Purchasing the materials for a DIY project can involve making a number of decisions. For instance, if you’re building a backyard deck, you can choose from a range of materials that are inexpensive, but may last for only a couple of years, to expensive composite wood that can last a decade or more.

Decks can be constructed from high-end composite lumber, soft pine, durable cedar or redwood, or inexpensive slab lumber from a local sawmill. And the wood doesn’t have to be new; you might find it at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore or tear down an old building for the lumber. Each type of wood has advantages and disadvantages — price and durability are the key factors to weigh in your decision.

When you’re deciding on the materials for an outdoor wooden project, are you more apt to be swayed by cost or durability? Share your experiences in the comments section, below.

Ever wanted to build your own wind turbine, install your own solar panels or convert your car to electricity but never thought you could really do-it-yourself? Then think again.

Dan Chiras, one of Mother’s contributing editors and leading expert in the field of green building and renewable energy, is now hosting hands-on DIY workshops at his recently opened Evergreen Institute Center for Renewable Energy and Green Building in Gerald, Mo. Topics cover a wide range of energy efficiency solutions from passive solar heating and cooling to designing and building your own backyard wind turbine. “We won’t just tell you what’s out there, we’ll tell you where to find it and teach you how to do it” Chiras told The Missourian’s online newspaper, emissourian.

Courses range from one to six days in length, and prices start at $125 for a one-day workshop and increase to $750 for a lengthier, six-day course.

Chiras is extending  his teachings to out-of-towners by inviting them to pitch a tent during the longer workshops, giving folks nationwide the opportunity to attend.

You can read the original article, Teaching Others How to Be Green, on the emissourian website. 

When I was growing up in North Dakota, our neighbor was a 90-year-old blacksmith from Austria. He loved drinking fresh raw milk (preferably, before it was chilled). His eyesight was failing, but he still baked bread every week. And he shaved with a straight razor without using a mirror.

Disposable safety razors and electric razors don't seem that eco-friendly, and not every guy wants to grow a beard. Have you considered using a straight razor? How to Use a Straight Razor is a popular article listing the pro and cons, plus tips on using a straight razor. Although the article is from 1972, it's a great starting point when considering this option. If a 90-year-old man can use one without problems, maybe you should try it. (OK, he had a few years to practice.)

Take look at these videos:

Do you remember being a child, dreaming of a special place – small and hidden, perhaps a treehouse – all your own? A place to invent imaginative alter egos, to become the characters you read of in your favorite books, to display treasures collected on neighborhood forays.

I think many adults still wish for such a place – to dream, to be inspired, to be at peace. And a few fortunate folks have created such special spaces - in wonderful one-of-a-kind treehouses. How did you envision what the treehouse in The Swiss Family Robinson might have looked like? A rope ladder through a hole in the floor, a swinging hammock, lanterns for light and windows open to the breezes and starry nights?

Now, you can start dreaming again, each month, while enjoying the gorgeous treehouse photos from Peter Nelson’s book Treehouses of the World, which has been transformed into a 16-month calendar. There you can find examples of fun, funky, large and small treehouses in such far away places as Japan, Poland and France or just around the corner in Washington and Massachusetts. Each selection offers an example of the builder’s imagination and creativity using trees, found materials and some of nature’s most incredible vistas to create magical and useful spaces.

You can find the calendar and book at Barnes & Noble bookstore, and at www.amazon.com.

So, you finally purchased the big-screen, HDTV you’ve been dreaming about. But before you sit down to enjoy it, you have to hook it up to the satellite or cable feed and the DVD player. Need some tips? Try the wirewize site.

You simply choose the components you’re working with (TV, A/V Receiver, DVD, cable/satellite/box, games console), and the site tells you which cables you’ll need, plus step-by-step instructions for connecting everything in your particular system. Too bad it doesn’t tell you how to program the clock on that old VCR.

The DIY network has 171 videos on topics ranging from flooring to tiling, electrical to plumbing. The Tutorials for Basic Home Improvements are neatly organized in 12 categories. Even if you have experience with similar projects, the videos offer a quick review prior to starting work.

SoyGuard stains and sealers are supposed to be 'Kid Safe. Pet Safe.' I like that. I like that it's not petroleum based. That it's low V.O.C.

I like the fact that they're testing it with pressure treated lumber. I hate using green treat lumber. I know it's supposed to be less hazardous than it was in the past, but I still don't think it's good for the environment. And I certainly don't want my granddaughter or another little kid touching something I've build from green treat lumber.

I haven't used the SoyGuard products yet, but it looks like it's worth a try. If you've used SoyGuard (or a similar product), share your experiences in the comments section below.