40 Projects for Building Your Backyard Homestead

Learn all about how to build sheds, feeders, fences, and other backyard structures to enhance your sustainable living!Garden structures: Raised beds, planters and arbors, self-watering beds, grow-light stand, soil blocksFences and pens: Fence post basics, picket fence, solar electric fence, installing and stretching fences, hen pen and hurdle, gates, PVC hen penHousing chickens: Basics for housing chickens, building a coop and run, complete material and cutting lists, exploded views, building an A-frame chicken tractorBuilding sheds: Basics for building, goat shed, saltbox garden shed, backyard-homestead shop, roofing alternativesSolar and wind power: Compressor and gearbox windmills, how solar works, erecting a windmill, installing a solar power systemAquaponics and hydroponics: Understanding aquaponics, understanding hydroponics, basics of a DIY aquaponic system, how to install a hydroponic systemBuilding beehives: Langstroth beehive, Warre beehive, top-bar beehive (aka the Kenyan or Tanzanian beehive), step-by-step building instructions and exploded viewsPlumbing and wiring: Plumbing basics, ground-fault circuit interrupters, freeze-proof watering options, outdoor wiring, supplemental lightingA companion volume to Backyard Homesteading, 40 Projects for Building Your Backyard Homestead provides details on how to build more than 40 projects to enhance your sustainable living.The projects in this book are designed with simplicity, convenience, and budget in mind. You will also find help on how to expand or contract the projects to suit your needs.With step-by-step instructions, tools and materials lists, exploded views, and easy-to-understand techniques, even if you are only moderately handy, you'll discover how to build your own feeders, fences, and structures. In the process, you'll save money and have the satisfaction of doing it yourself!