We’re likely to get solar panels this fall, so I’ve begun to evaluate the site where the panels will go. Most of our sunny grounds are given over to the garden, greenhouse, and our solar hot water system. The south side of our garage, though is perfect. What I wasn’t sure of, though, was which … More Evaluating Our Solar Site
Chickens are capable of producing a prodigious amount of manure. When concentrated into a confined area and trampled, this manure requires frequent removal. Additionally, chicken feet and plumage often carry remnants of manure. It is likely that the hobbyist and homesteader alike have lamented the smells, smears, and soiled conditions that can be common to … More Deep-Litter Method for Chicken Coops: Save and Repurpose! — From Contributor Eric McGlynn
If you walk barefoot onto a paved road on a balmy August night, you might notice the retained heat of the day has charged up the massive concrete with quite a lot of residual energy. Despite the sun having set hours prior, the ground is still quite warm. If you then took a step onto … More Skill Share Workshop: Rocket Stove Construction
Learn to sharpen your knives, chisels, and scissors by hand on a variety of stones and mediums. Throw away those cheap, store-bought guides and jigs, come explore the world of sharpness, leaving with knives sharper than you’ve ever had and the knowledge to put a fine edge on them whenever you like with the just … More Skill Share Workshop: Introduction to Sharpening Knives and Tools
This is a repost from Tom Bartlett’s site, silvaspoon.com. Tom is teaching a spoon carving class at this year’s Sustainability Skill Share (see a full course description at the link). Attendees can take a day- or weekend-long course covering axe and slyod-knife spoon carving, with prices starting at $84 (these discounted class registrations will go … More Skill Share Workshop: Everybody Should Carve a Spoon
Friend of the institute, Lynn L., recently donated two decades–worth of Small Farmer’s Journal to our lending library. Thanks to Lynn for her generosity and thanks also for reminding me to promote these community resources! Resource Library Our resource library can be accessed from any page on our website by going to the “Libraries” in … More Visit our Libraries, Both Tool and Book Varieties!
Low Tech Podcast, No. 37 – 15 Feb 2019
Discussing Wood Floors with Dan Cooper … More Low Tech Podcast, No. 37 — Wood Floors with Dan Cooper
We’ve gotten almost a foot of snow and are in for another dumping this weekend here in southern Wisconsin. It is a good time of year to take care of indoor projects but it is also important to get outside to enjoy the weather. It makes the long winter more bearable if you can find … More Making Wooden Skis — Video Link
Marie Kondo has been exploding across social media and the news since her Netflix show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo was released around new year. January 1st is when so many of us try to start new habits, and the timing of this show was not random. Indeed, at this time last year, I read … More Marie Kondo, Minimalism, and Stuff
Are you interested in learning basic carpentry skills for putting to use in your home or garden? Have you been uncertain about using hammers, saws, drills, or power tools? Do you have little to no experience with these things but want to learn? … More SOLD OUT Upcoming Workshop — Making Bees Wax Food Wrappers, Jan. 27, 2–5 p.m., $10/5 SOLD OUT