You don't have one? And you still call yourself a 'gardener'?

Every time I visit our local Bunnings store - they're now the local nursery as the independents have all closed down - it seems there's a new must-have appliance to plonk in my backyard. Patio heaters, umbrellas, barbecues, chimineas - and the list goes on.

While the kitchen seems to be an endless target for new white goods with every conceivable implement now created - that is until our next *need* arises. At least in this part of the house they fit on the bench. Backyard cooking appliances such as barbecues, chimineas and now the vital outdoor pizza oven are much larger and require room to harbour.

Whereas kitchen appliances can be used, cleaned and then stored out of sight - and sold 3 months later at a garage sale for $5 - outdoor appliances aren't quite as portable. So, if you're going to add one to your backyard you might want to make sure you're going to be happy with it - and use it.

And this is where I come unstuck. I'd love to have all these gizmos, and more, but I struggle to justify parting with some of my garden to house it. It all comes down to lifestyle and what appliances I'm likely to use regularly.

I'm a bbq-kind-of-guy. Our summer months will usually be spent on the patio hosting friends and cooking a few snags (coll. sausages) over a greasy hotplate. Cooking pizzas in the backyard is not really an activity that pushes my buttons - but it could be. But certainly not enough to warrant one.

For most home-owners, one of these appliances is enough. Either you have a barbecue, OR a chiminea, OR an outdoor pizza oven - but not usually all three. Yet, if you took Bunnings' suggestions you would have all three and whatever else is on the market next month.

For those who do have the room to add an outdoor pizza oven, Gardening Australia has a fact sheet on how to build one. However, before embarking on such a project you might want to consider some stories from those who've tried - and ended up buying a pre-fab Vesuvio.

Pizza ovens are a great alternative for outdoor living - just consider the likelihood of practical use before installing.