Summer is a time to be outside and enjoy the much-needed sunshine.And what’s more fun than creating something yourself while soaking up everything the season has to offer? Whether you consider yourself a cook, a gardener, or a crafter, there’s a summer DIY project that is sure to fit your interests & lifestyle.
Here are some of our favorite DIYs for you to try out as your next summertime project.
There’s nothing much better than having a drink after a long, hot day. What could make it better is drinking something that you brewed yourself. Brewing doesn’t have to be a complicated process or take a very long time. With these recipes you can create great drinks all on your own and make this summer the summer of brewing!
The supply of fresh summer fruit is currently in abundance and before you know it, apples and pumpkins will abound. If you’re lucky and berries or stone fruits are providing a bountiful array of flavor this season, try this easy method of preserving them: whole fruit jam. This recipe relies on the natural sugars in fruit to provide a balanced flavor and sweetness in this complimentary spread.
Have you ever thought, “Gee, I think I’d like to make myself a hatchet today?” Yes? Then today’s your lucky day! With some scrap steel, a hacksaw, a file, a drill, a bonfire, a bucket of water, and an oven, you can make this simple, hardy, “democratic” axe. Don’t believe it? Read on!
For all the beekeepers and future beekeepers out there, this one is for you! Your journey to successful beekeeping begins with the bee hive. The beekeeper’s responsibility—which begins long before the first flower of the season unfolds—is to ensure the hive is composed of materials suitable for the surrounding climate. Get ready to create a haven for honeybees in your backyard!
For those who love fermented foods, we now welcome you into the world of the dilly bean. There’s nothing quite like a dilly bean. A jar full of ’em in the fridge, next to a plate of cheese and crackers, on a sandwich, or straight from the jar in the middle of winter when you’re sick of potatoes and pasta are the perfect addition to any meal.
Many know the effects of catnip on our feline friends, but few realize that catnip has medicinal effects for humans. From stomach aches to reducing fevers, catnip is a versatile herb with many benefits. The next time you grow this plant for your cat you may end up taking a few cuttings for yourself!
Do you have a love affair with wood-fired pizza? Can’t resist a fresh from the oven loaf of bread? Are always looking for another DIY project? If you said yes, then this one’s for you! Richard Miscovich, bread expert and wood-fired oven builder, offers a few useful tips and general masonry guidelines to help you get started building the backyard, wood-fired oven of your dreams.
Looking for a new way to compost? We have an answer: the bokashi kitchen composter! With a Bokashi bin, the organic matter from your compost is broken down by specific microorganisms and turned into a preserved or pickled substance through an anaerobic fermentation process.
What can we do to reduce our waste? Use less, recycle and reuse packaging materials, and compost your organic waste.And if you’re a gardener, there’s no reason to throw away this beneficial (and cheap!) source of nourishment for your soil. Compost is the key to a flourishing garden. Easily turn your kitchen scraps and yard waste into food your garden will love.
Yogurt-making is having a moment: From thick and creamy Aussie styles to the tart and tangy Greek version there are myriad approaches to the perfecting the art of the craft. Dairy aficionado David Asher takes an unconventional route by using kefir as a starter. The technique is simple and the end result is guaranteed to delight the tastebuds far more than the grocery store product sitting in the fridge.
Permanent beds are going to change your gardening game. This type of garden bed helps improve soil health, ensures crop growth, and is extremely easy to design! The following is an excerpt from The Living Soil Handbook by Jesse Frost. It has been adapted for the web. Designing Permanent Beds The term permanent beds…
These much-loved titles are the perfect books for Mother’s Day! Gardening books, cookbooks, memoirs and more — there’s a book for every mom on this list.
Prioritize sustainable cooking through zero waste methods: From the ingredients we choose to how we dispose of what’s left behind, every step in the kitchen offers an opportunity to reduce our impact.
