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.
Essential Equipment for Running a More Efficient Small Farm
Ask a small-farm owner what eats their day, and the answer is rarely the big stuff. It’s the ten-minute jobs…
WINTER HAND PUMP: See How Outdoor Well Pump Resists Freezing
For people living in the country, getting water usually involves electricity, a pump, tank and a bunch of fittings. Lose electricity…
How To Build Your Own Portable Backyard Chicken Coop | Free Plans Download
There’s nothing quite like fresh eggs from your own hens, and this backyard chicken coop lets you make that happen…
What Homeowners Should Know About Pest Control Product Safety
Walking down the pest control aisle at any home improvement store reveals dozens of products, sprays, baits, granules, foggers, each…
How Thibodaux Homeowners Can Protect Utility Areas From Pests
Utility spaces rarely get a second thought until something goes wrong. The area behind the water heater, the gap where…
Are Stink Bugs a Risk to Pets Around Grand Rapids Homes?
Every fall, Grand Rapids homeowners notice the same seasonal visitor working its way indoors: the brown marmorated stink bug. These…
How Routine Exterior Repairs Can Reduce Pest Access Around Greensboro Homes
Most homeowners think of exterior repairs as a matter of curb appeal or general upkeep. Replacing a section of siding…
INSIDE THE BOX: Benefits, beauty & tricks of outdoor gardening with pots, planters & hanging baskets
There’s more to gardening than digging a hole in the ground and planting something. Pots, planters and hanging baskets add…
USING ROUND FIREWOOD PILES: How to Get Wood Out As You Use Wood
A subscriber asks . . . “What’s the best way to get wood out of the round firewood piles you’ve…
Creative Renovation Ideas That Add Function Without Adding Square Footage
When a house stops working, the reflex is to add on. More square footage, out the back or up a…
EASIER COTTAGE LIVING: Low-maintenance Design & Building Strategies
Cottages and rural retreats are great, but not if you have to work on them all the time. Read five…
RURAL LIVING: The Essential Habits of Highly Successful Homesteading
Feel like opting out of the rat race and making it on your own in the country? It’s a great…
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…
CEDAR RAIL FARM FENCES: How They Tell the Story of Hope & Fear on Manitoulin Island
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, maintains a tradition of cedar rail farm fences by continuing to use and upkeep them…
How to Make Small Logs Into Lumber Without a Sawmill
Question: Is it possible to make something from the oak tree I cut down at my place? I don’t have…
Why Hearing Protection Matters for Lawn Care, Woodworking, and DIY Projects
A Saturday spent improving the yard can become noisy before the first cup of coffee has gone cold. The mower…
PICKUP TRUCK EXTENDER: “Big Bed” Stands the Test of Time
Steve Maxwell, Canadas Handiest Man, sheds light on a new rural Canadian invention, Seg-Ins Big Bed, a truck extention that…
Building a 42×80-Foot Fabric Structure: Complete Video Series
Need a large, economical building for equipment storage, farm machinery, vehicles, livestock, warehousing or workshop space? This video series follows…
How to Build a Mason Bee House: Plans, Instructions & Video Tour
Want to boost pollinators in your garden? Encourage mason bees with this simple but effective DIY project. Click here or…
FREEZE-PROOF WATER: How to Protect a Raised Cabin Water Line from Freezing
Got a water supply line from a well or lake that can’t be buried enough to protect from freezing? The…
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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.