Back to Basics Building

Food costs these days are outrageous and only growing more each day. So, the prospect of building your own greenhouse and growing your own fruits and vegetables is probably starting to sound more and more viable. For anyone seeking a means and the details needed to install their greenhouse, this book will walk you through every necessary step. You will learn the various principles of greenhouse use and the different types of greenhouses you can use depending on your location and the specific needs you may have. Learn how to select a proper site and to set a foundation that will hold the greenhouse effectively in place regardless of weather conditions throughout the year and maintain the heat generated in the greenhouse. Learn how to frame your green house and how to effectively glaze the glass. Learn what kinds of ventilation are needed and what forms of supplemental heat, insulation, and heat sinking you will need to acquire for your greenhouse. Greenhouse and plant experts have been interviewed and their insights have been added to this book to help you make the right decisions about which kind of greenhouse is best for you and how to prepare it. Learn how to effectively install the necessary plumbing, wiring, and other amenities your greenhouse needs. Learn what is needed for shutters and shades and how to install cold frames and hotbeds. Learn how to install hoop houses, attached greenhouses, and freestanding greenhouses and the differences between each of them.

In today's economy and in response to the growing awareness of how much damage has been done to the environment in the past, people cannot afford to delay considering ways they can build or remodel their homes to ensure they are green and resource-friendly. This book will guide you and your family through the process of learning more about and implementing the necessary changes to a new, green lifestyle. You will learn how to remodel with green in mind and how to start working with building professionals who can provide the necessary materials, plans, and paperwork you need to proceed. Your Guide to Green Building will cover which materials are best for green building and how to choose between all the choices. The basics of framing your building, natural building methods, the energy systems you might use, and the heating/cooling options at your disposal are all here, right at your fingertips. Construction and environmental experts have been interviewed, and their expertise is included in this bookto help you complete your green dream home, as well as know what kinds of water and waste systems are best, how to site plan and landscape your home, and what the most common myths about green building are. You will learn ten things you can do on any building project to keep it green and any materials you should always have on hand for anything you do around the house.

Earth-sheltered building has existed since the heyday of Skara Brae in Scotland 5,000 years ago, and is used today by people around the world. If you have ever looked at your power bill in stunned disbelief, if you are interested in green building techniques, or if you want your home to stand out (or hide out), then this book is for you. With The Complete Guide to Building Affordable Earth-Sheltered Homes, you will learn about the many different types of earth-sheltered homes and their various advantages. The energy costs of an earth-sheltered home can be as much as 80 percent lower than a conventional home. The book will examine the different environmental factors that you need to consider when selecting which style to build and how to begin. Some of the factors discussed include the different types of soil, and how to maximize use of natural light sources. Construction experts and earth-sheltered homebuilders have been interviewed and their expertise is included in this guide to help you learn how you can create your own underground home. Details of construction methods are found throughout the book, including tips and advice for planning. You will learn how to pour your own footings and floor, how to dry stack concrete block walls, how to use post and beam framing, and how to waterproof the membranes. If earth-sheltered building is good enough for Bill Gates $136 million mansion, then it just might be good enough for you too. Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company president's garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice. Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.

According to HGTV, the popular home and garden cable television station, water features are currently among the hottest landscaping trends in the United States, offering a way to increase a home's resell value and providing a creative outlet for homeowners. Whether you are looking to create a lush outdoor paradise, complete with waterfalls and fish-filled ponds, or you simply want a conservative balcony fountain, this book can show you how to build your own backyard escape no matter your budget. The Complete Guide to Building Backyard Ponds, Fountains, and Waterfalls for Homeowners provides step-by-step instructions and design plans for building a variety of water features. The book will show you how to appraise the size, shape, and topography of your yard to decide which features will work best in your space. Once you have assessed your style and space, you will be given a variety of design plans for various basic and complex water features, complete with step-by-step instructions, dimensions, and supply lists. You will learn which tasks you are capable of completing yourself and when you should call a licensed professional. Once you have installed your water feature, you will be given advice on adding those special touches to your landscaping project. We have spent hundreds of hours interviewing landscaping artists and homeowners just like you who can offer tips and tricks for completing your backyard makeover. This book can help you build a backyard oasis that you can enjoy for many years to come.

Fruits and vegetables are some of the most expensive parts of any regular menu in your home. The cost of maintaining a healthy supply of these necessary staples is becoming harder and harder for many families. With the right resources and planning, you can take advantage of an age old method of storage that will allow you to buy fruits and vegetables when they are least expensive or to grow your own and store them for future use. This book will walk anyone through the process of building and using a root cellar to store their fruits and vegetables for later use, through the cold winter months when even the most basic items can be expensive. You will learn what to expect each winter for multiple month storage and which vegetables and fruits to start expecting in your cellar. You will also benefit from interviews with the top experts in the field of storage and root cellaring and farmers who have been storing vegetables for years. You will learn how to start your own underground garden and what various types of cellars exist trenches, closets, and hideaways. You will learn how to start planning your root cellar, how to utilize your basement if you so desire and how to start excavating and preparing it for the first harvest. No matter your situation or your crops, you can benefit from this book and its take on the world of root cellaring and long term fruit and vegetable storage.

With their classic barns and fences, American small farms, and the buildings that support these farms, serve a much-needed purpose as much today as they have in the past. Every well-meaning farmer or property owner with livestock, small animals, or farming equipment has need of a barn or a series of outbuildings. Unfortunately, many farmers now rely on expensive contractors to do a job many farmers traditionally undertook themselves. This book has been designed to ensure everyone who has ever thought of building their own barns, outbuildings, or animal pens knows exactly what is entailed - from inception of the design to the final construction stages. You will learn exactly what you need to start building outbuildings, barns, farming equipment, and farm supplies. For each of the structures showed within this book, you will learn the required dimensions and extra space you might not have previously considered, including space for your motorized machinery, a workshop for maintaining your equipment, and loft space for hay bales, feed, and farming equipment. This book offers plans for building barns, storage structures, animal pens, storage sheds, and greenhouses. It also offers plans for building gates, fences, wagons, farm equipment, and other structures and equipment necessary for the success of your small farm. If you are looking to save thousands of dollars by building your own farm structures and equipment, this book will walk you through every step of the design, preparation, and construction process, ensuring success and capturing the lost art of small farm self-sufficiency.