low cost construction

Build Your Own Outdoor Solar Shower for Pennies

I’m not sure when I decided to construct an outdoor solar shower for my family, but I do know that I was inspired by an article in either Countryside and Small Stock Journal or one of the other homesteading magazines.

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How a British Family Constructed Their Own Root Cellar

In Buckinghamshire, England, Ali Freeman and her family, farm an impressive eight acre smallholding with a menagerie of animals and abundant vegetable plots. I went to meet them last August and was very impressed by the root cellar, which they’d built themselves.

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Proper Fence Post Depth to Build Strong Fences
January 24, 2022 · · Fences, Sheds & Barns

Fence post depth, size, and anchoring systems can make or break your fence line. Despite what some people believe, making a long-lasting fence is not always as simple as sinking a post in the ground and moving on to the next post.

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How to Build a Foundation for a Shed

Knowing how to build a foundation for a shed is the all-important first step of adding barn space to your farm or homestead. Laying a strong foundation for any project is key to the longevity of the structure, regardless of construction type.

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Build a Home Using Alternative Building Materials
February 16, 2020 · · Self-Reliance

Building a self-sustaining home or structure is a wonderful concept that can be put into practice by anyone looking to create shelter for man or animal.

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A Guide to the Best Greenhouse Plants
June 30, 2019 · · Growing

After years of putting our gardens in the ground, we decided to build our own greenhouse and pick out the best greenhouse plants for extending our growing season.

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How to Build a Homemade Barrel Stove

Add to Favorites By W. Wayne Robertson – Many people are familiar with wood heaters made from steel barrels. This is a description of how to make a homemade barrel stove. An …

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How to Build an Inexpensive Outside Oven

Add to Favorites By Donna Cerabone – Breads old-world style—crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside—are impossible to make in a standard oven. Many ethnic meals are …

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Masonry Stove Plans: An Ancient Art Re-Discovered

Add to Favorites By Heike Holthaus – Much has been written about the construction of masonry stoves. Plans, materials and the finished products are as versatile as the masonry stove itself. Though …

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Extend the Growing Season with Cold Frame Gardening

Add to Favorites By Sue Robishaw – Whether we blame it on El Niño or the gods, chaotic weather is too often a part of the gardener’s life. While this …

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Build Your Own Greenhouse the Easy Way

Have you ever wanted to build your own greenhouse? I was interested in learning how to build a greenhouse to do some raised bed gardening on my homestead.

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How to Make a Cheap Greenhouse

Add to Favorites By Jay Rodgers – Two years ago I began to experiment with an idea that was spawned from the pages of Countryside and Small Stock Journal. Someone wrote …

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Digging Holes 101

Add to Favorites Since the dawn of agrarian culture, we’ve been inventing and reinventing ways to keep domesticated animals contained. Many things in our culture have radically changed such as …

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Rope-Making Machine Plans

Add to Favorites By Bob Greenwood and Judi Stevens – Did you ever need a rope to tie a gate, make a halter, tie down a load or make a …

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