Mother Earth News Do It Yourself

A Handy Fireplace Draft Stopper

By Joe and Margaret Rudich — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:22:35 CST

Save on your heating bills and keep your home warmer this winter with this easy-to-make handy fireplace draft stopper.

My Friend the Hammer: Repairing a Hart Framer

By Geoff Taylor — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:48:23 CST

Geoff Taylor�talks about his childhood love of tools,�his impressive collection of hammers and the first step in his plan for repairing an old friend.

A DIY Solar Expert Shares His Wisdom

Interview by Troy Griepentrog — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:51:38 CST

Solar expert Gary Reysa has been developing and testing DIY solar projects for the last nine years. He's designed and built projects to heat his house, water and garage workshop. Each project is carefully tested for efficiency. We asked Reysa how he developed his expertise and his favorite projects, plus his advice for other solar tinkerers.

Refugee with a Levitating Cat: A Story of Survival

By Geoff Taylor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:52:14 CST

Geoff Taylor reflects on his survival of a bizarre accident, his gratitude for life and his hypergraphia.

And Here's To You, Mr. Robinson

By Geoff Taylor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:25:37 CST

Geoff Taylor thanks the publications that inspired his writing career.

Ladder Safety: The Problems of Sandals and Climbing Alone

By Geoff Taylor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:05:59 CST

Geoff Taylor laments the frequency of ladder accidents that happen as a result of neglecting necessary precautions, such as wearing sturdy shoes and always have a spotter.

Cheap, Easy-to-Build Storage Shelves

By Troy Griepentrog — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:13:03 CST

Need more storage space? Who doesn't? Make better use of the space you have available with some shelves. Building free-standing shelves is easy and can be inexpensive. This is a great woodworking project for beginners.

Build a Rooftop Bike Rack

By Heidi Hunt — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:10:36 CST

You can build this simple, light-weight roof rack to transport your bicucles.

Do-it-yourself Pole-barn Building

By Steve Maxwell — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:27:12 CST

Put up a pole building (or pole barn) for a fast, solid and cost-effective workshop, storage space or livestock shelter. Learn how to build your own pole building -�as a barn, garage or other space - with these simple instructions, construction photos and an illustrated diagram of parts. Have you built a pole barn? Tell us and other readers about your building experience in the comments section.

Feed For Animals - To Go

By Heidi Hunt — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:49:02 CST

Put a barrel or two on wheels and you can feed your flocks and herds with ease, including diagrams, photographs and instructions.