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.
HOW TO CUT A TREE WITH A CHAINSAW: The Dos And Don’ts Of Working Safely
Among all do-it-yourself projects, felling trees is one of the most dangerous. Although you’re the one who has to take…
“How can I protect tools against rust?”
Video Watch Time = 7 minutes Question: My husband and I store power tools, hand tools and garden…
COMPOSITE VS WOOD: Understanding these deck building options
If you’re building a deck or renovating an older one, I’ve got some thoughts to share when it comes to…
BACKYARD CHICKEN HOUSE: Download Free Building Plans
Want plans for building the portable chicken house you see below? You’ll find a download link further along in the…
STONEWORKING: Breaking a Big Rock With Old Tools & New Ones
Watch as my son, Robert, and I split a piece of limestone that’s way too big for a mini excavator…
BETTER FENCES: Best practices for Building well
In at least one way, wooden residential fences are like most other home improvement projects. The more you put into…
BIG FABRIC STRUCTURE: Watch the Unloading of my 12,000 lbs Project
When I needed more covered storage space on my rural property, I decided to put up a fabric structure. I…
Top Tips to Improve Drainage in Your Garden
The presence of moisture is among the features of a healthy landscape. However, too much water can cause waterlogging and…
BETTER TRACTION ON ICE: I Finally Found Something I Like Putting on My Walkway & Steps
I get plenty of winter ice where I live, but I’ve always opted to put nothing on sidewalks and steps…
Watch a Foundation Being Filled And Levelled
Watch the latest in my video series on the 42×80-foot Calhoun Superstructure I’m putting up at my place. The inner…
LESSONS FROM STONE: What Anyone Can Learn From a Nearly-Lost Trade
On July 1, 1987, my wife and I began building in a way I’d never seen anyone else do in…
“How Can I Cast My Own Concrete Outdoor Steps?”
Cast My Own Concrete Outdoor Steps This is the corner of a plywood form I built to make the lintels…
PLANS DOWNLOAD: Backyard Your Own Portable Backyard Chicken Coop
There’s nothing quite like fresh eggs from your own hens, and this backyard chicken coop lets you make that happen…
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…
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…
Tired of Looking at Your Metal Garage? Update It With a Coat of Paint
Some things just don’t seem to belong together in a sentence. Curb appeal and metal garages can be an example…
How Property Lines Apps Have Changed the Way We Map Land
Over the years, technological progress has reshaped a range of industries, including the field of land mapping and surveying. Property…
HEAT FROM THE FOREST: How to Turn Trees into Fuel the Right Way
If trees grow where you live, then making them into firewood is a great way to reduce heating costs and…
How to Grow Gorgeous Flowers and Create Stunning DIY Floral Arrangements for Your Home
The Timeless Charm of Fresh-Cut Flowers Nothing says “home” quite like a fresh bouquet of hand-picked flowers. Growing your own…
Seven Questions to Ask Yourself When Setting Up an Outdoor Kitchen
An enjoyable project that can improve your home’s aesthetics and livability is building an outdoor kitchen. Whether you have a…
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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.