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Tag Archives: Homestead Building
Tractor Versus Tiller for the Self-Reliant Homesteader
Most serious homesteaders come to realize at some point in their journey to self-reliance that certain equipment not only makes life easier but is essential for efficient utilization of time. For financial reasons many homesteaders hold down jobs while at … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening
Tagged Gardening, Homestead Building, homesteading, self sufficiency, self-reliance
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The Aging Homesteader
Aging is a fact of life. Even though we’ve been homesteading for over 43 years and we’re in our 60’s, we haven’t slowed down much. But we know the day is coming when we’ll slow down to the point it … Continue reading
Posted in Homesteading/Prepping
Tagged Gardening, Homestead Building, homesteading, self sufficiency, self-reliance
5 Comments
Wood Cookstoves – Tips and Tricks
Given a wood cookstove is the only appliance we’ve ever had in our off-grid kitchen for the last 42 years, we’ve learned lots of tips and tricks that a novice may find useful beginning with the selection of a stove, … Continue reading
Posted in Homestead Cooking
Tagged Homestead Building, homesteading, Off Grid Cooking, self sufficiency, self-reliance
2 Comments
Our New Book – The Self-Sufficient Backyard: For the Independent Homesteader
Johanna and I are thrilled to announce that our new book The Self-Sufficient Backyard: For the Independent Homesteader is available for purchase in both ebook format and/or printed copy. Here is the link to the webpage: https://self-sufficient-backyard.com/my-book/ We are not … Continue reading
Posted in Homesteading/Prepping, Uncategorized
Tagged Gardening, Homestead Building, homesteading, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
30 Comments
Fall 2018 Nova Scotia Off Grid Homestead Building Update
So!… Some might surmise we spent summer swimming, snorkeling; surely somewhat slouched semi-supine sipping sweet seven eleven slurpees by the seashore. Seriously? No way! We have been maxed out since we last wrote. Where do I even begin? Let’s give … Continue reading
Posted in Homestead Building
Tagged Homestead Building, homesteading, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
12 Comments
Drainage Tile and Foundation Membrane
One item I haven’t written about is waterproofing our foundation walls and preventing water problems in the basement. As a kid growing up, we lived in a house with a basement that became a shallow pond at one end during … Continue reading
Roof Trusses and Exterior Roofing on Our New Off-Grid ICF Home
We’ve worked hard to build our new home’s foundation, walls, and floor and we need to cap this all off with a roof to protect our investment of time and money. Our homesteads in Maine and Saskatchewan had a standard … Continue reading
Posted in Homestead Building
Tagged Homestead Building, homesteading, off grid, self-reliance
6 Comments
ICF Floor System
Floor systems is the topic of today’s post. It’s actually more complicated than it would appear. In a standard stick frame home, floor joists are laid down on a knee wall or a wall top plate, sheathing is put down … Continue reading
Posted in Homestead Building
Tagged Homestead Building, off grid, self sufficiency, self-reliance
9 Comments
Final Wrap Up on the Basics of ICF Construction
This is the final wrap up on the basics of ICF construction we used on our new off grid home. In my last post, I shared a ha ha sign “Somewhat Precise Home Builders” which is my tongue in cheek … Continue reading
Posted in Homestead Building
Tagged Homestead Building, off grid, self sufficiency, self-reliance
2 Comments
Christmas Update on Our Nova Scotia Homestead
With the approach of Christmas and Holidays, I figured I’d give everybody a quick update and then resume normal posts after the first of the year. Here’s our Christmas update on our Nova Scotia homestead. We made a valiant effort … Continue reading
Posted in Homestead Building
Tagged Homestead Building, off grid, prepping, self sufficiency, self-reliance
8 Comments
Let’s Talk ICF For New Off-Grid Home- Part 2
In my last post “Let’s talk ICF For Our New Off-Grid Home- Part 1”, we discussed what this ICF material was about and how easy it was to build with. Although ICF is an easy, straight forward method of building, … Continue reading
Posted in Homestead Building
Tagged Homestead Building, homesteading, off grid, self sufficiency, self-reliance
6 Comments
