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The Backyard Homestead
The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects
Gardeners, small farmers, and outdoor living enthusiasts will love this compilation of 76 rustic DIY projects. 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.
Also available in this series: The Backyard Homestead, The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals, and The Backyard Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How.
Also available in this series: The Backyard Homestead, The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals, and The Backyard Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How.
296 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2014
About the author
Spike Carlsen
14 books53 followersSpike Carlsen has been writing about the world around us, the stuff in it and how it all works for over 25 years. He was an editor with Readers’ Digest’s, Family Handyman magazine for 15 years where he wrote hundreds of articles and oversaw the books division. He’s written for Men’s Health, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian, Make, Mother Earth News, Fine Homebuilding and a number of other magazines.
He’s the author of the award-winning A Splintered History of Wood, as well as The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects, Woodworking FAQ, Cabin Lessons, Building Unique & Useful Kid’s Furniture and more. He’s appeared on the NBC TODAY SHOW, Modern Marvels, HGTV, the CBS Early Show and dozens of other radio and television programs.
Prior to picking up a pen he swung a hammer for fifteen years and taught elementary school. In his free time he enjoys biking, woodworking and attempting to keep their 170 year old house from keeling over. He and his wife, Kat, live in Stillwater, Minnesota, in close proximity to their 5 kids and 8 grand kids
His most recent book, A Walk Around the Block: Squirrels, Sewers, Stoplights, and Other Stuff you see Every Day but Know Nothing About (Harper One) was released fall of 2020.
He’s the author of the award-winning A Splintered History of Wood, as well as The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects, Woodworking FAQ, Cabin Lessons, Building Unique & Useful Kid’s Furniture and more. He’s appeared on the NBC TODAY SHOW, Modern Marvels, HGTV, the CBS Early Show and dozens of other radio and television programs.
Prior to picking up a pen he swung a hammer for fifteen years and taught elementary school. In his free time he enjoys biking, woodworking and attempting to keep their 170 year old house from keeling over. He and his wife, Kat, live in Stillwater, Minnesota, in close proximity to their 5 kids and 8 grand kids
His most recent book, A Walk Around the Block: Squirrels, Sewers, Stoplights, and Other Stuff you see Every Day but Know Nothing About (Harper One) was released fall of 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 4, 2019
Another excellent addition to this series in backyard homesteading! So many fun projects that I can’t wait to implement in our tiny little homestead. So many great ideas 😍 My wish list is a mile high now 🤣 But with this book, I can build them all 💪
May 16, 2019
Perfect for Beginners
This book is not overwhelming for beginners and is a great starting point for learning. Lots of good info that is useful. Easy to read and organized well. Great list of extended resources.
This book is not overwhelming for beginners and is a great starting point for learning. Lots of good info that is useful. Easy to read and organized well. Great list of extended resources.
May 23, 2017
Amazing in breadth and scope of easy to make, necessary and affordable items for the homestead - skimmed entire book - will be looking to buy for a reference.
February 8, 2018
Awesome variety of projects. Great, detailed explanations and directions.
April 15, 2019
Great! This is the best potting bench pattern I have seen yet. Loved all the project ideas.
August 20, 2020
Great pics and detailed instructions. Planning on referencing this one often.
September 9, 2020
Haven't tried any of the projects so I couldn't say how good the instructions are or even how well the projects turn out, but they look great and there's a good variety.
January 30, 2021
Attractive, practical, heritage quality projects for the homesteader. Complete materials, parts and cutting lists with line drawing diagrams for the difficult to see parts.
February 15, 2021
Amazing book with great building projects for the beginner homesteaders. Love it, will use as a reference book.
January 14, 2022
My husband has a lot of “honey do” items from this book 😆 I’ll ask him how helpful it is when it comes to implementing the information once the time comes 😊
January 25, 2022
Neat ideas
I liked the ideas and the plans seem to be complete and easy to follow. I’ll be making some of them soon.
I liked the ideas and the plans seem to be complete and easy to follow. I’ll be making some of them soon.
March 27, 2022
Lots of great projects. My only criticisms is that I think it would have been better organized, and the instructions could have benefitted from having more detail in places.
April 21, 2022
The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects had several intriguing projects that I want to create for my yard.
April 12, 2023
Good for inspiration.
May 27, 2014
This book was great! It had a lot of useful tips and building projects that have been added to my must do list. It had a simple, easy-to-read layout and list of materials. The book also contains step-by-step directions with diagrams so the projects are clear and easy to follow. A great book for anyone interested in do-it-yourself projects, homesteading, or sustainable living no matter what your skill level.
Bettina P. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.
August 5, 2014
Intriguing do-it-yourself instructions for 76 items, from simple bird feeders to a window-mounted solar collector, a couple of chicken coops, and a very large storage shed. Overall the supply lists and instructions appear to be pretty clear, at least for those that would be in my skill set. Drawback: finished dimensions are not listed, even for the projects with precise directions.
August 27, 2016
If you need ideas for building structures for your homestead, this is a very good resource. Lots of ideas from the simple to the complicated. Garden beds, chicken coops, sheds and fences are among the plans.
July 26, 2016
Good plans for greenhouse, cellar storage, garden stuff for Sarah
Check out again when in new house.
Check out again when in new house.
June 7, 2014
This book had some great projects but unfortunately my community has restrictions on some of them but for the farm owner or those with acres of land this would be a great gift.
October 12, 2014
There are a lot of amazing projects in this book! I may just get it so I can do these projects at a later date.
Shelved as 'couldnt-get-into'
May 19, 2016Warning!!!! Unreadable as e-book
Read
September 1, 2016Some excellent backyard building ideas using various levels of skill.
September 7, 2017
I wish I felt more comfortable with power tools, oh the things you could build...
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews