How and Why: A Do it yourself Guide by Matte Resist
Did you ever want to build your own instruments, grow your own food, create a bicycle, educate your children, organize your things, recycle your stuff, or just live more simply? Me too! So I did it, and then I wrote about it so you can do it too. Not only that, but I also tell you why should bother.
In the "Music" section I cover how to build a canjolele (cookie tin banjo), cigar box guitar, mountain banjo, and 2 types of kalimbas. I also show you how to make your own piezo pickup, and how to wind a magnetic pickup so you can electrify your instruments.
In the bicycle section there are plans for a trailer, a sidecar, a basket, a repair stand, and a recumbent, as well as information on converting your bike to a single speed or fixed gear, and winter biking. There's a section on gardening which includes composting, raised bed gardening, companion planting, seed saving and starting among other things. There are also sections on homeschooling, home and garage, and an "everything else" section.
$10 + $2.50 shipping (in the U.S.)
In the "Music" section I cover how to build a canjolele (cookie tin banjo), cigar box guitar, mountain banjo, and 2 types of kalimbas. I also show you how to make your own piezo pickup, and how to wind a magnetic pickup so you can electrify your instruments.
In the bicycle section there are plans for a trailer, a sidecar, a basket, a repair stand, and a recumbent, as well as information on converting your bike to a single speed or fixed gear, and winter biking. There's a section on gardening which includes composting, raised bed gardening, companion planting, seed saving and starting among other things. There are also sections on homeschooling, home and garage, and an "everything else" section.
$10 + $2.50 shipping (in the U.S.)
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 How and Why: A Do-it-yourself Guide Shipped overseas $10 + 8.50 $ 18.50 |
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How and Why: A Do-it-yourself Guide 2 copies $ 23.50 | How and Why: A Do-it-yourself Guide 3 copies $ 34.00 | How and Why: A Do-it-yourself Guide 5 copies - FREE SHIPPING $ 50.00 |
Reviews of How and Why: A Do-it-yourself Guide
When I first read the introduction, I thought to myself “Yes! This is exactly wat I have been looking for.” I am all about supporting non-corporate America
and the DIY culture. This guide tells you how you can live more of a DIY lifestyle and become more self-sufficient. Matte also tells us the importance of
DIY and why we should ride our bicycles and grow our own gardens. The DIY culture helps keep more of your money in your pocket and prevents just handing it over to someone for something you can do yourself. Not only does Matte give detailed written directions, he even includes pictures in every chapter. Each chapter gives you alternative paths to use in your daily life. In the first chapter you will learn everything you need to know about bicycling from how to fix up an old bike, convert to a single speed or fixed gear and even making a trailer to help with hauling. The gardening chapter includes lessons on composting, growing your own food and also tips on using a garbage can to plant a potato garden. Want to start a band? The instruments chapter teaches you how to make your own instruments using common household items. Some of the instruments include a banjo, canjolele, rake tine kalimba and a guitar made from a cigar box. The chapter even includes a chart of ukulele chords. There is also a Home and Garage chapter with helpful household projects. Wait, don’t feel left out parents! There is even a chapter for you. This chapter discusses educating your children with home schooling. Matte discusses how to effectively teach your child in a way that will engage them, unlike the overcrowded classrooms kids are now being placed in. These are all lessons we can benefit from long term and use for a lifetime. This read is easy to follow and understand. I found myself turning each page wondering what I would learn next. I am eager to get out and build my soda can solar panel and grow my garbage can potatoes. This guide is motivational, inspiring and hopeful. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in doing more things for themselves.
Justin Case - Amp Magazine (http://www.ampmagazine.com/8950/how-and-why-a-do-it-yourself-guide/)
and the DIY culture. This guide tells you how you can live more of a DIY lifestyle and become more self-sufficient. Matte also tells us the importance of
DIY and why we should ride our bicycles and grow our own gardens. The DIY culture helps keep more of your money in your pocket and prevents just handing it over to someone for something you can do yourself. Not only does Matte give detailed written directions, he even includes pictures in every chapter. Each chapter gives you alternative paths to use in your daily life. In the first chapter you will learn everything you need to know about bicycling from how to fix up an old bike, convert to a single speed or fixed gear and even making a trailer to help with hauling. The gardening chapter includes lessons on composting, growing your own food and also tips on using a garbage can to plant a potato garden. Want to start a band? The instruments chapter teaches you how to make your own instruments using common household items. Some of the instruments include a banjo, canjolele, rake tine kalimba and a guitar made from a cigar box. The chapter even includes a chart of ukulele chords. There is also a Home and Garage chapter with helpful household projects. Wait, don’t feel left out parents! There is even a chapter for you. This chapter discusses educating your children with home schooling. Matte discusses how to effectively teach your child in a way that will engage them, unlike the overcrowded classrooms kids are now being placed in. These are all lessons we can benefit from long term and use for a lifetime. This read is easy to follow and understand. I found myself turning each page wondering what I would learn next. I am eager to get out and build my soda can solar panel and grow my garbage can potatoes. This guide is motivational, inspiring and hopeful. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in doing more things for themselves.
Justin Case - Amp Magazine (http://www.ampmagazine.com/8950/how-and-why-a-do-it-yourself-guide/)
Be warned: if you've already got a long wish list of projects to do, Matte Resist's new book How and Why will only make it longer. Following a similar format to Microcosm's previous DIY compendium, Making Stuff and Doing Things, there are a variety of topics covered from gardening to making musical instruments. But the projects in this new guide aren't the basic "How to Make a Zine" or "Grow Your Own Sprouts" variety.
These projects are creative, fresh, and well-designed. Want to make a bike-powered generator? Matte explains one his friend made, right down to calculations of watts per hours of pedaling time. Instructions for making seedling pots out of newspaper appear next to plans, photos, and diagrams for a complete greenhouse made of wood (Matte considered using PVC because it's easier to work with, then writes a well-researched account of the many environmental reasons to not use PVC.) His homemade banjo ain't no shoebox with
rubberbands. The revolving hardware organizer looks like so much fun to build and use.
Through topics like homeschooling and building your credit, Matte describes transitioning from a young DIY'er to a family man and a homeowner, and how to do it on your own terms. This book certainly reflects that sense of maturity. If you're looking for a comprehensive guide to living DIY, How and Why is for you.
Reviewed by: guest reviewer Aliza Ess - Red Emma's (http://redemmas.org/books/123/) & http://www.baltimorediy.org/
These projects are creative, fresh, and well-designed. Want to make a bike-powered generator? Matte explains one his friend made, right down to calculations of watts per hours of pedaling time. Instructions for making seedling pots out of newspaper appear next to plans, photos, and diagrams for a complete greenhouse made of wood (Matte considered using PVC because it's easier to work with, then writes a well-researched account of the many environmental reasons to not use PVC.) His homemade banjo ain't no shoebox with
rubberbands. The revolving hardware organizer looks like so much fun to build and use.
Through topics like homeschooling and building your credit, Matte describes transitioning from a young DIY'er to a family man and a homeowner, and how to do it on your own terms. This book certainly reflects that sense of maturity. If you're looking for a comprehensive guide to living DIY, How and Why is for you.
Reviewed by: guest reviewer Aliza Ess - Red Emma's (http://redemmas.org/books/123/) & http://www.baltimorediy.org/
