A while back I read an article that got me thinking. Apparently, less than half of two thousand high school students polled felt that a university education will secure them a good job. A few days earlier I’d talked to […]
Continue ReadingEXTERIOR ADHESIVES: Choosing the Right Waterproof Outdoor Glue
Got an outdoor item to glue? Need an exterior adhesive? Check out this list of pros and cons for the different options.
Continue ReadingWOODWORKING: Mill Your Own Lumber the Simple Way
It’s easy to look past the obvious fact that lumber comes from logs, but once you start thinking this way, interesting things can happen. It’s surprisingly easy to mill short, small logs into furniture-grade boards in your workshop, all without […]
Continue ReadingTHE BAILEY LINE ROAD CHRONICLES: Chapter 7 – Making Friends
This is the seventh chapter in my book The Bailey Line Road Chronicles, the 30-year story about moving from the city to live a modern homestead life deep in the country on Manitoulin Island, Canada. Missed Chapter Six? Click here […]
Continue ReadingOUTDOOR WOOD BOILER: Modified Blower Fan Boosts Performance
Sometimes tinkering can make good things happen. The blower fan upgrade on my outdoor wood boiler is a case in point. The stock fan that came with my Portage & Main unit did a good job most of the time, […]
Continue ReadingTHE BAILEY LINE ROAD CHRONICLES: Chapter 6 – Water & Shelter
This is the sixth chapter in my book The Bailey Line Road Chronicles, the 30-year story about moving from the city to live a modern homestead life deep in the country on Manitoulin Island, Canada. Missed Chapter Five? Click here […]
Continue ReadingTHE BAILEY LINE ROAD CHRONICLES: Chapter 5 – The Lie of the Natural
This is the fifth chapter in my book The Bailey Line Road Chronicles, the 30-year story about moving from the city to live a modern homestead life deep in the country on Manitoulin Island, Canada. Missed Chapter Four? Click here […]
Continue ReadingWHY IS THIS HAPPENING? Pasture Plants Thrive in Deep Quarry Waste
Nutritious hay plants such as alfalfa, clover and trefoil aren’t all that easy to grow. Normally you need to buy expensive seed, plant these seeds in good soil, then hope for favourable growing conditions while the seedlings get started. So […]
Continue ReadingPASTURE MANAGEMENT: Add Seed to Salt to Improve Pasture Quality
The best pastures have much more than just wild plants that happen to grow there. Productive pastures also have intentionally planted nutritious plants that deliver high levels of protein. Watch the video below to see how we add seeds of […]
Continue ReadingWOODWORKING: Simple, Effective Thickness Planer Trick
Thickness planers are made to smoothen wood, but they’re also unbeatable when it comes to making a bunch of wood strips of consistent size. Are you milling trim, moulding or pieces of solid wood edging? The thickness planer is the […]
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