Outdoors
This is where you’ll find lots of information for hands-on success outside. Gardening, farming, vehicle maintenance and repair, outdoor structures and more.
Review the entire Archive of Outdoors Articles here, or do a more in-depth search to find what you’re looking for.
TOOLS: How to Choose & Use a Pressure Washer
Watch the video below for tips and tricks on using your pressure washer, including some uses you’ve probably never seen…
See a Tractor-Mounted Wood Chipper in Action
I’ve been doing some wood chipping lately with a tractor-mounted implement from Woodland Mills that I really like. I bought…
RURAL WATER: How to Get Lots of Water From Weakest of Wells
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, examines water wells and discusses pumps as well as the trickle system.
HOMESTEADING: How to Thrive Without Burnout, Despair & Failure
Many people in the world long for a life in the country, lived on their own terms, close to nature,…
UNEXPLAINED: My Strange Light Sighting
In September 1990, I saw something that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It happened…
AUTOMOTIVE: 3 Reasons I Change My Own Motor Oil
Recently, the people at Mobil 1 asked if I’d be interested in partnering with them to make a how-to video…
“Can I Use An Impact Driver for Nuts & Bolts on Mechanical Work?”
Question: Can I use an impact driver to tighten and loosen bolts? I just bought a new DEWALT 20-volt impact…
RESTORATION: See How I Breathed New Life Into My First Building Project
In 1986 I was living in a 7′ x 9′ tent on my newly-purchased, very rural Manitoulin Island property. With…
FABRIC STRUCTURE PROJECT: See Steel Leg Installation Process
Watch the latest in my video series on building a 42×80-foot Calhoun fabric structure. See all the videos in the…
BACKYARD CHICKENS: Raising Leghorn Chicks For Eggs
Watch the transformation of day-old Leghorn chicks into full-fledged free-range laying hens. Besides being cute, there are key things you…
RESPONSIBLE FORESTRY: Good “Certified” Wood Without the Guilt
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, advocates promoting sustainable forestry through purchasing wood lumber that uses certified harvesting practices.
CONSTRUCTION: Pole Barn Building Visual Guide & Instructions
If you need to add shelter to your property easily and economically, pole barns may be for you. They’re one…
INTERESTING: Meet a Mural Painter Who Makes Buildings Better
Have you ever noticed how outdoor art can make a neighbourhood so much better? This article is about a remarkable outdoor…
VEHICLES: Repair or Replace? Here’s How I Decide
How do you decide whether to repair or replace your vehicle? Listen in as I explain an unusual approach that…
PLUMBING: Simple Valve Extends WELL Pump Life & Improves Pressure Consistency
Does your house have a water pump for delivering household water? Take a look at Steve’s review of a simple…
Transform Your Outdoor Space with These Simple Steps
Imagine sipping your morning coffee, surrounded by the beauty of a perfectly designed outdoor space with outdoor benches and seats…
BUILD A BOOMERANG: Download Free Plans & Instructions
Homemade boomerangs are the kind of toy that adds a lot of extra fun to an afternoon, both in the…
AUTOMOTIVE: Everything You Need to Change Tires DIY
Watch this detailed video tutorial explaining everything about changing tires seasonally. There are good reasons to do this work yourself,…
FIREWOOD: Watch Three Videos to See How We Make It
Every year since 1989 I’ve prepared firewood to heat our rural Manitoulin Island, Canada home, and over the years I’ve settled…
TOOLS: Swedish Company Makes Axes Like They Used To
There’s an allure to handmade tools for Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man. Here he talks about axes, specifically Gransfors Bruks…
WOODWORKING: Mill Your Own Short Lumber the Simple Way
It’s easy to look past the obvious fact that lumber comes from logs, but once you start thinking this way,…
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This is where you’ll find lots of information for hands-on success outside. Gardening, farming, vehicle maintenance and repair, outdoor structures and more.