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.
Q&A OF THE WEEK: “What Are My Options for Keeping a Rural Driveway Clear?”
Q: What’s the best way to clear snow from my long rural driveway? I’m a newly-single woman with a 16…
BUYING A RIDING LAWN MOWER: Here’s What You Need to Know
Riding lawn mowers can help make your life easier and your lawn beautiful, but there is a lot to consider…
HOME STANDBY GENERATORS: Choosing & Using Automatic Backup Power At Your Home
BONUS: Don’t miss the two tech videos below. More and more people are deciding to get proactive about electrical power…
Q&A of the Week: “What’s the Best Way to Paint My Rusty Metal Railing?”
Q: How can I paint the rusty steel railing that goes across the front of my property? I want the…
Q&A of the Week: How’s SeptiCleanse septic system treatment working out for you?
Q: I’m writing to ask for the follow-up to a Toronto Star column you wrote a number of years ago…
GET YOUR SOLAR ENERGY & WATER SYSTEM VIDEO eBOOKS GIFT
Congratulations! Someone who cares about you has bought you the gift of four of my instructional video ebooks. Click here to…
HOME GENERATORS: North American Brand Empowers Homeowners for Faster Troubleshooting
Generally speaking, they don’t make things to be repaired like they used to, but every so often I find a…
SIMPLE LIVING: A True Cabin Story
When I show people the 10 x 20-foot cabin where my wife, Mary, and I lived each spring, summer and…
VIDEO FEATURE: See Deck Stain Testing Program in Action
Back in the 1980s I did some exterior woodworking for a client. They were very pleased, at least at first…
DECKS: Watch My Most Popular Deck Construction Video Ever
Want to build a great deck? Don’t make the mistake so many deck builders do. Watch and see how to…
FIREWOOD: Understanding the Essential Splitting Axe
Too few people understand the joy and practicality of cutting firewood. Part of the trick is understanding the one tool…
Things You Need To Know About Clean Power Generators
“You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone”, may just be a line from an old Joni Mitchell song,…
Champion Generator Canadian Giveaway
Hey Canada, this contest is for you! As spring inches towards summer, it’s time to head outside and do some building…
Q&A: What Can I Do With Old Cedar Siding?
Ever wonder how to deal with old, peeling wood siding? Read on for Steve’s advice.
VIDEO: Vapour Barriers – How They Work & Why They Matter
Building and renovating homes in cold climates requires vapour barriers in some places. Learn how the work and why they’re…
Maxwell’s Tips – Heating a Basement Suite, Economics of Electric Heat and Fixing Sluggish Septic Systems
In this edition of Maxwell’s Tips, Steve answers questions about heating a basement suite, the economics of electric heat and…
How to Properly Store your Lumber
Steve Maxwell explains how to properly store your lumber until you’re ready to use it. Proper storage will prevent damage…
VIDEO GARDEN TOUR: Manitoulin August 2015
Watch an 8 minute tour of the garden Steve and his wife Mary keep on Manitoulin Island. Learn three gardening…
OFF-GRID ELECTRICAL SYSTEM VIDEO#15: HOW TO MAKE CRIMPED & TWIST-ON WIRE CONNECTIONS
This is video#15 of 15 in my course INDEPENDENT ELECTRIC POWER. This course is a complete program for designing and building…
OFF-GRID ENERGY SYSTEM VIDEO#3: CHOOSING A BACKUP GENERATOR
This is video#3 of 15 in my course INDEPENDENT ELECTRIC POWER. This course is a complete program on designing and building…
OFF-GRID POWER SYSTEM VIDEO#1: REAL-WORLD POWER SYSTEM
This is the video#1 of 15 in my course “INDEPENDENT ELECTRIC POWER”. This course is a complete program on designing and…
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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.