Watch as Steve and Jake bring a rare Blanding’s turtle back to the lake.
Continue ReadingQ&A of the Week: What Replacement Skylight Do You Recommend?
Q: My current skylight is damaged and needs to be replaced. Can you recommend a reliable brand and installer? A: There are many brands of skylights out there, but I’ve never seen any that match the quality of VELUX. I’ve installed […]
Continue ReadingSOLAR GENERATORS: Build-It-Yourself Plans Beat Ready-Made
Have you ever heard about solar generators? They’re an up-and-coming portable energy technology that lets you make modest amounts of electricity without connection to the utility grid and without burning any fuel or making any noise.
Continue ReadingHOMESTEAD CATTLE PASTURE: Take an Aerial Tour of Our Forest Farm
UPDATED 15Jun2018: When settlers first came to Manitoulin Island, Canada, they had to be careful when they chose and cleared land for farming. Manitoulin has pockets of good soil but it’s surrounded by areas of thin soil over limestone bedrock. […]
Continue Reading
Got a Question for Steve?
HOME STANDBY GENERATORS: How To Get Uninterrupted Electric Power at Your Home – No Matter What
More and more people are deciding to get proactive about maintaining electrical power supply at their home, cottage and businesses during an outage, and that’s why home standby generators are gaining in popularity. They provide a secondary source of electricity […]
Continue ReadingBRICK VENEER: A Great Homebuilding Option
Masonry wasn’t my favourite homebuilding material when I got involved in building and renovation back in the mid-1980s, but 30 years of dealing with reality has changed my mind. Brick veneer, in particular, offers the best combination of quality and […]
Continue ReadingRUSTIC, MAINTENANCE-FREE SIDING: A Close Look at One Option
When it comes to exterior siding for homes and cottages in rural locations, it’s not easy to find a durable option that works visually. For some of us at least, choices such as vinyl or aluminum siding simply look too […]
Continue ReadingSEPTIC SYSTEM DISASTER: How It Happens & What To Do About It
UPDATED 16May2018: Millions of people rely on septic systems to handle household waste water, and all these systems are an expensive time bomb waiting to explode. It’s not a matter of if your septic system will fail, but when the […]
Continue ReadingBUILD A HOOP HOUSE: Download Free Plans Here
Build your own hoop house with these easy to follow instructions and guidelines. Extend your growing season and make your green thumb even greener. You’ll never garden the same way again!
Continue ReadingRURAL LIFE SKILLS THAT MATTER: A Dozen Tips for Water Wells, Septic Systems, Electricity & Food
Water wells, septic systems, electricity supplies and food storage – these are four of the biggest things you need to deal with directly if you’re a hands-on person leading a hands-on rural life. And success is often based on specific […]
Continue Reading