I vividly remember parasailing across a South Dakota home improvement store parking lot. Not on purpose. I’d picked up a vinyl shed panel in the wind. It was 6:15 am and Iโd just been sent to clean up after a recent blizzard. Sleeting snow and wind stung my face as I skated across the slush-filled
Search Results for: eco-home/eco-furniture
Greenhouse Plans
A greenhouse is one of the most well-known garden structures. Providing shielding from extreme sun, wind, and rain โ greenhouses can significantly extend your growing season. These sunny buildings come in a variety of shapes and sizes too. Heated glass greenhouses can fight against snow and cold in severe climates. Plastic sheeting can help create
12 DIY Lip Balm Recipes
If you love lip balm, you know the dread when you’re down to the last few uses. Make DIY lip balm with just a few simple ingredients to save on buying it new. Lip balm is essential for facial health and looking and feeling your best. Rather than purchase a ready-made lip balm, have a
Rocket Mass Heaters: What Are they, How They Work, And Photos
Rocket Mass
Toxins in Leather Shoes
Toxins in Leather Shoes
Canning
For several years after I started cooking and farming, I avoided canning. It intimidated me. I was afraid of making someone sick. I was overwhelmed by recipes. I didnโt have any of the special equipment or know-how. Canning seemed complicated, technical, and elite. Best to leave it to the experts, I figured. I couldnโt have been
Can I Compost Wax Paper?
Learn which wax paper type are compostable using this comprehensive guide! Discover tips on preparing wax paper for composting and maintaining optimal compost conditions. Choose the right composting method that best suits your resources and lifestyle.
25 Pipe Shelves To Add Rustic Flair To Your Home
Nothing brings rustic vibes to home decor quite like pipe shelves. The antique and vintage feel of exposed pipes contrasts well with farmhouse-inspired wood shelves. That being said, if rustic isn’t your style, these shelves can still be for you! There are plenty of more modern, industrial pipe shelf options that would fit with your
How To Dig a Fresh Water Well
One way to ensure long-term water is to drive a water well, which, if you’re willing to do the work, could provide you and yours will clean water for years.
13 DIY Halloween Decoration Ideas
Halloween is right around the corner and you probably need some decorations if you want to have the spookiest looking house in the neighborhood. Purchasing seasonal home decor can get expensive, and it is not environmentally friendly to buy cheap products you will likely dispose of within a year or two. When you make a
Living Off-Grid: What Itโs Actually Like
In our modern day, with cable TV shows banking off of the “weirdness” of living off the grid, the very phrase “Off-Grid” images of end-of-the-world preppers stocking up MREs and ammo, wild-haired hermits digging in the dirt for acorns and mushrooms, or maybe criminals attempting to elude capture. But if you visited our off-grid homestead,
Living Off-Grid: Our Micro Hydro Alternative Energy System
As a follow up to Sean’s post on Micro Hydro Essentials, I thought I would share an overview of my system, which has powered my home for over 13 years. We are fortunate to live on rural mountain property in Northern California with a creek that is not seasonal, although the volume of water does
10 Amazing School Bus Conversions
Converting a school bus into a permanent residence is a bit like a coming-of-age story. You take a school bus, probably one very similar to the one you rode in elementary school, gut it entirely, and build a tiny home out of it. To me, the whole school bus conversion process feels very charming, sustainable,
Homesteading Resources
Want a chance to win free homesteading gear every month? Sign up for our email list and every month (sometimes more) we send freebie emails with stuff like free books, seeds, gift certificates, and tons of other great resources for fellow gardeners & homesteaders! SIGN UP FOR CONTESTS HERE Our Most Popular Content: Earthbags Shipping
How To Throw A Successful Yard Sale
Donating is great, but making money is better! These tips will help you attract customers, get rid of excess stuff, and best of all, make some extra money.
๐ณ Homestead Kitchen
On the homestead, sometimes it seems that aside from the garden, we spend most of our time in the kitchen. After all, those vegetables and fruits you spent all spring growing wonโt can, dehydrate, or cook themselves! To make the most of your gardening, you have to know what to do with all of those
Upcycling Window Shutters
Shutter Reuse
Cork Chair Inspiration
Cork Chairs
Upcycled Fashion
Reuse, Crafty and Ingenious Clothes
Bicycle Art
Every year about 109 million bicycles are produced, and 140 million people are born. That adds up to lots of extra bikes to make art with. Burning Man Festival 2007 by Mark Grieve and Ilana SpectorBikes reclaimed from garbage dumps and recycling centers form a 30 foot high archway.Pic: Jenene Chesbrough www.flickr.com Bicycle Shop GermanyChristian
Bark Shingles
Bark Shingles
Moss Art
Bringing out the beauty of this 350-million-year-old plant. Mud Maiden Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornall, England www.heligan.com Mud Maiden Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornall, England. www.heligan.com The Giant’s Head Lost Gardens of Heligan. By Susan & Pete Hill. www.heligan.com Mud Maiden (a newer sister to above) By Susan & Pete Hill – Private Collection. www.flixya.com
Fairy Houses
Supply a home to our ethereal friends in your backyard, in a park, or in your city apartment. Great fun with kids, as the activity is usually outside in nature, and sparks imagination and creative play. Fairy Houses Fairy House on Monhegan Island, Maine.ย fairyhouses.com Fairy House. saras-toy-box.blogspot.com Fairy House by Aviary. pinterest.com Fairy House at
Recycled Glass Art
Repurposed glass dishes become an apple tree.By Alison Fox. alisonsstainedglass.com Repurposed glass. “A Sprite’s Garden” $595, 28 x 15″By Alison Fox. alisonsstainedglass.com ‘Downtown’ 27″ x 20″ repurposed glass.By Alison Fox.alisonsstainedglass.com Glass dishes and vase.By Alison: alisonsstainedglass.com A geode path with carnival glass, depression glass, a lamp base and a unique blue furniture coaster. 22″ x 19″ $595. alisonsstainedglass.com Vintage crystal window
Egg Shell Art
The ancient Vietnamese technique of crushing and then applying egg shell with lacquer to a surface is beginning to find favor with some contempoarary artisans. Mother of Pearl, Egg Shell & Lacquer on Panel. By Sook ja Kong of South Korea. kongsookja.com ‘Back’ Mother of Pearl, Egg Shell, Gold plate, Lacquer on Panel. By Sook
Metal Fire Pits
Few things express summer more than the smell of a campfire while sitting out under the stars. Add some marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers and you have the perfect setup for a summer evening. While many of us would love to go out camping, itโs not always possible. You donโt have to skip the smores
Toys Upcycled Into Sculpture By Kris Kuksi
Unwanted toys, frames and plastic model kits are recreated into fantastic sculptures by Kris Kuksi. By turning old plastic soldiers, dolls and tanks into sculpture, all that plastic is kept out of the landfill, long term. The Deadly Sins, 2007, 40″ x 24″ x 8.5″ The Deadly Sins, detail. kuksi.com Kris Kuksi with Imminent Utopia,
Solar Roadways
The Solar Roadways project is working to pave roads with solar panels that you can drive on. Their long range goal is to cover all concrete and asphalt surfaces that are exposed to the sun with Solar Road Panels. They plan to start off small: driveways, bike paths, patios, sidewalks, parking lots, playgrounds, etc. This
Outdoor Wall Sconces
An outdoor wall sconce can be: A functional item. Just there to make sure you don’t trip over the patio stairs. A contributing design element. Follows the theme or style you’ve chosen for your outdoor decor. A focal point. If you don’t have incredible landscaping, or stunning furniture, sconces are an inexpensive backyard conversation piece.
๐ Homestead Gear Reviews
Reviews of our favorite homesteading gear and guides to help you make more sustainable purchasing decisions. Gardening & Lawn Care Reviews Electric Lawn Mowers: Best Electric Lawn Mower Reviews Best Corded Electric Lawn Mowers Best Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers Best Robot Lawn Mowers Best Push Lawn Mowers Gardening & Lawn Equipment: Best Work Gloves Best
Pecan Trees: Managing A Pecan Grove
Throughout much of the southwestern United States, pecan trees flourish. A tough and hardy tree, pecan trees can live and produce nuts for as long as 300 years. Pecan trees enhance the environment and can provide additional income from the sale of the nuts. If you have purchased a property blessed with pecan trees, either
6 Reasons To Raise Sheep
My parents raised sheep for several years when I was a kid. They were my favorite of the animals we experimented raising on our hobby farm. Watching the sheep give birth was absolutely amazing and the baby lambs made the most adorable pets! My siblings, friends, and I also got a lot of entertainment attempting
Make/100 Upcycled Wood Toys
Two sisters from Buenos Aires who grew up among woodworkers at their grandfather’s shipyard have created these awesome wood-block toys, now for sale on Kickstarter. The wood comes from a eco-friendly (and cheap) sourceโthe scrap pile of renowned furniture designer Alejandro Sticotti. Pieces of sustainably-grown pine, lapcaho, petiribรญ wood that weren’t lucky enough to become
5 Blue Painterโs Tape Construction Tips
Painting isn’t blue tape’sย only use. Blue tape comes in handy during finish work, furniture, and cabinetry carpentry, and even when cutting certain materials. Blue tape loves you and itย needs to produce clean lines. Blue tape is on your side and will act as a buffer in case you make a mistake. Blue tape wants you
Outdoor Planters
Choosing the right planters will infuse your personality and taste into your outdoor living space. Just treat it like you would the rest of your home! Choose outdoor furniture and accessories with the same care you’d take for indoor spaces. Select pillows and colors and lighting that you love and that reflect your personality. Look for
The 25 Most Gorgeous Garden Stools You Can Buy
You know how you sometimes have a dead space in a room, or on your deck or patio? You needs something that takes the place of furniture, but won’t eat up much space. Garden stools are the answer, and they’re having a moment right now. Their resurgence means we can solve the problem of dead
Kitchen Islands
It often feels like the kitchen is one of those rooms within our homes where we really wish we could add just a few more drawers, some extra cabinets, and a bit more surface space. If youโre not building a new home, and have no intentions of moving, rather than opting for an entire kitchen
25 Gorgeous Tree Stump Tables
Simply put, tree stump tables are easily the most gorgeous addition you can add to a room. Not only are the majority of them constructed from reclaimed or sustainable wood, but they are eye-catching and sure to start a conversation. While some of the options on this list are more functional than others, they all
How To Grow Bamboo
Bamboo is an amazing plant! It has so many benefits to offer on so many levels. Not only does bamboo produce oxygen, which helps to clean the area where you grow your plants, but many varieties are edible! And above all, gardening is just great for your health in general. Unfortunately, growing bamboo is often
Easy Upcycling: How To Update A Mirror And Frame With A Can Of Spray Paint
Got a perfectly good mirror and frame… that’s really ugly? Don’t trash it: get a can of spray paint, and turn it into modern decor.
Pea Gravel Patios
Using natural materials in hardscaping is among one of most the popular trends in patios right now. Among these natural options, pea gravel is one of the best. Pea gravel is visually appealing as the small, round stones offer a soft look to the space they occupy. The gravel is also versatile and can accommodate
Outdoor Fireplaces
Fireplaces offer a warm, cozy spot to snuggle up with a good book after a long day. Why not take that relaxation outside? With outdoor fireplaces, not only are you creating a great relaxation spot for yourself, but you’re creating a gathering area that will serve you and your family and friends for years to
Potting Benches
Potting benches are functional pieces of outdoor garden furniture that not only allow you to pot your plants with ease, but offer all sorts of storage for your gardening tools. Cabinets, drawers, and hooks work to keep your tools easily accessible and organized. Once you’ve invested money in high-quality trowels, hand rakes, and pruners, the
34 Unique Solar Lights For Paths, Gardens, And Backyards
Whether you’re wanting to illuminateย a pathway or add a bit of ambiance to your backyard or garden, solar lights offer a lighting source that won’t add any extra expense to your electricity bill. A solar light charges during the day and typically turns on automatically at dusk. Most lights can last 8-10 hours on a
15 Small Backyard Ideas To Make Your Space Feel Larger
No, you won’t be building an Olympic-sized swimming pool back there, but your small backyard can still be an oasis for your plants, your friends, and your mind. Weโre going to take a look at several small backyard ideas that can transform your cozy yard for maximum use and enjoyment. 1. Make Use Of Your
Best Gazebo Kits
There’s something about a gazebo that makes for a picture-perfect backyard. They add class to your outdoor area and give guests a place to gather. You’ll have a range of options when buying gazebo kitsโfrom small to large, classic to modern. So, first, you’ll need to settle on some important details. You’ll want to consider
Best Grill Gazebo
Grilling outside can get hot. You’re already contending with the heat of the grillโthe sun beating down on you only makes things worse. While you can buy covers that protect your grill from the elements, they don’t protect you. Adding a grill gazebo to your patio will accomplish both tasks. Grill gazebos also serve as
Picnic Table Plans
Picnic tables are not only a traditional backyard staple, but theyโve evolved to become so much more than a place for sandwiches and watermelon on a summer day. Theyโre a favorite gathering place for friends, the site of craft projects for kids, and even act as outdoor classrooms. Even for an amateur woodworker, tackling DIY
19 DIY Workbench Plans
Regardless of the projects you’re tackling, chances are you could do them more efficiently with a workbench. Building your own workbench doesn’t necessarily require complex woodworkingโbut before you jump in to build your own, consider a few things, like your primary use for it and how much space you have for it. Be realistic about
12 Ingenious Everyday Borax Uses
Inexpensive and readily available, powdered borax, also known as sodium tetraborate, is a naturally occurring common boron mineral salt. Borax is a component in a diverse array of laundry soaps, bath salts, hand soaps, cleaning products, and cosmetics. It’s a product homesteaders have used for more than 100 years. First discovered in dry lakebeds of