Outdoor and recreational areas Books

Book SynopsisEnjoy outdoor living to the fullest with these functional and decorative furniture projects for deck, patio, yard and garden. From Adirondack chairs, patio bars and picnic tables to showcase Victorian trellises and planters, the experts at American Woodworker provide complete plans and instructions for building great-looking pieces that will beautify your outdoor space. Expert advice on finishing and varnishing ensures that your durable wooden furniture will stand up to the elements for years to come. How to Make Outdoor & Garden Furniture offers 23 do-it-yourself projects for both novice and experienced woodworkers. Superb step-by-step photographs and excellent working drawings help ensure success for both amateur and experienced builders. Each project takes from just a few hours to a weekend to complete, making this book an ideal resource for transforming your outdoor decor.Table of ContentsIntroduction Outdoor Finishes Crisscross Picnic Table Tile-Topped Outdoor Table Café Table Patio Table Patio Bar Patio Chair Adirondack Chair Adirondack Love Seat Craftsman Style Outdoor Chair Garden Bench Garden Chair Outdoor Rietveld Chair Rustic Chair Hammock Stand Handsome Patio Planter Nine-Pot Plant Stand Shingled Patio Planter Vine Trellis Planter Bench Cypress Chest Showcase Victorian Trellis Garden Arbor

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Book SynopsisWhether you want to protect your garden, provide a safe enclosure for pets, or add privacy, this Storey BASICS® guide covers you everything you need to know to build the perfect fence. Offering clear step-by-step instructions, Jeff Beneke shows you how to construct a variety of fences from wood, vinyl, and chain link. With designs that are easily adaptable to all types of yards, you’ll soon be putting up a functional and beautiful fence that works with your landscape.

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Book SynopsisDiscusses the uses of stone in the garden.

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Book SynopsisFrom the decorative to the practical, Brickwork Projects for Patio & Garden offers a range of projects for all levels of expertise. Sixteen original projects range from a simple garden wall to a beautiful raised herringbone patio. Each project has been photographed step-by-step during construction and the finished piece is shown in its garden setting. Clear construction diagrams and concise text accompany every project. A comprehensive techniques section provides expert advice and information on designing, planning, tools, materials, foundations, concrete, mortar and cutting and laying brick. This attractive and accessible DIY book is full of ideas for creating practical garden features using this simple and traditional material.

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Book SynopsisCatriona Tudor Erler shows you how to incorporate lighting, tile, edging, and fountains as she takes you step-by-step through the poolscaping process and encourages you to design the water space of your dreams. Add a natural touch with stunning poolside plants that are low-maintenance and won’t drop leaves, so you can skip the mess and bring lively color right up to the water’s edge.

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Book SynopsisHit the road in style and comfort you built yourself...The road trip has been a celebrated American tradition for as long as there have been roads on which to travel. Combined with our love of the great outdoors, hitting the road in search of some peace under the stars is a goal for anyone old enough to drive -- even more so in today''s hectic, wired world. Millennials and retiring boomers want to take a break,especially one that reflects their ever increasing simple and minimal mindset. Enter the Teardrop Trailer. First designed in 1930''s for cars lacking power, they''ve re-emerged as a smart, aerodynamic, and eye-catching option for seeking out the quiet beauty that camping offers...but with plenty of comfort. Think of the tiny house movement going camping...Matt Berger’s book The Handmade Teardrop Trailer: Design & Build a Tiny Classic Camper from Scratch hands you the keys to craft your own stylish adventure. The Handmade Teardrop Trailer guides you through the journey from sketchbook to first road trip, and will prepare you to design and build your own comfortable pull-behind Tiny Trailer. And, to achieve this you don’t need much space, just a garage bay or shared workspace, and the most basic tools and materials available at your nearby hardware store or home center.Because we all have our own get away from it all road-trip fantasies when it comes to comfort, style, and purpose, The Handmade Teardrop Trailer will train you up like a pro on the basics of trailer design, backed up by deep research and experimentation. Illustrations provide measurements and construction details that are easy to adapt for variations in size and configuration and more than 100 step-by-step photos illuminate every detail in the design and build process. With this handy guide leading the way, you’ll be shutting down the computer, storing the cellphone, and hitting the road to find some peace in a classic tiny trailer camper you built by yourself.

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Book SynopsisFind out what needs to be done at just the right time to create a garden full of life and colour all year round.   Keeping on top of when to sow seeds, plant bulbs or prune roses can be tricky for new and experienced gardeners with busy lives. What to Sow, Grow and Do takes the hassle out of remembering what to do next with a month-by-month guide. Tracking a year in the garden, it shows you what you need to do when in a series of straightforward how-tos and handy checklists. It also celebrates each month of the year, highlighting the plants in season and the wildlife to spot. Seasonal tasks cover everything from maintaining colorful flower beds and a simple veg patch, to encouraging birds to nest and hedgehogs to hibernate in your garden. At the end of the year, you will have a thriving, flourishing garden that’s a joy to be in.Each month, the book will cover: Monthly tasks &ndasTrade Review"Ben not only has an innate understanding of how to grow, he knows how to draw the best from every season, and I think this book will quickly become an insightful gardening friend." -- Adam Frost * garden designer and TV presenter *"This is a great, uplifting, intelligent and practical book full of sound advice for anyone wanting to garden, written by a talented and creative gardener." -- Fergus Garrett * plantsman and head gardener at Great Dixter *"Honest, useful, eminently readable and extremely beautiful, this is a book filled with decades of hands-on knowledge. The words and photographs are sumptuous – you find yourself immersed in the possibilities of the seasons through pages brimming with ideas and personable, accessible ideas. In short, this lovely book will be a welcome all-seasons addition to my shelf. It's an absolute delight." -- Ann-Marie Powell * garden designer and author *"Benjamin is one of the new generation of artist-gardeners and in this beautiful book he shares his endless knowledge with such ease and pushes the art and craft of gardening to another level." -- Annie Guilfoyle * garden designer and co-founder of Garden Masterclass *Table of ContentsForeword Introduction Gardening terms Sowing guide Spring early/late Summer early/late Autumn early/late Winter early/late Index Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisThe 4th edition of this handbook gives practical advice on all aspects of churchyard management. It explains the law relating to churchyards and offers constructive guidance on the difficult subjects of memorials and cremated remains.

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Book SynopsisIn New Naturalism, horticulturist Kelly D. Norris shows readers how to design and plant eco-friendly, naturalistic home gardens that are resilient and sustainable, distilling complex design principals down for the average homeowner. Trade Review“Mr. Norris is a dynamic and inspiring speaker who represents a new generation of horticulturists.” -- Maureen Karl, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “This beautiful book is undoubtedly worth a read.” -- Garden Culture Magazine “There are plenty of advantages to gardening this way, and Kelly’s new book helps illustrate them.” -- Kylee Baumle for Paulding Progress“Kelly Norris has translated plant community design for the scale of the garden. Free of ecological jargon, this book brings a horticulturist’s perspective on how to create legible, high contrast, and emotionally resonant plantings for small spaces. The planting palettes in the second half of the book make this idea accessible for any designer or home gardener. A must-have book for the naturalistic planting bookshelf!” -- Thomas Rainer, landscape architect and co-author of Planting in a Post-Wild World“A new perspective on naturalistic gardening … Loaded with gorgeous photos of unique gardens, it’ll inspire you to rethink your own way of growing plants more sustainably.” * Garden Gate Magazine *“I sat down and read the whole thing cover to cover. (..) Normally when I read gardening books, I kind of just skim them because a lot of them have the same thing to say. This is not one of those. (...) One of the best books to come out this year.” * The Gardenanglelists Podcast *"This book really digs into the grit of how to achieve a successful naturalistic planting in a variety of growing conditions...Norris illustrates his points with stunning photographs. He builds on the pedagogy of perennial plant design by contributing his own phrases and insight to the current canon of terms." * The American Gardener *“The new wave of gardening.” * Colorado Gardener *"This is a beautiful and practical book that shows how to partner with nature in creating a garden—rather than attempt to direct nature." * Horticulture Magazine *“New Naturalism is a companion for us in cultivating a caring consciousness… In a gardening moment where there is a lot of potential anxiety around the urgency of the biggest concepts like climate change and pollinator decline, Kelly provides just enough of a tweak in perspective on how we approach our gardening impulse to grant us easier access into this conversation about the role of gardeners through the fortitude and best intentions of our already established gardening passions and habits.” -- Jennifer Jewell * Cultivating Place Podcast *“[Kelly] guides us down beautiful pathways where place, plants, and wildlife interact.” * Central Texas Gardener (Austin, TX PBS) *“Although there is a strong emphasis on sustainability, the author recognizes the need for legible beauty in the home garden and addresses ways to increase wildness while maintaining the intentional look of our gardens.” * Connecticut Horticultural Society *Table of ContentsThe Beginning Section 1 THE NATURE OF PLANTING About Plants and Place CHAPTER 1 Understanding Plants CHAPTER 2 Understanding Places for Planting CHAPTER 3 Techniques for Making Beautiful, Ecologically Vibrant Gardens Section 2 PLANTING PALETTES A Few Words about the Palettes CHAPTER 4 Open Landscapes CHAPTER 5 Planting Close to Home CHAPTER 6 Softening the Hardscape CHAPTER 7 Green Shade and Dappled Edges Conclusion: The Nature of Growing About the Author Index

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Book Synopsis BLACK+DECKER The Complete Guide to Sheds Updated 4th Edition has the perfect plan for building your own tool shed, habitable shed, garden shed, and many other types of sheds. With more than 20 complete building plans, the most popular plans from previous editions are preserved, from small garage-style sheds with overhead doors, to kit sheds, to contemporary utility sheds with a dramatic flair. This new edition delves into new styles that are drawing strong interest today, including tiny sheds, miniature tool sheds, and even small habitable sheds that are designed to function as a private home office or a quiet retreat for practicing a particular hobby or activity. As with all of the hardworking, practical sheds from earlier editions, the new varieties include full-color step-by-step photos, complete building plan drawings with cutting lists, and clear how-to instruction

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Book SynopsisOver 250 inspiring images and engaging text cover the techniques necessary to successful sculpt any hillside and enhance backyards with concrete. Contractors will feel empowered to unleash their inner artists. Designers will become inspired to create hillside expanses. Among the projects explored are beautiful, curved stairways, lit walls, raised patios, fire pits, and built-in seating that transform bland backyard slopes into view-commanding getaways. Further inspiration is provided by a gallery of spectacular completed projects. For the contractor, Ralston shares wisdom from years of business experience and training to help readers navigate the various challenges they face. The author explains design development, bid building, and suggests how to translate those into contracts. Also emphasized here are ways to make projects profitable by keeping them in line with the initial bid. Also reviewed are ways to keep clients happy by involving them throughout the project, and how to documen

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive growing guide to mophead hydrangea varieties available today and best practices for cultivating each. Finally, a book just about mopheads, the most-popular hydrangeas for home gardeners. A 2021 study by the University of Tennessee Extension Service estimates more than 10 million hydrangeas are sold in the US each year. Mopheads are far and away the hydrangeas in greatest demand, accounting for 90% of sales. New mophead varieties flood the market every year. It's hard to keep track of them all, let alone choose the perfect one(s) for the home garden. Marvelous Mopheads provides a comprehensive list of mophead varieties and invaluable advice about the best mopheads, including the older tried-and-true mopheads and more-recent introductions. The book is organized to present clear answers to frequently asked questions about plant selection color pruning indoor and

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Book Synopsis A stunning guide for gardeners keen to transform small and awkward outdoor spaces into beautiful and practical escapes. From courtyards to rooftops, Kate Gould draws on her experience as an award-winning garden designer to provide tailored solutions and inspirational ideas. Covering topics such as how to design and measure the perfect garden, choose and use the best materials and maintain a lush garden all year round, Small Garden Design includes detailed advice for gardeners undeterred by limited space. This carefully illustrated guide ensures gardeners of all abilities achieve the best results outdoors. Creating a personal and unique space is also at the heart of each project and Kate makes sure to discuss how to tie each design back to the interior of the home.

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Book SynopsisRustic and charming or stately and proud, a well-built stone wall can add personality and beauty to your property. John Vivian’s lively approach and step-by-step instructions encourage you to transform a pile of rocks into an enduring landscape feature with gates, retaining walls, or stiles to suit your needs. Whatever unique challenges come with your site — poor drainage, sloping ground, or low-quality rubble material — Vivian offers innovative designs and reproducible methods to help you build a beautiful, long-lasting wall. 

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Book SynopsisTraces the history of this construction technique, discusses woods, tools, and special joints, and shows how to plan and build a timber framed house.

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Book SynopsisOver 25 easy-built, step-by-step projects for the weekend woodworker. The introduction tells how to attract birds, the food they need, and how to protect against predators.

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Book SynopsisWhether you're trying to protect your garden from wildlife predators or want to keep your livestock from wandering too far, effective fencing can bring welcome peace of mind. Covering the pros and cons of a variety of fencing types, Gail Damerow shows you how to build a fence that works for your needs. With clearly illustrated instructions for building wire fences, rail fences, electric fences, woven fences, and more, you'll soon be creating effective enclosures that are guaranteed to save you time, money, and worry.

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Book SynopsisTaking the mystery out of the construction process, Monte Burch provides complete plans and step-by-step instructions for building more than 20 barns and outbuildings, including a greenhouse, equipment shed, horse barn, and even a small guest house. Stressing the adaptability and utility of the designs, this guide covers everything from initial planning and laying out a site to framing, roofing, wiring, and plumbing. Save on construction costs, enhance your property value, and take pride in a job well done as you build your own custom-tailored barn.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Digging Into the Basics of Vegetable Gardening 5 Chapter 1: Vegetable Gardening 101 7 Having a Garden: Yes or No 7 Planning a Veggie Garden 8 Growing a Cornucopia of Vegetables 9 Tomatoes 9 Peppers and eggplants 9 Carrots, onions, and potatoes 10 Peas and beans 10 Cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and squash 11 Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower 11 Lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and specialty greens 12 An array of other great veggies 12 Non-vegetable edibles 12 Getting Down to Growing 13 Choosing between seeds and transplants 13 Working the soil 13 Keeping your garden growing and enjoying the rewards 14 Trying for a bigger bounty 14 Chapter 2: Eyeing the Popularity and Benefits of Vegetable Gardening 15 Food Gardening: It’s Popping Up Everywhere 15 Identifying a Few Good Reasons to Grow Your Own Food 17 Better tasting and higher quality food 17 Improve your health 18 Save some cash 18 Help the environment 20 Increase your quality of life 21 Self-reliance 21 Chapter 3: Planning Your Veggie Garden 23 Deciding Where to Put Your Vegetable Garden 23 Considering different sites 24 Letting the sun shine 26 Checking your soil’s drainage 27 Understanding Veggie Varieties 28 Timing Your Planting Wisely 30 Some like it cool, some like it hot 30 Frost dates and the length of the growing season 31 Your local forecast trumps frost dates 33 Designing Your Garden 33 Deciding on hills, rows, or raised beds 34 Spacing your plantings properly 36 Following the paths 37 Sketching it out 37 Part 2: Focusing on All Things Veggies 43 Chapter 4: Tomatoes: The King of Veggies 45 Checking Out Tomato Varieties 46 Categorizing tomatoes 46 Classifying tomatoes by their appearance 48 Enjoying classic red, round tomatoes 48 Surveying all the other colors of tomatoes 50 Sweetening the pot with cherry, grape, and pear tomatoes 51 Considering some saucy tomatoes 52 Introducing the tomato’s relatives 53 Growing Tomatoes with Ease 54 Jump-starting tomatoes 54 Planting, trellising, and pruning 55 Fertilizing and maintaining your plants 57 Eliminating pests and other problems 59 Harvesting tomatoes 61 Chapter 5: Meeting the Tomato’s Cousins: Peppers and Eggplants 63 Producing Plenty of Peppers 64 Those sweet bells 64 Long and round sweet peppers 66 Peppers that turn on the heat 67 Pretty peppers: The ornamentals 71 Distinguishing Eggplants by Shape 71 Large and oval 72 Cylindrical 72 Small and round 73 Growing Peppers and Eggplants 73 Starting and planting 74 Fertilizing and watering tips 75 Patrolling and controlling pests 76 Harvesting peppers and eggplants 76 Chapter 6: Growing Underground Crops: Carrots, Onions, and Potatoes 79 A Rabbit’s (and Gardener’s) Favorite Root: Carrots 80 Classifying carrots by type 80 Examining some varieties 81 Onions: The Bulbs with Layers of Sweet and Pungent Goodness 82 Choosing your onion varieties 83 Looking at scallions and perennial onions 85 Potatoes: No Longer a Boring Spud 87 Potatoes classified 87 Selecting a few potato varieties 87 Growing and Gathering Root Crops 89 General guidelines for all your root crops 89 Cultivating carrots 90 Growing onions 91 Producing potatoes 92 Keeping Your Root Crops Healthy and Pest Free 95 Chapter 7: Sweet and Simple: Beans and Peas 99 A Bevy of Beans: Filling Your Rows with Bean Family Plants 100 Bushels of bush beans 101 Pole beans: The long and tall crop 102 The versatile shell and dried beans 103 Miscellaneous beans not to be forgotten 104 Growing Peas, Please! 106 English peas: The reliable standby 107 Sweet and tender snap peas 108 An earlier harvest: Snow peas 109 Get ’Em in the Ground: Growing Beans and Peas 109 Planting legumes for an ample harvest 110 Thwarting pests and diseases 113 Keep on pickin’: Harvesting your crop 115 Chapter 8: Vigorous Vines: Cucumbers, Melons, Pumpkins, and Squash 117 Checking Out Cool Cukes 118 Before you choose: Brushing up on some cucumber vocabulary 118 Surveying common cucumber varieties 119 Melons: The Sweet, Juicy Vining Plant 121 Distinguishing different types of melons 121 Perusing popular melon varieties 122 Unearthing the Humble Squash 123 Identifying different squash types 124 Recognizing popular squash varieties 125 Great Pumpkins: Counting the Uses for This Versatile Squash 127 Growing Those Vines 129 Planting and feeding 129 Watering and watering some more 131 Ensuring proper pollination 132 Controlling pests and diseases 133 Harvesting your vining crop 135 Chapter 9: Cool Weather Staples: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, and Cauliflower 137 Paying Attention to the Often-Overlooked Cole Crops 138 Easing into cole crops with broccoli 138 Brussels sprouts: The little cabbages 140 Choosing cabbage: The age-old and dependable cole crop 141 Considering cauliflower in a rainbow of colors 143 Growing Your Own Cole Crops 145 Giving cole crops what they want 145 Nurturing cole crops 146 Putting a stop to pesky pest problems 148 Harvesting cole crops 149 Chapter 10: A Salad for All Seasons: Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, and Specialty Greens 151 Lettuce Get Together 152 Crisphead lettuce 153 Romaine lettuce 154 Loose-leaf lettuce 154 Popeye’s Pal: Spinach 155 Savoy spinach 156 Smooth spinach and some spinach-like friends 156 The Attractive and Hardy Swiss Chard 157 Going Wild with Specialty Greens 158 Growing Great Greens 160 Timing is everything: Determining when to plant your greens 160 Putting your greens to bed 162 Adding nitrogen-rich fishy fertilizer 163 Thin and bare it: Thinning your greens 163 Watering to win the war against wilt 163 Working out the bugs (and other common ailments) 163 Your bowl runneth over: Harvesting greens 164 Chapter 11: Sweet Corn and an A to T of Other Worthy Veggies 167 Sweet Corn and Its Relatives 168 Sweet corn 168 Popcorn 170 Considering Other Great Vegetables 171 Arugula 171 Asparagus 172 Beets 174 Bok choi 175 Broccoli raab 176 Celeriac 176 Celery 177 Chinese cabbage 178 Collards 179 Endive 179 Escarole 179 Florence fennel 180 Garlic 180 Globe artichokes 183 Gourds 183 Horseradish 184 Kale 185 Kohlrabi 186 Leeks 186 Mizuna 187 Okra 187 Parsnips 188 Peanuts 189 Radicchio 190 Radishes 191 Rhubarb 192 Rutabagas 193 Shallots 194 Turnips 194 Chapter 12: Edible Landscapes: Fruits, Herbs, and Pretty Things to Eat 197 Sweetening Your Garden: Berries and Trees 198 Strawberries 198 Blueberries 199 Blackberries and raspberries 199 Unusual fruits 200 Focusing on Herbs 201 Basil 203 Chives 204 Cilantro 205 Dill 205 French tarragon 206 Mint 207 Oregano 208 Parsley 209 Rosemary 210 Sage 210 Thyme 211 Blossoming Edible Flowers 212 Part 3: Getting Down and Dirty in Your Vegetable Garden 215 Chapter 13: On Your Mark, Get Set Grow! 217 Choosing Seeds or Transplants 218 Deciding on Your Seeding Method and Decoding a Seed Packet 219 Starting Seeds Indoors 220 Picking a pot to plant in 221 Using a mix that doesn’t include soil 222 Sowing your seeds 222 Providing the right amount of light and heat 225 Watering your seedlings 225 Thinning and transplanting indoors 226 Feeding your seedlings 227 Transplanting Indoor Seedlings and Starter Plants 228 Buying starter plants 228 Toughening up all types of transplants 229 Making the big move to the ground 230 Sowing Seeds Directly in Your Garden 232 Deciding on a seed-planting method 233 Thinning seedlings in your garden 237 Chapter 14: Workin’ the Dirt 239 Razing Your Garden Spot 239 Killing weeds and aggressive grasses 240 Stripping sod 242 Analyzing and Improving Your Soil 243 Distinguishing different types of soil 244 Testing your soil 245 Adjusting soil pH 247 Adding organic matter (aka the dead stuff) 249 Turning Your Soil 251 Making Your Own Compost 252 Building a compost pile 253 Avoiding materials that don’t belong in a compost pile 255 Moistening and turning your compost pile 255 Chapter 15: Maintaining Your Vegetable Garden 257 Addressing the Basics of Watering 258 Knowing when your veggies need a drink 259 Discovering ways to water your vegetable garden 260 Conserving water with a few handy tips 266 Keeping Your Plants Cozy and Weed Free with Mulch 267 Spreading organic mulch 267 Laying inorganic mulch 269 Deciding which mulch to use 271 Determining Important Nutrients Your Soil Needs 272 Macronutrients 273 Secondary nutrients and micronutrients 274 Fertilizing Your Vegetable Garden 275 Examining a fertilizer label 275 Choosing a fertilizer 276 Side-dressing 277 Supporting Your Vegetables 281 Beans and peas 282 Melons and cucumbers 283 Tomatoes 283 Fighting Weed Wars 283 Making a preemptive strike on weeds 284 Battling weeds after planting 285 Chapter 16: Surveying Some Cool Planting Techniques 287 Adding Nutrients and Stability with Cover Crops and Green Manures 288 Eyeing the advantages of cover crops 288 Choosing cover crops 289 Planting cover crops 290 Giving Your Plants Some Friends: Companion Planting 291 Making Your Garden Work Double Time with Intercropping 292 Extending Your Harvest with Succession Planting 293 Rotating Crops to Preserve Soil Nutrients and Maintain a Pest-Free Bed 295 Planting by the Phases of the Moon 296 Building a Hügelkultur-Raised Bed 297 Growing Plants in Strawbales 297 Adding an Herb Spiral to Your Yard 298 Combining Fish with Plants: Aquaponics 299 Chapter 17: Keeping Your Plants Healthy 301 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Controlling Pests 302 Recognizing the good bugs 302 Rounding up the bad bugs 303 Considering the best form of attack 309 Gardening to Eliminate Diseases 312 Avoiding diseases with good habits 312 Watching out for common diseases 313 Keeping the Animal Kingdom at Bay 315 Chapter 18: Containing Your Veggies 319 Considering a Few Container Characteristics 320 Filling Up Your Container: Potting Soil Made Simple 322 Knowing Which Vegetables Grow Well in Pots 323 Identifying some common container veggies 323 Some bee-u-tee-ful vegetable combos 325 Planting Your Veggies in Pots 326 Caring for Container Veggies 327 Chapter 19: Harvesting, Storing, and Preserving Vegetables 329 Knowing When to Harvest 329 Putting Away Your Vegetables 332 Freezing, Drying, and Canning Veggies 335 Saving Vegetable Seeds 336 Part 4: The Part of Tens 339 Chapter 20: Ten Tools of the Trade 341 Watering Hoses and Cans 342 Hand Trowels 343 Hand Cultivators 343 Garden Hoes 343 Spades and Shovels 345 Garden Forks 345 Garden Rakes 345 Buckets, Wagons, and Baskets 346 Wheelbarrows and Garden Carts 347 Power Tillers 348 Chapter 21: Ten (or So) Ways to Extend Your Growing Season 351 Plant in Clever Locations 352 Time Your Planting Wisely 352 Protect Plants with Hot Caps 353 Add Elegance to Your Garden with Glass Cloches 353 Buy or Build Cold Frames 354 Drape Row Covers over Veggies 355 Place Wall O’ Waters around Plants 356 Try Portable Greenhouses and Hoop Houses 357 Appendix: Planning Guidelines and Other Resources 359 Index 383

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Book SynopsisOwning and raising chickens doesn't have to be an expensive hobby. With imagination, simple tools, and salvaged or bargain materials, you can make everything your flock needs for their health and safety.Buying a chicken coop can be a major expense. Follow the steps provided in the book to retro fit an existing structure into a chicken palace fit for the fanciest hens. Brooders, grow out pens, and chicken runs can easily be pulled together and give your feathered family a safe place to scratch and peck. If your chickens want fun activities, create boredom busters with the directions for a chicken swing, dust bath, outdoor roosts, front porches, and resting perches. Are you planning to raise your own sustainable flock? Building a nesting box area fit for the best broody is included. You can even set up a maternity ward and brooder pen in the coop. Dropping boards to dust baths, feeding stations to first aid, read and learn the simplest ways to provide the infrastructure and fun that your chickens need to grow and thrive. After all the project building, and chores are done, treat your flock to a delicious seasonal recipe with one of the recipes included.From beak to talon, you're ready to tackle the needs of your flock with 50 DIY Projects you can create on a limited budget. Let's get started!Trade Review“In 50 Do-It-Yourself Projects for Keeping Chickens, Janet Garman offers a wide variety of projects with clear, step-by-step instructions. With budget-friendly suggestions for upcycling and using materials you already have on hand, you can spoil your birds without breaking the bank. Her homespun style and love of chickens shine through on every page.” —Laurie Neverman, Common Sense Home "When we first started keeping chicken on our homestead, it was a confusing time with quite a bit of money spent on items which were not needed to raise a healthy happy flock. Janet's book provides practical and environmentally friendly DIY tips while being budget friendly! This is a great book for new chicken keepers, as well as for seasoned ones who are looking for creative new ideas on how to modify existing builds. The projects and tips listed here are ones that every chicken keeper will need over the course of raising poultry, and for that I am thankful it was written." —Ann Accetta-Scott, A Farm Girl in the Making, www.afarmgirlinthemaking.com "If I could be an animal, I’d choose to be a chicken as long as I could play, roost, nest, and eat on Janet’s farm. Janet knows chickens! If you had only one book about raising chickens, this gorgeously photographed and step-by-step illustrated book is for you. Janet makes it easy, inexpensive, and oh, so doable to keep chickens. Personally, I can’t wait to get started building Janet’s Jungle Gym and Herbal Snack Bar Wall Hanging for my chickens. Janet’s book is a must-read for everyone who its thinking about keeping chickens and the experienced chicken farmer. 50 Do-It-Yourself Projects for Keeping Chickens is the best Chicken book I have ever read! Stacy Lyn Harris" —Author, Game and Garden.com "From bringing your chickens home, to keeping them healthy and well, this book isn't just about building projects, it's an exceptional resource for raising your chickens from the moment you bring your chicks home to the time they begin laying! Every DIY chicken keeper should have this beautiful resource on their bookshelf!" —Amy K. Fewell, The Homesteader's Herbal Companion, and Founder of Homesteaders of America "For years Janet has provided a wonderful resource with her blog, giving incredible advice for keeping your chicken flock healthy. We are so excited that she has created such a beautiful book that compiles amazing chicken keeping advice, alongside all of these wonderful DIY projects, that she has made into easy to understand steps that anyone can do! Every chicken keeper will learn a lot from this book, but we love how it addresses the 'tricks of the trade' that it would normally take beginners years of trial and error to figure out on their own." —Brittany May & Penny Ausley, Happy Days Farm, http://www.happy-days-farm.com/"Practical, comprehensive, profusely illustrated, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, 50 Do-It-Yourself Projects for Keeping Chickens: Chicken Coops, Brooders, Runs, Swings, Dust Baths, and More! is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal and community library collections." —Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisThe Treehouse Book is a global round-up of the best in modern treehouse living. Tree houses have come of age. The image of a few planks nailed into the branches of a tree has changed into a new generation of specially designed and built structures, suitable as a playhouse, a study, or even a guestroom. Totally inhabitable and filled with designer furniture, plumbing, and electronic wizardry, the twenty tree houses featured in this book are to be admired, dreamed about, and even built. Featuring spectacular photography of exteriors set up among the trees, and interior shots that offer design ideas for living the “high” life, The Treehouse Book offers a fairy tale castle, a thatched cottage, a complete hotel, and much more. Each project was designed using computer technology and built using sustainable materials to create structures that only seem like fantasy. Each is cleverly fitted to the chosen trees, avoiding long-term damage to these remarkable structures. With a section on plans and building techniques to help the competent reader design and build a fabulous tree house for him or herself, The Treehouse Book will inspire everyone to dream about what life would be like leaving all cares and worries behind and below. From basic cabins suspended in the trees, to the unbelievable "High-Tech Hideaway," The Treehouse Book may inspire us to commission the retreat of our dreams ... or to get out the hammer and nails!

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive reference provides practical guidance for any homeowner who wants to create a more attractive yard. Written by landscaping experts, it provides time-tested, easy-to-follow instructions for designing and shaping an effective landscape plan. From growing lawns and planting trees, to putting in stone walkways or water elements, readers will discover the right way to do it. City dwellers, suburbanites and rural homesteaders alike will find a wealth of useful ideas for landscaping their properties, accompanied by clear step-by-step illustrations. This all-you-need-to-know reference will prove indispensable for both amateur and professional landscapers.Table of Contents1 Making plans designing the landscape Correcting Drainage Preparing Soil for Planting 2 Planting a Lawn Growing a New Lawn Maintaining a Healthy Lawn Using Ground Cover instead 3 Shrubs and Trees Shrubs Moving Trees Planting Trees Keeping Trees Healthy 4: Hardscaping Pavers for patios Option with Brick Pouring Concrete Edging 5 Fences and Walls Basic Surveying Wooden Fences Stone/Brick Gates 6 Finishing Touches Setting Flowers Bulbs Containers Trellises Walkways

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Book SynopsisBuilding Outdoor Kitchens shows budget-conscious homeowners how they can bring attractive and functional outdoor kitchens within their reach. It incorporates lots of design ideas, plenty of dream kitchens for inspiration, step-by-step instructions and more than 300 photographs.As well as showing readers how to build lightweight 'masonary' counters using steel studs and concrete backboard, the book offers alternatives to high-end appliances to save money.Also included are accessories and amenities to affordably customize an outdoor kitchen, including: fire pits, a variety of adobe / clay ovens, pergolas, awnings, TV and stereo equipment, mosquito abatement, misters and heaters, fireplaces, pizza ovens and stand-up 'churrasco' grills.Whether you have chosen to build an outdoor kitchen yourself or have hired someone to do the job for you, these DIY-friendly projects will help you to achieve the professional results you want at a fraction of the 'professional' price.

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Book SynopsisDiscover endless home landscaping ideas and outdoor DIY projects that are specifically designed for the Mid-Atlantic region in this must-have landscaping book! Mid-Atlantic Home Landscaping, 4th Edition features inspiring ideas for making the Mid-Atlantic home landscape more attractive and functional. Starting with the 200 best native plants that thrive in the region, area landscape professionals created 46 outdoor design concepts that readers can work with. Also included are complete step-by-step instructions for building paths, patios, walls, fences, arbors, trellises, and other structures. New to this edition is up-to-date information on eco-friendly plant selections, guidance on avoiding invasive plants and how to identify regional species, details on impervious versus porous paved surfaces, why stormwater runoff matters, permaculture, and more! Over 400 color photographs and drawings complement the easy-to-follow instructions for caring for and installing plants, paths, patios, ponds, and arbors. If you live in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, or West Virginia, this complete guide on how to landscape in your region is for you!

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Book SynopsisAn updated edition within the Creative Homeowner's award-winning, best-selling series of regional home landscaping books,Northeast Home Landscaping, 4thEditionshows how to beautify 27 common landscape situations, such as front and back entries, walkways, borders, slopes, and patios. Featuring 54 landscape design variations that incorporate more than 200 of the best plants for the region, readers will also learn all they need to know to install the paths, fences, walls, arbors, and trellises that make up the designs. Step-by-step instructions show how to tackle each project, and detailed plant descriptions also explain cultivation and care. Updates to this edition include an emphasis on the importance of native plants, deer- and drought-resistant species, identifications of invasive and banned plants, new information on the impact of climate change on the northeast region, and more.

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Book SynopsisAn updated edition within the Creative Homeowner's award-winning, best-selling series of regional home landscaping books,Southeast Home Landscaping, 4thEditionwill show you inspiring ideas for making your home landscaping more attractive and functional. The 54 featured landscape designs are created by professionals from the area and use more than 200 annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs that thrive in the southeast region. Drought-resistant plants that are proven performers in the southeast region are also used in the designs and described in full detail. Step-by-step instructions for landscape projects, such as paths, patios, ponds, and arbors, are also provided. Updates to this edition include an emphasis on the importance of native plants, identifications of invasive and banned plants, new information on the impact of climate change on the southeast region, new hardiness zone maps, and more.

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Book SynopsisSouthern Coastal Home Landscaping, Second Edition is the latest addition to Creative Homeowner's award-winning, best-selling series of regional home landscaping books. Discover inspiring ideas for making a coastal home landscape with special considerations for the salty air and high winds. The 38 featured landscape designs are created by professionals from the coastal region and use more than 160 native plants that thrive in the demanding coastal environment. Detailed, step-by-step instructions for projects for paths, patios, ponds, walls, fences, trellises, and arbors are included, as well as creative solutions for front entries, foundation plantings, steep slopes, and more. New to this updated second edition is guidance on native planting and which noxious, banned, or invasive species to avoid, as well as information on permaculture, the impact of climate change for the southern coastal region, and more.

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Book SynopsisAdd value and enjoyment to your waterfront property by building your own dock. From analyzing your shoreline and choosing an appropriate design to accessorizing with decorative trims, Max Burns covers every aspect of dock construction. Providing illustrated step-by-step instructions with complete materials and tools lists for 10 distinct docks, Burns also offers expert advice on different types of ramps and winterizing techniques. Encouraging you to get out on the water, this guide will inspire you create the dock of your dreams.

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Book SynopsisKeeping your own horses requires dedication, hard work, and a sincere interest in the well-being of your animals. This practical guide shows you how to design efficient facilities and establish effective maintenance routines so that your horses can stay happy, healthy, and safe on even the smallest plots of land. Offering expert advice on barn designs, fencing options, and pasture management, Cherry Hill stresses the importance of understanding horse behavior and environmentally responsible land stewardship as integral aspects of a pleasurable and rewarding horsekeeping experience.

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Book SynopsisJust like houses, chicken coops come in all shapes and sizes. Judy Pangman presents how-to drawings and conceptual plans for 45 coops — from the strictly practical to flights of fancy — guaranteed to meet the needs of every bird owner, however big or small your flock may be. Color photographs and innovative suggestions fill this encouraging guide, while lively anecdotes profile an array of coop builders and their various construction methods. Start building the coop of your chickens’ dreams!

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Book SynopsisUnlock new growing opportunities and increase your property value with an outdoor conservatory. In this illustrated guide, Roger Marshall shows you how to build our own greenhouse using simple, easy-to-follow techniques. Covering everything from selecting a site to glazing glass, Marshall includes tips on laying a foundation, construction materials, ventilation, and much more. Whether your goal is to stretch the growing season or create a lush space for a year-round hot tub, you can build the greenhouse of your dreams.

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Book SynopsisBuild an efficient and productive garden! These 39 simple-to-make projects are designed to increase your harvest while simultaneously making your garden chores easier. Requiring no specialized equipment or previous woodworking experience, detailed step-by-step instructions guide you through the construction of cold frames, compost bins, raised beds, potting benches, trellises, and more. Most of the projects can be made in just a few hours, so you can spend more time enjoying your beautiful and thriving garden.

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