Lifestyle
Sometimes ideas are the most valuable things of all, and this is where you’ll find inspiration and ideas on living well
Review the entire Archive of Lifestyle Articles here, or do a more in-depth search to find what you’re looking for.
PORTABLE GARAGE: How to Choose, Erect and Manage a Fabric Shelter
Sheltered storage space is always in short supply, but as true as this is, it doesn’t mean your machines, equipment…
SHARPENING A CHAINSAW VIDEO TUTORIAL: See Electric Sharpener in Action
UPDATED 23Jul2020: Sharpening a chainsaw properly can take more time and more skill than meets the eye. Electric chainsaw sharpeners…
PORTABLE GENERATOR: How to Choose One Wisely
As far as I can tell, there are two reasons more and more people are interested in buying portable generators…
AUTOMATIC BACKUP GENERATORS: What They Are And How They Can Help You
UPDATED 3Jul2020 + video below: Where I live in Canada we get about a dozen electrical power failures each year…
CATTLE PASTURE TOUR: Watch Natural Drain in Action on Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island, Canada is where I live, and it’s an interesting place because of its geographic variety. Fields meet forests…
Got Kids At Home? 6 Child-Friendly Uses for Basement Subfloor Panels
Kid-friendly play surfaces and areas have suddenly become a scarce commodity in homes around the world, and that got me…
What’s The Best Way to Finish Wood?
Got some interior wood to finish? Read Steve’s four steps to success and you’ll have a pretty good shot at…
BASEMENT CRACK REPAIR VIDEO: See Industrial-Strength Solution & An Extreme Strength Test
Got a crack in your basement? Or maybe the foundation walls of your home are bowing inwards under soil pressure?…
THE BAILEY LINE ROAD CHRONICLES: Chapter 13 Mistakes & Lessons from Real Life
This is chapter 13 in my book The Bailey Line Road Chronicles, the 30+ year story about moving from the…
FOUR BIG VIDEOS: Watch a Cecropia Moth Hatch, See How to Cut Fancy Cedar Shingles, Learn to Mill Your Own Trim & Lessons for Choosing a Drill
*NATURE: See a massive, newly hatched cecropia moth.
*HOMEBUILDING: Cut and install fancy sidewall shingles.
*WOODWORKING: Save money making trim and molding…
SEWING PERIOD CLOTHING: Another Kind of Hands-On
If you have kids, you might have noticed how aptitudes and interests run in the family while also sometimes taking…
RURAL LIFE SKILLS THAT MATTER: A Dozen Tips for Water Wells, Septic Systems, Electricity & Food
UPDATED 23Apr2020 + video: Water wells, septic systems, electricity supplies and food storage – these are four of the biggest…
Q&A of the Week: Young Man Seeks Advice on Mortgage-Free Home Strategy
UPDATED 17Apr2020: A while back I got an email from a young man who reads my newspaper columns regularly and…
COURSES ON 20% CORONA DISCOUNT UNTIL APRIL 18
Although life for me is pretty much the same as usual here on the homestead during this strange time, I…
WORRIED ABOUT YOUR FOOD SUPPLY?: Discounted Course Package Teaches Essentials
UPDATED 3Apr2020 + 4 bonus course modules + 19% discount code: Have you ever stopped to think how vulnerable you and…
HOMESCHOOLING & COVID-19: Discover a Simple Way to Teach Your Own Kids Well
You’ve probably never thought about homeschooling your kids, have you? But here you are, off work with kids off school…
HOW TO REPAIR BASEMENT CRACKS: A Detailed Video Tutorial
Almost every basement I’ve seen has at least some cracks in floors and walls. Yours probably does, too. Most times…
SOLAR ENERGY Q&A: “Where Can I Learn More About Household Solar Energy?
Q: Where can I learn more about making solar energy a reality in a country home I’m planning to build? I…
SOLDERING IRON VIDEO TUTORIAL: Watch & Learn to Use This Great Tool
Do you want to learn to solder wires? You’ve come to the right place. Soldering is a basic hands-on workshop…
LEARN TO WELD: Why Wire-Feed MIG Welders Are The Best Way to Learn
Affordable wire-feed MIG welders are now accessible enough for do-it-yourselfers to buy and use successfully. Check out this introductory article…
BUILD YOUR OWN TRADITIONAL FACE FRAME CABINETS: VIDEO #12 – CROSSCUTTING FOR QUALITY
The instructional video below is one of 42 videos contained in my online course on building your own custom kitchen…
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Sometimes ideas are the most valuable things of all, and this is where you’ll find inspiration and ideas on living well.