Outdoors
This is where you’ll find lots of information for hands-on success outside. Gardening, farming, vehicle maintenance and repair, outdoor structures and more.
Review the entire Archive of Outdoors Articles here, or do a more in-depth search to find what you’re looking for.
Simple Outdoor Wood Finishing: What Works Best Outside?
Outdoor wood finishing seems simple until you try to keep new wood looking new. Cedar, pine and other exterior woods…
Stacking Firewood: Why Round Piles Work So Well
Stacking firewood in round piles can look unusual at first, but it’s one of the most practical ways I’ve found…
Garden Mulch: Make Your Own from Garden Waste with a Chipper Shredder
If you want better soil, fewer weeds, and less watering, garden mulch is one of the best tools you can…
Farm Innovation in Action: Two Efficiency-Boosting Machines on an Ontario Beef Farm
Key Takeaways Successful farming today is about more than growing crops and raising livestock. It also depends on the right…
How to Insulate Cottage for Year-Round Living (and Keep Water Flowing)
Key Takeaways What Makes Cottage Insulation Different from House Insulation? A seasonal cottage often begins life with very different assumptions…
Why Pressure-Treated Wood Rots (And What You Can Do About It)
Pressure-treated wood is the most common and economical lumber for decks, fences, pergolas, and many other outdoor projects. It lasts…
How Often Should Pump a Septic Tank? Signs, Timing & Risk
If you own a septic system, regular pump-outs are one of the cheapest ways to avoid a very expensive and…
Building a Fabric Structure: What I Learned (Before You Buy One)
Fabric structure buildings have become a popular option for barns, equipment storage, workshops and agricultural buildings. Compared with traditional framed…
How to Turn Trees Into Firewood (The Right Way)
If trees grow where you live, then making them into firewood is a great way to reduce heating costs and…
Home Standby Generators Explained: What to Know Before You Buy
Key Takeaways Thinking about a home standby generator? This guide explains how standby generators work, what an automatic transfer switch…
Outdoor Wood Boiler Blower Fan Upgrade: Improve Combustion and Heat Output
Outdoor wood boilers rely on combustion air to burn wood efficiently. If the blower fan supplying air to the fire…
Best ATV Trailer for Off-Road Work (Canadian Walking Beam Design)
Canadian-Built ATV Trailer by Atlantic Outdoor Solutions Hidden in the nooks and crannies of the great big country of Canada,…
How to Use a Handsaw Properly (Irwin Universal 20″ Review & Demo)
Most handsaws for cutting wood aren’t that good. The model in the video above is different. Watch this 12 minute…
The Hidden Benefits of Vegetable Gardening and Real Physical Work
There’s more to gardening than just making things grow. In a world where too many people spend too much time…
DIY Concrete Pouring Guide: How to Pour Concrete the Right Way
If you’re planning to pour concrete for any kind of DIY project, or you’ll be hiring someone to do this…
Fabric Shelter Parts Tour: How Portable Shelters Are Built
This video is part of a series about the 42×80-foot fabric structure I’m putting up at my place. It’s for…
BUILDING A BARREL SMOKER: Plans Download and Video Tour
Click below to watch a video tour of my plan for building a backyard meat smoker using a steel barrel…
EXTERIOR ADHESIVES: How to Choose the Right Outdoor Glue
Got an outdoor item to glue? Need an exterior adhesive? Check out this list of pros and cons for the…
TOOLS: Watch a Sharp Chainsaw Chewing Through Hard Maple
The condition of a saw chain is crucial for cutting firewood efficiently. The quick video above shows by what my…
RURAL LIVING: Add Seed to Salt Trough to Improve Pasture Quality
We’ve been pasturing beef cattle here on our Manitoulin Island, Canada property since 1987, and I’ve learned that the best…
TOOLS: Watch This 18-Volt Cordless Chainsaw in Action
Back in 2018 I got the chance to try Milwaukee’s then-new 18 volt cordless electric chainsaw. You can see me…
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This is where you’ll find lots of information for hands-on success outside. Gardening, farming, vehicle maintenance and repair, outdoor structures and more.