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Home, Garden and DIY May 2013
"Frugality may be termed the daughter of Prudence, the sister of Temperance, and the parent of Liberty." ~ Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), English writer and lexicographer
New and Recently Released!
The Speedy Vegetable Garden - by Mark Diacono and Lia Leendertz
Publisher: Timber Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/15/2013
Share The Speedy Vegetable Garden ISBN-13: 9781604693263
ISBN-10: 1604693266
Take the fast track to fresh-picked vegetables with this unique guide for gardeners in a hurry. The Speedy Vegetable Garden covers 50 different types of early-harvest vegetables, microgreens (sprouts and seedlings), and edible flowers, with clear how-to information, tantalizing color photographs, and simple, speedy recipes for each crop. Ideal for kitchen gardeners, families with kids, or anyone angling for the shortest possible time between plant and plate, this fun and flavorful book has everything you need for mouth-watering veggies without the wait.
Reinventing the Chicken Coop: 14 Original Designs with Step-by-Step Building Instructions - by Kevin McElroy and Matthew Wolpe
Publisher: Storey Publishing
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/01/2013
Share Reinventing the Chicken Coop%3a  14 Original Designs with Step-by-Step Building Instructions ISBN-13: 9781603429801
ISBN-10: 1603429808
With chicken-keeping spreading from the country to suburbs and cities, this innovative, instructional look at avian architecture is timely as well as inspiring. Artisans Kevin McElroy and Matthew Wolpe show their versatility with a comprehensive collection of 14 chicken coop designs, starting from basic frames and nesting boxes and working up to imaginative and multipurpose concepts such as log cabin and green-roof garden coops. Offering projects for various skill levels and space restrictions, plus illustrated building instructions, Reinventing the Chicken Coop is the perfect tool for constructing chicken coops that have both substance and style.
Secrets of an Organized Mom: How to Declutter and Streamline Your Home for a Happier Family - by Barbara Reich
Publisher: Atria Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 02/26/2013
Share Secrets of an Organized Mom%3a  How to Declutter and Streamline Your Home for a Happier Family ISBN-13: 9781451672855
ISBN-10: 1451672853
Whether you’re plagued by piles of junk mail, frustrated by an overflowing closet, or tired of toys underfoot, Barbara Reich can help you go from overwhelmed to in control. Based on four organizational principles (purge, design, organize, and maintain) Reich’s method takes readers through each room in the house, providing simple, easily achieved strategies for streamlining each space. Not just for multitasking moms, Reich’s good humored, no-nonsense approach will appeal to anyone who wants to take the stress out of home organization.
If You Like: Cheaper, Better, Faster
Many people explore hobbies, crafts, gardening, and cooking as artistic expression; for others, DIY is a means to better, less expensive, or more ecological living. If you're waiting your turn to check out personal finance guru Mary Hunt's latest book Cheaper, Better, Faster -- a compendium of tips and hints for doing any and every thing more economically -- you might also be interested in these books, all of which can help you save money by being crafty, handy…and thrifty!       
Don't Throw It Out: Recycle, Renew, and Reuse to Make Things Last - by Lori Baird
Publisher: Rodale
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 12/26/2007
Share Don ISBN-13: 9781594865770
ISBN-10: 1594865779
Author Lori Baird and the thrifty folks at Yankee magazine present more than 1,000 ingenious ways to extend the life of household objects, from furniture and fishing reels to cell phones, appliances, lawn mowers, linens, and jewelry. Whether you want to save money, time, or the planet, this compendium's tips and tricks for maintenance and repair will help, as will its suggested new uses for items that have outlived their original purpose (one example: make chew-rings for small dogs out of old toothbrush handles!). Want more pointers on frugal living? Check out The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches by Jeff Yeager.
Paintbox Knits: More Than 30 Designs for Kids - by Mary H. Bonnette and Jo Lynne Murchland
Publisher: Martingale & Company
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/11/2013
Share Paintbox Knits%3a  More Than 30 Designs for Kids ISBN-13: 9781564773364
ISBN-10: 1564773361
When it comes to kids’ clothes, sometimes it’s better to spend time making hard-wearing items that can be handed down than to spend money on commercial clothing that won’t last. Paintbox Knits is packed with easy designs for durable child-size sweaters, tunics, jackets, and pants, all in bright, lively colors and patterns kids will enjoy. The authors provide detailed instructions, as well as guidance for trouble spots such as sizing, blocking, finishing, and necklines, plus a handy how-to on graphing original knitting patterns. Worried about kids growing out of their cute knits? Check out The Sweater Chop Shop by Crispina Ffrench for repurposing ideas.
Ecothrifty: Cheaper, Greener Choices for a Happier, Healthier Life - by Deborah Niemann
Publisher: New Society Publishers
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/16/2012
Share Ecothrifty%3a  Cheaper, Greener Choices for a Happier, Healthier Life ISBN-13: 9780865717152
ISBN-10: 086571715X
If you feel like you don’t have the time or money to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, this versatile and encouraging book is the perfect incentive to help you stop making excuses and start taking action to save both money and the environment. Categorized by subject but focused on small, practical consumer choices (such as throwing a clothes-swapping party instead of buying something new, or learning to make your own laundry detergent), Ecothrifty offers advice, recipes, and (sometimes staggering) cost-savings comparisons to guide you in making your life healthier, cheaper, and more sustainable.
Upcycling: Create Beautiful Things with the Stuff You Already Have - by Danny Seo
Publisher: Running Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/23/2011
Share Upcycling%3a  Create Beautiful Things with the Stuff You Already Have ISBN-13: 9780762441792
ISBN-10: 0762441798
Interior designer Danny Seo turns to the trash bin for inspiration in this collection of ideas for upcycling, “a higher form of recycling” that is both budget-conscious and eco-chic. Seo presents almost 100 “funky, fun, and very distinctive” (Publishers Weekly) designs using found or discarded materials -- turning disposable chopsticks intro a trivet, for example, or making old towels into a picnic blanket. Seo’s got something for every style or skill level, with sections on decorating, entertaining, and gift-giving, plus projects for kids and nature-lovers. Looking for economical furniture to go with your DIY décor? Try The Handbuilt Home by Ana White.
Dare to Repair: A Do-It-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home - by Julie Sussman and Stephanie Glakas-Tenet
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/01/2002
Share Dare to Repair%3a  A Do-It-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home ISBN-13: 9780060959845
ISBN-10: 0060959843
Written by a pair of capable women whose CIA husbands weren't around much to snake the drains, patch the drywall, or replace electrical outlets, this clear, down-to-earth guide to common household maintenance needs and repairs is as entertaining as it is empowering. Divided into general categories including plumbing, electricity, major appliances, and windows, walls and doors, Dare to Repair provides pertinent, detailed illustrations, a list of tools needed, and step-by-step instructions for completing each repair. Want more? Be sure to check out the three additional volumes in this popular home repair series for women.
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