Build It Better Yourself by Organic Gardening Magazine Editors (1977, Hardcover)

I have owned a copy of this book since it was published in 1977.It is priceless if you have interest in homesteading,back to nature topics or if you're just sick of the imported junk that you find in hardware and farm stores of today.You can build anything from a solar food dryer to a small barn,a highwheel cultivator to a chicken coop.Potting benches,window greenhouses,cold frame,lawn furniture,on and on.Over 900 pages of information and whether or not you want to build anything from the book,you'll marvel at the ingenuity of the people who did build some of the gadgets and helpers mentioned.

I live in the country. Often questions arise without a resource to answer them. This Book is my quiet companion in the sense that it patiently waits for its question and offers a humble answer. It's content is of simplistic designs and advice which make for an economic and effective result. I don't have time to improvise my own devices on occasion. It's nice to make use of, evidently many decades of knowledge accrued over the years that have gone into the making of the Book.

I've had a copy of this since the early 70's (yeah, I'm that old). It has been a wonderful resource for building all kinds of "homestead" and gardening tools and equipment. I purchased this copy for my brother who has begun exploring a self sufficient life style. He has told me that he has already built several projects from the book in the month or so he has had it.

The best feature of the book is the simplicity of the projects and the excellent directions for them. In addition the authors give the user plenty of opportunity to adjust the designs for your particular use.

I am not sure why, but new copies of this work are priced in the several hundred dollar range. While I'm sure that it being out of print accounts for some of the high price, I think it's price gouging. I like the book, but would never spend 300 + on it. I found many excellent condition used copies in the 5 to 90 dollar range. Well worth up to 30, over that find one in a library.

This is an awesome book for any gardener or anyone into small scale farming or being outdoors. Lots of great plans and ideas to make functional things you could use everyday very cheaply! A+