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.
WORKSHOP: How to Revive Old Hardware & Tools
Question: What’s the best way to clean rust and dirt off of an old door lock? It’s seized and the…
GARDENING: Five Tillage Tools & Techniques That Really Work
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, shows you how to get the most tillage garden work done with the least amount…
PASTURING: See Water Troughs & Special Hose in Action
Click below for a video tour of the way we deliver water to our grass-fed cattle on pasture. Drinking water-safe…
OUTDOOR LIVING: Non-Spray, Homeopathic Way To Stop Bugs From Biting
Conventional Bug Options My earliest memories of mosquitos, black flies and biting insects goes back to May 1970 and my…
TILE DRAINING FARMLAND: Watch & See How We Improved 27 Acres at Our Place
Crops need water, but too much water in the soil is bad. That’s because excess water restricts plant growth and…
KITCHEN GARDEN: How We Dry Herbs at Home
It’s herb harvest time on Manitoulin Island! Watch how homestead wife Mary harvests, bundles and dries this year’s herb bounty.
VIDEO PASTURE TOUR: See a Closeup View of What Our Cattle Eat
From a distance, pasture just looks like a green field, but there’s more going on than meets the eye on…
Flagpole Maintenance: Tips for Longevity and Performance
A flagpole is more than just a pole in the ground. It’s a statement. A symbol of pride. And, often,…
HOME ENERGY: See a Simple, Safe, Legal House-to-Generator Connection Option
Are you thinking of connecting an electric generator to your house to provide backup power? There are different options –…
COTTAGE PLUMBING: Priming Your Seasonal Water System The Easier Way
Pressurize your water system, not your blood pressure. Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, discusses seasonal water system solutions for cottagers.
BETTER TARPING: See a Better Way to Tie Down Than Just grommets
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, explains a handy product called Grabbits that make tying down tarps much simpler and easier.
RURAL WATER: Watch a 100+ Foot Well Being Drilled in Solid Rock
Watch a water well being drilled from start to finish, including an unexpected ending. This video is from my online…
DIY HOOP HOUSE PLANS: Build Your Own Economical Backyard Greenhouse
A hoop house is a simple greenhouse, and if you’d like to build one for yourself, you’ve come to the…
COTTAGE PLUMBING: Priming Your Seasonal Water System The Easy Way
Pressurize your water system, not your blood pressure. Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, discusses seasonal water system solutions for cottagers.
HOUSEHOLD PESTS: How to Get Rid of Gnats
If you’re dealing with pesky little insects buzzing around your home, chances are you have gnats. Even though gnats are…
WOOD SPLITTER REVIEW: See this Best Selling Model Up Close
Thinking of getting a wood splitter? Check out my video review of the best selling wood splitter in Canada. Except…
WORK GLOVES: 100 Year-Old Canadian Firm Protects Workers & Heals Warriors
In 2018, I discovered a Canadian work glove manufacturer that I’m surprised I hadn’t found before. I use work gloves…
DECK BOARD BULLNOSE: Learn a Simple Detail That Makes Any Deck Look Better
In this week’s video episode, see a simple routed profile that makes any deck look way better; watch two wrong…
LESSONS FROM THE LAND: A Few Thoughts While Fixing an Heirloom Cedar Rail fence
In this 4 minute video, watch Steve as he fixes a century-old cedar rail fence in the backwoods of Manitoulin;…
LESSONS LEARNED: Little But Important Things That Really Matter
Sometimes it’s the little things in life that determine success or failure, and experiences that one of my sons and…
ONCE-AND-FOR-ALL OUTDOOR WOOD FINISH: See Application & Time Lapse Colour Change
In this video (7 1/4 minutes) see how Steve mixes an outdoor wood finish that only needs to be applied…
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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.