Build It Simple

These useful hacks for the backyard homesteader or gardener have a no-fuss appeal that stand the test of time. They offer practical solutions for the most basic tasks, from composting, tool storage, and fence building to making your own potting bench, firewood brace, soil sifter, or egg incubator.

No need to run out to get the most expensive new-fangled yard and garden supplies; with just some basic tools and materials you can make exactly what you need to get by. If you have a few tools like a skill saw and a drill, you can build storage bins, a picnic table, lawn chairs, a rack for firewood, plant supports, cold frames, a compost box, and more. Store your firewood, care for your seedlings, and feed the birds. Create simple ways to organize your tools and grow plants and vegetables. Backyard chicken keeping doesn’t need to be fussy either: make a chicken brooder, waterer, feeder, and even a poultry house. These cost-efficient projects provide a wealth of practical ideas for sustainable living, proving that the simplest things are often the most useful.