zach]

Steve, you should have done better to acknowledge Jay's input. You seemed too dismissive and a bit condescending. He had a point. You should have acknowledged it.

[Steve McCoy]

Zach, I said "Thanks for sharing your concerns." I didn't mean it in a condescending way and most else I said was with smilies so no one would think I was being condescending. But if you want to judge my motives and intentions, feel free. I felt his point of comparing "rednecks" using their garage to party & tick off neighbors and Christians using it to bless was not sound. Must I think everyone's point is a good one? I don't think so. Yet, I still thanked him. I was trying to be nice.

[David, justopenthebook.com]

It's great that you picked up on this simple concept. Our neighbors have the fridge stocked in their garage, and they were the first people we met when we moved to Georgia because of that simple invitation. Our family now has a great relationship with other believers and we have shared good and struggling times together from that single act. Great post.

[Steve McCoy]

Thanks David. Appreciate the feedback.