The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects

Gardeners, small farmers, and outdoor living enthusiasts will love this compilation of 76 rustic DIY projects. Expert woodworker Spike Carlsen offers simple, fully illustrated instructions for everything from plant supports and clotheslines to a chicken coop, a greenhouse, and a root cellar with storage bins. Most of the projects are suitable for complete novices, and all use just basic tools and easy-to-find materials. You'll find techniques to build whatever your outdoor world is missing, with additional tips to live sustainably, happily, and independently.

“"Whether you are raising livestock or just a small bed of herbs, there are plenty of useful projects in this collection. ...This well-balanced book fits very nicely into the series, and the projects are accessible to homesteaders of all levels. A great purchase."”

"Master carpenter Spike Carlsen shares 76 plans for making a self-sufficient life easier and better organized."

Spike Carlsen built a tree house at the age of 8 and has been swinging a hammer ever since. He worked as a carpenter and contractor for 15 years, then as an editor with The Family Handyman — the world’s leading DIY magazine — for another 15. He’s the author of the award-winning A Splintered History of Wood, Woodworking FAQ, and The Backyard Homestead of Building Projects. He’s written for Men’s Health, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, American Woodworker, and other publications and has appeared on HGTV, Modern Marvels, and CBS’s The Early Show. He and his wife, Kat, divide their time between their home in Stillwater, Minnesota, and their cabin on Lake Superior.

Build Your Self-Sufficient Life Build-it-yourself equipment, shelters, workspaces, and storage structures are just what you need to make your backyard more productive and better organized. Cold frames, compost bins, hose guides, raised-bed gardens, and potting benches make your vegetable gardening more pleasurable and your yields more plentiful. Rabbit hutches, bat houses, and chicken coops protect the useful animals in your yard. Drying racks, outdoor cookers, and root-cellar storage help you prepare and preserve fresh food. Tool sheds, chests, and storage racks provide tidy homes for everything you use in your backyard. Whether you're a new woodworker or a seasoned expert with power tools, you'll find projects you can put together in just a day or a weekend. Clear instructions guide you through every step required to build 76 useful items that will support and expand your active outdoor lifestyle.

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