Want plans for building the portable chicken house you see below? You’ll find a download link further along in the article, but for now, let me tell you something about backyard chicken husbandry. Backyard Chickens Are Surprisingly Fun When it…
Watch as my son, Robert, and I split a piece of limestone that’s way too big for a mini excavator to move. We used a technique involving some ancient tools called “plug and feather” wedges, plus the fastest rotary hammer…
In at least one way, wooden residential fences are like most other home improvement projects. The more you put into design and construction details, the more you get back. This article is for people who want a lot from their…
When I needed more covered storage space on my rural property, I decided to put up a fabric structure. I went with a company called Calhoun Super Structure and took delivery of the parts for a 42×80-foot structure. Click the…
The presence of moisture is among the features of a healthy landscape. However, too much water can cause waterlogging and root rot. Implementing ways to improve water flow and absorption is essential for maintaining a healthy home garden. Below are…
I get plenty of winter ice where I live, but I’ve always opted to put nothing on sidewalks and steps to boost traction because sand, salt and ice melter products are so messy and not that effective. This year I…
If you’re building a deck you should aim to make it last at least several decades. In fact, there’s no reason a deck should not last 50 years with the right design, and long deck life comes down to fastener…
Watch the latest in my video series on the 42×80-foot Calhoun Superstructure I’m putting up at my place. The inner area of the foundation is filled and levelled now, as you can see.
On July 1, 1987, my wife and I began building in a way I’d never seen anyone else do in real life. Without anyone available to teach us the details of traditional stonework for the basement we wanted to build,…
This is the corner of a plywood form I built to make the lintels you see above the windows in my house, further down in this article. The form is held together with pipe clamps, so it comes apart easily…
There’s nothing quite like fresh eggs from your own hens, and this backyard chicken coop lets you make that happen in your own life. I created this modular design to be comfortable, cozy, easy to clean and suitable for regions…
For people living in the country, getting water usually involves electricity, a pump, tank and a bunch of fittings. Lose electricity and there goes your water, too. Boosting the reliability of my homestead water supply is why I installed a Bison…