DIY

Do you have healthy garden soil? Ensuring that you do is a continuing task. Here's what you need to know. Photo by Gabor Degre Sure, it’s January and in many parts of the country spring is weeks -- even months -- away. But it’s never…
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Garden clippings on top of a backyard compost pile. Woody material can take a few cycles to break down. | Photo by Elizabeth Stanley Spoiled vegetables, banana peels, grass clippings and dead leaves -- these are the things that may…
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Wax, wicks, what could be complicated? A lot actually — there's a science to it. These candle making tips will help beginners learn all about it. An age-old craft, candle making involves just a few simple steps, yet without the…
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Don't let a perfectly good garment go to waste when it needs a small repair! Here's how to sew a button back on. Photo by Troy R. Bennett We’ve all been there. You’re getting dressed, going about your buttoning, when you realize one…
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It is rare that throughout the year a large poultry carcass will appear in your kitchen for use as the base for a big batch of homemade stock. But when it does and the bird is picked nearly clean, consider saving the cooked turkey bones…
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When done well, food composting is an excellent way to dispose of waste while creating garden-friendly soil additives. But, when done in a slipshod manner, all that organic waste becomes a convenient and smelly buffet for rats, mice and…
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Crop rotation is an easy and cheap way to have a healthy and productive garden. Learn how to get started in this excerpt from The Backyard Gardener by Kelly Orzel. Organic Growing Practices There’s a personal satisfaction in…
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With just two ingredients, creamy, delicate butter is a treat on biscuits, breads and more. Here's how to make homemade butter. Photo by Sarah Walker Caron Butter is a staple on any kitchen table throughout the year, but the…
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by Katie Smith That beloved sweater was a warm comfort until the moths got it. Or the dryer. Or an errant pen. Here's how to give it new life: upcycle an old sweater into fingerless mittens. Photo by Katie Smith Do you have a…
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Wallet, pocket knife ... where'd those keys go? All those things you carry in your pockets can be easily stored when you come home using this creative craft that turns the magnets from an old hard drive into a handy, useful excerpt from…
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Oh rodents. As coldness sets in, they seek a place to nest for winter. Here's how to keep mice away from your car and other vehicles. Photo by erdenebayar via Morguefile For a lot of rural dwellers having seasonal vehicles — cars for…
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Did you know that you can roast your own coffee? Here's what you need to know (including a handy roasting hack!). Raw coffee beans, left, are transformed into aromatic, dark beans ready for grinding and brewing, right, when roasted. |…
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