When you think of a school bus, you might not consider it as a potential dwelling. That’s understandable. We are familiar with pull-behind campers, motor homes, conversion vans, and tiny houses, so why consider a bus instead? There are four very good reasons. Owning a … Read More

There are many houseplants that love to spend the summer outdoors, where warm temperatures and abundant light help support strong seasonal growth. Every houseplant grower can recall a day when a sudden cold snap caused them to rush to get plants back indoors in one … Read More

Summertime is bug season – no doubt about it! If you spend any time outdoors, you’re bound to encounter all manner of flying, buzzing, creeping, crawling, stinging, biting, chewing, and burrowing bugs  — and not just ones that irritate you, but also those that get … Read More

If you’re very lucky, when the power goes out during cold weather you simply stoke up the woodstove and remain nice and toasty. If you are not so lucky, the power goes out and you feel your house get steadily colder. It’s a terrible feeling, … Read More

So, you’re thinking about setting out to build your own tiny home or structure. Congrats! “But how do I get started?” People email me with this question all the time, and rightfully so. I mean, who wants to blindly jump into the alligator-infested pit of … Read More

Lee Mothes knows a little something about how much having a clubhouse of one’s own appeals to kids. In fact, he wrote a book on it! A few months ago, Storey’s illustration coordinator, Ilona Sherratt, alerted me to the fact that Lee … Read More

For a lot of us, our pets are members of the family. Our plans would not be complete without thinking about their needs as well as our own. Most pets have few requirements for remaining happy and healthy. They need food and water, a place … Read More

If you have a couple of minutes — literally two minutes — you can get a rough estimate of how much solar power you can produce at your house. If you have 10 minutes (and a smartphone), you can get a much more accurate estimate … Read More

If you’re interested in solar power, surely you already know that solar electricity is good for the environment, national security, and the air we breathe, not to mention your electricity bill. And that it’s one of the best ways to reduce your household’s contribution to … Read More

The right voltage and the right type and number of wires on an electric fence can satisfactorily control poultry, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, equines, rabbits, deer, foxes, coyotes, and bears. The trick is to get the right voltage and type and spacing of fence wires … Read More