Normally this time of year I like to sit down and reflect upon the past year. Along with assessing my personal growth, I like to review some of the goals I had set for myself and compare what I had achieved to what I had not. So let’s do that.
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Spring is upon us! At least, if you look at the calendar it says that it is. Where we are, the weather can fluctuate greatly this time of year. Last week it was in the 70’s; this week was in the 40’s. Next week it’s supposed to be in the 70’s again – but at least the snow is gone. It’s time to get started planting our garden. (more…)
Hey guys! This winter has been pretty brutal for us; not when you compare it to the winters of the past, but still. Whether it’s been the below zero cold, or the (moderate) amount of snow, or fixing vehicles outside with no garage, or moving Dad’s tools and possessions to our house – really the list goes on. To sum up my point, I haven’t had a chance to build or film any woodworking projects this winter. And that’s really bummed me out. (more…)
These are the exact house plans that we designed in SketchUp and used to build our own 600 square foot home. I laid the plans out similar to (in my own childhood experience) LEGO instructions to simplify the ease of construction. Using the plans also allowed me to create an accurate pricing and materials list for ordering. These plans can be used for creating your own small home, or to start your planning process. (more…)
A little while ago I mentioned that I was preparing to write a book. As I said, I’ve always wanted to be an author, but I never could find a topic to which I felt knowledgeable enough to write a book. Eventually, my plan is for this entire blog to become a book so that others might enjoy (or laugh at) some of the experiences we’ve had in building our homestead. Then I had a thought. (more…)
Buying land is probably the biggest investment a person will make in their lifetime. It is vital to get it right. I say that it’s a bigger investment than purchasing a house because not only are you buying the land, but you also have to then build your house along with all the infrastructure. A significant amount of planning is involved. (more…)