DIY Projects for the Self-Sufficient Homeowner: 25 Ways to Build a Self-Reliant Lifestyle

by Betsy Matheson

Build your way to a more self-sufficient lifestyle with step-by-step projects for backup and supplementary utilities--including independent water, heat, and electricity--growing and storing food, raising small livestock, beekeeping, and more. Many of the projects require basic materials available at your everyday home center, but this book also provides valuable DIY resources for solar, hydro, greenhouse, and gardening needs. This book will help you build security with utility backup systems and become more sustainable, resulting in less dependence on city systems for basic needs. Whether you have a city plot or simply pots, this book includes all of the information needed to plan, build, and succeed with greater self-sufficiency.
 

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Sustainability, Self Help, Survival, Crafts

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Missy LeBlanc Ivey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the home projects in this book! They are for the homeowner with small properties. I can definitely see this coming in handy one day when we decide to downsize from the 10 acres. This book provides great step-by-step photo instructions for 25 different projects from a solar dryer for food to moveable chicken arks, small greenhouses to cold frames. Just lots of great ideas. This book is definitely a keeper

[Lady Saga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book and I wanted to love it. However, many projects seemed to require new materials and seem rather expensive these days. The solar dehydrator is just not feasible for size and materials cost. I priced out the strawberry grower and decided on a different option because the barrel alone is over $100 (with discount) and I was not able to find a local source with a used one.

[Jeanette Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would make a great forewarning to a husband. "Honey, I'm interested in permaculture and here's all the things you're going to be building soon...".

It's a good idea book to get your feet wet; it's not comprehensive, but it is interesting.

[Ligaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was surprised that more of the projects within this book did not reuse materials, but encouraged purchasing new lumber - particularly the compost bin!!! (Personally, get a length of hardware cloth and bend it into a large cylinder. Presto. Even easier, pile compostable materials into a pile...) The instructions for the beehive was very abbreviated and lacked information on how to actually maintain a beehive. I've personally never seen a home gardener with a hoop house of the dimension as that detailed in this book. Also, I am personally bugged by photos with faked exteriors (hoop house and greenhouse directions) and that are obviously staged (page 7 vanity cabinet). But, I guess, this is a starting point towards self-sustainability but there are better resources out there.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely laid out, and if I get around to making a cold frame, I'll probably make this one (plexiglass + clear exterior adhesive/calk). I did find most of the projects to be more fancy and expensive than necessary. There's precious little furniture in my house as decorative as the compost bin they make. But maybe that's the point of having a nicely laid-out book instead of browsing pintrest.

[Jesse Hawker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to get your brain working on seeing what possibilities there are. I knew of a lot of the projects and ideas in here but they have good break downs and make it more of an actualization rather than a quick magazine idea. I will be revisiting this book many times for new projects and help get the juices flowing for improving my own home.

[Annette McIntyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really interesting projects are given in this book and they aren't all what you might expect in a book like this.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not anything that applies to us at the current time, but interesting to see the ideas nonetheless.

[Debbyanne Southwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as it has a lot of hands on ideas that are really practical and be fun! Looking forward to trying some of them out!

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presents many projects that look both interesting and helpful. I can't wait to start some of them.

[Robin Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pg 14, 46, 82, 84.

[Stef · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was inspiring though seemed advanced. It's best suited for people who own their property and enough of it, and are looking for ideas on living more off the grid by growing their own food, raising their own farm animals, and generating their own energy. Many of the projects also seem to end abruptly and unfinished.

[Mark Muckerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall decent. I'd consider this more of an "introductory ideas book" vs. a deep instructional tome on how to be self-sufficient. Each topic is offered in a summary overview, with some details as space and complexity of topic allows (easier to fully cover composting than it is to cover the how-to's of installing a photovoltaic electrical system). However the book does provide decent coverage of the main areas of self-sufficiency, with enough detail for a reader to determine if it's a topic for further pursuit or not. Realistically, serious pursuit of any of the ideas in this book would necessitate much deeper and specific research and self-education on the topic.

However, overall a decent book for what it's intended to cover.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical, hands-on advice about how to build such things as chicken coops, rain barrels, compost bins, and raised beds. Lots of things we will surely attempt this spring! (The detail-oriented feminist in me also particularly liked that they showed women making lots of these carpentry-heavy things. Women can build greenhouses and coops and compost bins, too!)

[Michael Rizzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good beginning book for those who aren't the handiest. Projects include cold frame, hoop house, and a few others. Library it if your on a budget as once you've done a few of these projects it's utility will end.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guide for building rain barrels, chicken coops, greenhouses, cold frames, etc. The projects looked fairly simple--okay not the solar heating ones--with good pictures, material lists, and explanations. I may even try one.

[Cabracrazy18 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have done several of the projects in this book. The steps for each project are clear and broken down to make it simple to follow the directions. I've used a few of these ideas as a base, and then expanded and adjusted to suit my needs.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful illustrations and step by step guide. Very easy to read and follow along. I enjoyed the instructions for building a top loading bee shelf. This book also contained several layouts for building green houses.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a non-builder, this book was appealing to me as it was simple and had good photos to go with the instructions. The projects were pretty useful and several I may actually produce.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good ideas, not all fit everyone, easy to pick a few out to make book worth buying though

[Martha Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

25 ways to build a self-reliant lifestyle. This book is filled with step-by-step photographs.

[Aspasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains a variety of project ideas to fit various houses and budgets.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really precise and very clear instruction on a ton of different projects. I wish I had the room to make them all!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple to read. Informative. But I have not actually tried anything yet.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explains how to build things that both me and my husband understand it.

[Mills College Library]

643.7 S986 2011

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A range of projects both in ability to make and types of sufficiencies.