From the Editor: Doing it Yourself

Early on, I learned that cabin owners often need to be self-reliant – albeit sometimes with a little help from family or friends, of course. You can’t always just call Bob, the local handyman.

I am reminded of a time in my 20s, when a friend of mine had purchased his first cabin and was having trouble with his septic field. I can still picture the two of us out in a heavy spring rain trying to remedy the problem with shovels. It’s not the happiest memory, but it’s a memory.

More recently, I’ve had the pleasure of watching my handy brothers-in-law at work on fun DIY projects. One is very artistic and made a cabin chandelier out of a minnow bucket and canoe paddles. Another handcrafted his own wooden kayak.

The May 2015 issue of Cabin Life reminds me that do-it-yourself projects come in all types and sizes, from DIY decorating to DIY cabin design. For instance:

• Turn to “Shop Flea Markets Like a Pro” (p. 32) to learn how to uncover treasures, and then in “Decorating with Flea Market Finds,” how to personalize your cabin with your finds (p. 34).
• Read “Weatherproof Your Cabin” to gain tips for choosing the right caulks, sealants and weather stripping (p. 50).
• Find more home maintenance advice in “Tooling Around.” Topics include “Preparing for Spring Storms” and “Maintaining Your Wood Siding or Log Exterior” (p. 58).
• And be sure not to miss “Cabin in the Hills,” a tale of a man who designs his own cabin, collects reclaimed materials for its construction, and then builds it (p. 24).

That last story is testament to the fact that in the world of DIY there’s always someone whose project trumps yours.

But if all you need is someone with a strong back who knows his way around a shovel, I’m your guy.