Household Hints in The Books Store

Peter's unique approach helped people everywhere learn to let go of the emotional and psychological clutter that was literally and figuratively choking the life out of their homes.

More than 150 of Storey's expert authors in gardening, building, animal raising, and homesteading share their specialized knowledge and experience in this ultimate guide to living a more independent, satisfying life.

Readers will find step-by-step, illustrated instructions for every aspect of country living including:

Finding country land

Buying, building, and renovating a home

Developing water sources and systems

Understanding wiring, plumbing, and heating

Using alternative heating and energy sources

Vegetable, flower, and herb gardening

Traditional cooking skills such as baking bread and making maple syrup

Preparing and preserving meat, fruits, and vegetables

Building and maintaining barns, sheds, and outbuildings

Caring for common farm and ranch animals, and pets

This friendly, hands-on guide is packed with tips for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power—and helping the planet at the same time. You’ll see how to survey your home to determine your current household energy efficiency and use, and evaluate where solar power would best benefit you. You’ll also calculate what the return on your investment will be before you make any decisions. Once you’ve decided on a project, you’ll see whether it’s best to hire a contractor or do it yourself. We leave no stone unturned—you’ll also discover how to:

• Choose and install your best solar system
• Handle small to large solar projects
• Heat and cool your house with solar energy
• Install exterior solar lighting
• Handle swimming pool, water heater, or ventilation solar projects
• Create greenhouses or solar rooms
• Build, buy, or sell a solar home
• Finance your solar investments
• Take advantage of tax rebates and incentives associated with solar power
• Avoid the worst solar mistakes

It's back -- with more tape and more projects: 18 projects using the do-it-yourselfer's not-so-secret weapon.

NASA has a written policy that requires every space shuttle mission to carry at least one roll of "the gray tape." Duct tape now comes in designer colors, and for the color-shy there's a transparent version. The once-humble tape has hit the big time, and now there are duct-tape clubs, competitions and websites. In the words of Red Green, head possum on the PBS-syndicated The Red Green Show, "Spare the duct tape, spoil the job."

In this instructive, entertaining and downright funny how-to book, Joe Wilson shows how to rip, cut and fold ordinary duct tape to make 18 amazing projects, including:

• Wallet
• Barbecue apron
• Lunchbox
• Tool belt
• Cell phone holder
• Baseball cap
• TV chair caddy
• Raingear for pets
• Toilet roll cover
• Halloween masks.

Ductigami is more fun than a crossword puzzle, more useful than a welder's certificate, and more durable than a rechargeable battery. With duct tape it's easy to create a remarkable personal gift for any occasion.

Jump right in-doing art with toddlers and twos is fun, rewarding, and a wonderful learning experience. Children discover their world as they explore the 75 fun-filled art adventures in First Art. They will joyfully squeeze a rainbow, make their own (safe) beads to string, and create their very own art baggie book. First Art starts children on a lifelong journey full of exploration and creativity.

Award-winning author MaryAnn F. Kohl is a regular featured columnist for Parenting Magazine. She has also written the best-selling favorites Preschool Art, The Big Messy Art Book, Global Art, Cooking Art, Making Make-Believe, MathArts, and the new Preschool Art series which includes Drawing, Painting, Clay and Dough, Craft and Construction, and Collage and Paper. She lives in Bellingham, Washington.