Have way too many crabapples and just don’t know what to do with them? Make crabapple infused vodka. It’s amazing. Continue reading Crabapple infused vodka: delicious & easy
Category Archives: Hippie Hacks & DIY
Cooking & Canning Homemade Crabapple Jam
My wonderful friend Anna has a huge crabapple tree in her yard in Anchorage, Alaska. She picked about 2 gallons worth of crabapples, then the jam party got started. Continue reading Cooking & Canning Homemade Crabapple Jam
First Time Canning With a Water Bath: Pickled Homegrown Beets
It was time to harvest my beets, and I wanted to try canning at home.
I took a few classes on canning earlier this year from the UAF extension office in Anchorage, so I was familiar with the differences between the hot water bath canning method and a pressure canner, but I had never done it on my own. Continue reading First Time Canning With a Water Bath: Pickled Homegrown Beets
Building a DIY Backyard Chicken Coop – Part 3 (The Grand Finale)
In April, Brian started building the frame of a chicken coop and run area in our yard. The chicks were non-existent, and it was all still just an idea.
Were we crazy for building a chicken coop in our urban backyard? Could we make it look nice or would it be an eye sore? Would it decrease the value of our home?
In April, we started the project (see pictures from Part 1 here). We had little chicks who would soon need a bigger home.
In June, it was time for the chickens to live outside. We made more progress on the coop and run area in Building a DIY Backyard Chicken Coop – Part 2.
Now in August, months later, we’ve put the final touches on it. Continue reading Building a DIY Backyard Chicken Coop – Part 3 (The Grand Finale)
Building a DIY Backyard Chicken Coop – Part 2
Since Brian tackled building the coop in part 1, we’ve also built the run area.
Good-bye old rusty fence with the plastic doggie door (which worked pretty well, btw) – we’re on our way to creating the chicken Taj Mahal. Continue reading Building a DIY Backyard Chicken Coop – Part 2
Building a DIY Backyard Chicken Coop – Part 1
I don’t remember who initiated the conversation, Brian or me. There was no awkward silence, no convincing or debate required; we were both immediately onboard. Continue reading Building a DIY Backyard Chicken Coop – Part 1
Building a Custom Coat Rack for Your Home
Do you decorate chairs and couches
with winter jackets?
Be an adult.
It’s time for a DIY coat rack.
We needed a coat rack, but everything in stores was either stupid expensive, cheaply made (particle board coat hanger? Eeew!), or the wrong size for our space. Solution? Brian and I set off on an adventure to build our own custom coat rack.
DIY coat rack? This was either going to end really well or really poorly.
DIY triple-decker plant hanger from recycled blue jeans
Recycling old jeans into a
DIY plant hanger.
I had a pair of old blue jeans with a tear in an awkward place. They were too holey to donate, and I didn’t want to just throw them away.
Blue jean is a durable fabric – instead of tossing the old, ripped jeans in the trash, I decided to take the DIY recycling approach and attempted to sew a homemade triple-decker hanging planter. Continue reading DIY triple-decker plant hanger from recycled blue jeans
Hugel-whaaat? Building an Alaska Backyard Hugelkultur
What started as
“Sweet, that’s an awesome idea!”
soon felt like
“OMG did we really dig a massive hole in our yard??”
but now it’s more like
“Whew, done – YES!!”
Hugelkultur.
It’s a gardening word I had never heard of about 3 weeks ago (heck, it’s a word I still can’t pronounce) but it’s a pretty freaking spectacular gardening idea. And now I have one in my yard. Continue reading Hugel-whaaat? Building an Alaska Backyard Hugelkultur