Books published by publisher Creative Homeowner

Backyard Homesteading will help you turn your yard—no matter how small it may be—into a productive area that provides homegrown food, including fruits, vegetables, honey, eggs, milk, and meat! Inside Backyard Homesteading, learn all about: GETTING STARTED Benefits of pure food Family recreation Local regulations for backyard homesteaders Potential yields and savings RAISING VEGETABLES AND HERBS Garden planning/layout Structures/irrigation Vegetable profiles Planting techniques Composting/healthy soil Seasonal gardening GROWING FRUITS, BERRIES, AND NUTS Planting fruit trees and bushes Fruit profiles Organic pest control Grafting and pruning Harvesting methods RAISING CHICKENS The joy of chickens Collecting eggs Care and feeding tips Other small animals RAISING GOATS Benefits of goat milk Structures/fencing Care and feeding tips Other large animals BEEKEEPING Benefits of beekeeping Care and harvesting Building hives Collecting honey HARVEST HOME Canning/drying/freezing Making beer, wine, cider Making jerky, sausage Making jams, jellies Pickling/salting/smoking Building root cellars If you want to take control of the food you eat and the products you use, Backyard Homesteading will help you learn how to do it—even if you live in an urban or suburban house on a typical-size lot. Backyard Homesteading shows homeowners how to turn a yard into a productive and wholesome "homestead" that allows you to grow your own fruits and vegetables and raise farm animals, including chickens and goats. In addition to covering the topics of growing fruits and vegetables and raising common farm animals, this handy and informative guide covers the laws and regulations of raising livestock in populated areas, and demonstrates how to use and preserve the bounty your land produces. Richly illustrated with more than 400 color photographs and artist's renderings, this back-to-basics guide will get you started on your path to self-sufficiency!

Learn to think like a design pro to get the bathroom you've always wanted! Design a new bathroom that suits your space, your budget, and your lifestyle Over 350 color photos help you visualize your project Learn about the latest trends, products, and innovative ideas for the bath Create your own showcase bathroom in today's most popular styles Plan every aspect of your project, from layout and design to fixtures, fittings, finishing materials, storage, lighting, and air quality Narrow down your choices by discovering what works best for you Get the bathroom you've always wanted without making the types of mistakes that cost money or leave you less than thrilled with the result. Bathrooms, Revised & Updated 2nd Edition explains everything homeowners need to know about budgeting; hiring contractors; designing and working with space; selecting cabinetry and hardware; shopping for fixtures; choosing appropriate countertop, flooring, windows, and other finishing materials; and how to bring off all these elements together cohesively with style. Completely updated with the latest trends, products, and innovative ideas, this new edition offers a smart approach to bathroom design with a bright new layout and updated color photography.

This concise, easy-to-use book shows how to create productive gardens by selecting the perfect plant combinations!Over 300 gorgeous photographs, illustrations, and diagramsPractical, expert advice from leading cultivation specialistsStep-by-step instructions for building up layers of soil with mushroom compost, covering weeds with mulch, protecting plants with nets and plastic and much moreA comprehensive plant directory covers summer-flowering annuals, herbaceous perennials, shrubs, small trees, climbers, water plants, bamboos, culinary herbs, fruits, vegetables and moreWhat could be better after a challenging day at work or a long drive home than to relax in the garden? Reflecting among aromatic flowers and enjoying your own homegrown vegetables is what dreams are made of. For some, it can seem like just that—a dream. But two cultivation specialists have teamed up to break down the steps of creating the perfect flower and vegetable garden in this handy guide.Packed with practical advice from leading cultivation specialists, this concise, easy-to-use book covers virtually every aspect of garden design and maintenance—from choosing a plot to selecting plants, maximizing space, and building raised beds.Plant Combinations for an Abundant Garden shows how to create productive gardens by selecting the perfect plant combinations. A comprehensive plant directory provides handy information on summer-flowering annuals, herbaceous perennials, shrubs, small trees, climbers, water plants, bamboos, culinary herbs, fruits and vegetables.Practical advice and step-by-step instructions are included for building up layers of soil with mushroom compost, covering weeds with mulch, protecting plants with nets and plastic and much more."This book will gently guide you through all the stages of gardening," says author Alan Bridgewater. "No more dreaming ... now is the time for turning fantasies into realities."With more than 300 gorgeous color photographs, illustrations and diagrams, this book is a must for busy gardeners everywhere!"...an excellent resource for the beginning gardener who dreams big, but doesn't know where to begin."—American Horticulture Society

The most complete home improvement manual on the market, this book offers more than 2,300 photos, 800 drawings, and understandable, practical text. Readers will find essential instruction on plumbing and electrical repairs, heating and cooling, roofing and siding, cabinets and countertops, and more. Information is also provided on tools, materials, and basic skills, plus 325 step-by-step projects with how-to photo sequences. The Ultimate Guide to Home Repair & Improvement also includes a remodeling guide and a resource guide. Top to bottom, inside and out, this is the single, ultimate resource book for home projects and repairs."This manual is highly recommended"—Library Journal“The definitive ‘how to’ reference and instructional guide for anyone seeking to re-model, renovate, repair, or maintain any aspect of their residence”— Midwest Book Review

Your indispensable manual for tiny house living!Comprehensive review of the practical considerations that go into building, owning, and living in a tiny home on wheelsWhat it means to upgrade to tiny, and what you should know about design, construction, and the legalities of living in a tiny homeFirst-hand information from people in the tiny house movement addressing how to deal with the inevitable challenges of living your tiny house dreamAuthor Chris Schapdick is the founder of Tiny Industrial, a tiny house building company, and he was awarded the "Best Tiny House Award" by the New Jersey Tiny House Festival in 2017The tiny house movement continues to grow and thrive. Are you ready to go tiny? If you're considering joining the small home lifestyle, you have many decisions to make before you can realize your dream: Is tiny living right for me? What kind of structure should I build? Where can I park my tiny house? And what about the toilet?The Joy of Tiny House Living is today's indispensable manual for fully understanding all the practical considerations that go into building, owning, and living in a tiny home on wheels. This book will help you learn everything you need to know about the challenges of tiny living and discover how other people in the tiny house movement are finding answers to the same questions.Award-winning tiny house builder Chris Schapdick offers first-hand information to help tiny home aspirants realize the dream, with advice on design, construction, legalities of living in a tiny home, and how to deal with some of the inevitable challenges of living tiny.Upgrading to small has many benefits for those who are well informed—that's where this book can help!Learn everything you need to know about tiny house living, including:Why you should go tiny—and howAdvice on downsizing and clutter-free livingCreative tiny house design ideas and basic structure layoutsHeating, cooling, water, and power optionsKitchen, bedroom, and bathroom solutions"I aim to align myself with people that inspire. You should always look for those with that mad scientist gleam. Chris has it, and he's about to share it with you."—Derek "Deek" Diedricksen, author of Microshelters and Micro Living, former host of HGTV's Tiny House Builders"The Joy of Tiny House Living is filled to the rafters with practical advice, personal experience, important questions to ponder, and fabulous photos that will inspire and prepare you to embark on your own tiny house journey."—Susan Schaefer Bernardo, author of The Big Adventures of Tiny House

Build attractive, useful outdoor features to enhance your yard and garden with this informative homeowner's guide! 35 step-by-step projects for your lawn or garden in 4 categories: Brick, stone, water, and wood Over 400 color photos beautifully illustrate this outdoor DIY project book Detailed information on each project: Tools & materials, difficulty level, time it will take, handy tips, & time-saving techniques Learn how to construct professional-looking, stylish structures using basic equipment and easy-to-learn skills This homeowner's guide shows you how to build 35 useful and attractive outdoor features to enhance your yard and garden. Complete Book of Outdoor DIY Projects is the ultimate resource for constructing a wide variety of professional-looking, stylish structures, using stone, brick, wood, or water. With step-by-step instructions and clear color photographs, all you need is basic equipment and easy-to-learn skills. Projects include stone paths, garden archways, Japanese stone gardens and bamboo fountains, raised and free standing brick planters, pavers, decorative screen walls, rustic benches, and much more! Alongside hundreds of inspirational color photos, each project is accompanied by detailed information on which tools to use, exactly what materials are required, how long it will take to make, and the level of difficulty involved, along with handy tips and time-saving techniques. Projects include: STONE Rock Garden Stone Steps Serene Stone Garden Stone Slab Patio Patterned Pathway Crazy Paving Pathway Decorative Stone Seat Formal Garden Table Hypertufa Sink Garden WATER Natural Bog Garden Formal Fountain Pool Lily Pond Shallow Feature Pool Japanese Bamboo Fountain Pot & Fountain Feature Millstone Fountain Flowing Barrel Koi Pond BRICK Built-In Planter Circular Planter Barbecue Pit Garden Storage Bench Potting Table Brick-Paved Path Garden Steps Traditional Sundial Screen Wall WOOD Log Steps Rustic Screen Picket Fence & Gate Bentwood Arch Rustic Garden Bench Trellis Arbor Practical Swing Set Treehouse ...plus ideas, inspiration, tools, tips, techniques, and more!

Find inspiring ideas to make your Texas or Oklahoma home landscape more attractive and functional!48 beautiful designs created by landscape professionals specifically for TX & OKOver 200 plants picked for your region, with detailed descriptions and all you need to know to plant & maintain themNearly 400 photos and illustrations to help envision your resultsStep-by-step instructions for building structures like paths, ponds, walls, fences, arbors, and trellisesCreative solutions for front entries, foundation plantings, patios, steep slopes, and moreTexas Home Landscaping, 3rd Edition is an updated, expanded edition of Creative Homeowner's award-winning book on landscaping Texas-style!Inside, you'll find inspiring ideas for making your home landscape more attractive and functional. The 48 featured designs are created by landscape professionals from the region and use more than 200 region-specific plants that thrive in Texas and Oklahoma.Included are detailed instructions for projects such as paths, patios, ponds, and arbors, concise information for gardening techniques, and easy-to-follow plans. Nearly 400 full-color photos and paintings are complemented by easy, step-by-step instructions that take the uncertainty out of gardening.With Texas Home Landscaping, both the Lone Star State and the Sooner State will be in full bloom!"This idea-filled book takes the guesswork out of landscaping so you can focus on the fun. Designs that work, great plants you can find, accurate instructions, and detailed drawings will help you succeed."—Nancy Beaubaire, former Editor, Fine Gardening and Country Living Gardener

This is the ultimate guide to adding the perfect deck! 30 deck projects include complete plans and materials lists Over 700 step-by-step photos and illustrations in full color highlight clear, concise, friendly text How to add the perfect deck—whether doing it yourself or working with a contractor Composite decking included in this updated 5th edition, with new photos and new information Master deck builders created and provided the included designs Decks continue to be one of the most popular additions to homes today as more and more homeowners seek to enjoy outdoor living and expand living space. Ultimate Guide: Decks, 5th Edition leads you through the process of designing and building a deck, whether as a do-it-yourself project or when wanting to better understand how to work with a contractor. Inside, you can choose from 30 designs created by master deck builders, with complete plans, materials lists, and hundreds of step-by-step color photographs that highlight the clear, concise, and friendly text. The authors provide helpful advice on generating ideas, selecting materials, and using tools as they lead you through the complete process. Further inspiration comes from dozens of deck designs and ideas from the nation's top deck designers and builders. Finally, the 30 deck projects, complete with plans and materials lists, ensure that even a novice can create a finished deck using this complete guide!

Discover inspiring ideas to make your Midwest home landscape more attractive and functional!46 beautiful designs created by landscape professionals specifically for the MidwestOver 200 plants picked for your region, with detailed descriptions and all you need to know to plant & maintain themOver 470 photos and illustrations to help envision your resultsStep-by-step instructions for building structures like paths, ponds, walls, fences, arbors, and trellisesCreative solutions for installing front & back entries, foundation plantings, patios, steep slopes, and moreMidwest Home Landscaping, 3rd Edition shows you how to beautify common landscape situations—Midwest-style!Inside, you'll find a collection of inspiring ideas for making your home landscape more attractive and functional. The 46 featured designs were created by landscape professionals from the region and use more than 200 proven performers—all plants that thrive in the Midwest and south-central Canada. The book describes each plant in full detail, as well as how to install and care for them.Included are detailed instructions for projects such as walkways, borders, patios, ponds, and arbors, concise information for gardening techniques, and easy-to-follow plans. Over 450 full-color photos, drawings, and paintings are complemented by easy step-by-step instructions that provide the essential knowledge to tackle each project and take the uncertainty out of gardening!With Midwest Home Landscaping, your landscape will be in full bloom!States covered include IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, and WI, plus southern Ontario.

A stunning flower garden that blooms throughout the seasons depends on the artful combination of annuals, perennials, and bulbs! 600 photographs illustrate flowers, gardening tips, and techniques Over 40 step-by-step photo sequences take you through practical techniques Essential information to help you design gardens and borders, improve your soil, and maintain your plants Helpful advice on how to care for the soil, start plants from seeds, and grow and care for plants in containers Useful tips on saving annual seeds, dividing perennial plants, lifting bulbs, forcing bulbs for indoor winter flowering, and preparing your garden for winter This lavishly illustrated book shows how to grow plants from the "great garden triumvirate" and provides foolproof design techniques for any garden or landscape. An extensive section on using color in the garden provides guidance for the tricky process of plant placement and selection. Practical techniques are emphasized, too. You'll learn how to care for soil, start plants from seeds, grow and care for plants in containers, and maintain plants and gardens. Sections on dividing plants, lifting bulbs, and saving seeds are also included.

Find inspiring ideas to make your Californian home landscape more attractive and functional!48 beautiful designs created by landscape professionals specifically for CAOver 200 plants picked for your region, with detailed descriptions and all you need to know to plant & maintain themOver 400 color photos and illustrations to help you envision your resultsStep-by-step instructions for building structures like paths, patios, ponds, walls, fences, arbors, and trellisesCreative solutions for front entries, foundation plantings, patios, steep slopes, and moreInside California Home Landscaping, 3rd Edition, you'll find 48 featured designs created by landscape professionals from the region. The designs use more than 200 dependable plants that are proven to perform and thrive in the Californian climate.This idea-filled book is presented in three parts: Design Portfolio, Guide to Installations, and Plant Portraits. In the "Design Portfolio" section, you'll find 48 beautiful designs—24 plans, each in 2 variations—created by landscape professionals in California. Then, "Guide to Installations" shows you how to install the plants, paths, patios, ponds, and arbors used in the designs. Finally, more than 200 of the best plants for the region are fully described in "Plant Portraits."Included are detailed instructions for the projects, concise information for gardening techniques, and easy-to-follow plans. Over 400 full-color photos and paintings are complemented by step-by-step instructions that take the fear out of gardening!Clearly written in a friendly, conversational style, California Home Landscaping provides everything a Californian needs to know to landscape like a pro.CA will be in full bloom with California Home Landscaping!"This idea-filled book takes the guesswork out of landscaping so you can focus on the fun. Designs that work, great plants you can find, accurate instructions, and detailed drawings will help you succeed."—Nancy Beaubaire, former Editor, Fine Gardening and Country Living Gardener"...like having a team of professional garden designers on hand."—Country Living Gardener"...you'll turn to these beautifully rendered design possibilities again and again."—Elanore Lewis, Woman's Day Garden Planner & Practical Guide"The Home Landscaping series takes the fear out of gardening by skillfully combining a wide range of attractive, dependable plants with clear, concise information on the techniques of gardening and easy-to-follow plans."—Thomas Fischer, Executive Editor, Horticulture

All the inspiration and information you need to create your own home water garden! Over 490 color photographs and illustrations provide inspiration and direction for constructing water garden structures Easy step-by-step sequences and instructions for pond foundations, moving-water features, pond cleaning, troubleshooting, and more Practical advice on every consideration of planning your water garden—size, style, light, location, climate, slopes, materials, configuration, and more All types of home water gardens are covered, from naturalistic to formal, plus fountains, waterfalls, streams, and bog gardens Aquatic plants, fish, and other pond inhabitants are covered in depth, from koi, tench, and frogs to herons, dragonflies, and snails, plus which nuisance insects to be on the alert for Bridges and stepping-stones are included, with tools & materials lists and design instructions Find historical inspiration from Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia, China, Japan, and Europe with an overview of water gardens throughout history Beautifully illustrated with over 490 lush photographs, Garden Ponds, Fountains & Waterfalls for Your Home provides essential information on designing and installing all types of home water gardens, from naturalistic to formal, plus fountains, waterfalls, streams, and bog gardens. You'll learn how to construct each of these structures, as well as how to design wooden bridges and stepping-stones. You'll also find advice and plants for all regions, with special tips for gardens in extreme conditions, and zone charts. Expert author Kathleen Fisher was for 10 years the editor of The American Gardener, published by the American Horticultural Society. Her invaluable how-to information guide and comprehensive plant encyclopedia is great for new and seasoned gardeners alike. Garden Ponds, Fountains & Waterfalls for Your Home will teach you all you need to know to create and maintain the water garden of your dreams!