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Build a DIY Butterfly House This Weekend

by Exmark

There’s nothing sweeter than the sight of a butterfly—they add instant color and entertainment wherever they go. But how do you go about attracting, and enjoying, even more of our vibrant friends? That’s where a DIY butterfly house comes in. This build provides a home for an important pollinator, while offering endless hours of backyard fun for children and adults alike. So, follow along in this episode of Done-In-A-Weekend Projects and discover how to build your very own DIY butterfly house.

Click here to download the build PDF:

DIY Butterfly House Build PlansDownload

Tools

  • Jigsaw
  • Drill
  • Table saw
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • Eye and ear protection
  • Sandpaper
  • 7/8 in. spade bit
  • 3/8 in.-diameter drill bit
  • Pliers
  • Clamps

Materials

  • (1) 1 in. x 6 in. x 10 ft. cedar board
  • (25) 4d galvanized casing nails
  • (1) ¾ in.-diameter type L copper pipe
  • (1) ¾ in. copper pipe strap
  • (2) No. 8, ½ in. pan head screws
  • Moisture-proof wood glue

DIY Butterfly House Cut List

Take the 1 in. x 6 in. x 10 ft. board and make the following cuts:

  • A. (2) ¾ in. x 5 in. x 2 ft. front and back boards
  • B. (2) ¾ in. x 5 in. x 6 ¼ in. roof boards
  • C. (2) ¾ in. x 3 ¾ in. x 22 ¼ in. side and door boards
  • D. (1) ¾ in. x 3 ¾ in. x 3 ½ in. bottom board
  • E. (2) ¾ in. x 1 ¼ in. x 3 ½ in. support pipe stop

Then, make the following cuts:

  • Take the (2) ¾ in. x 5 in. x 2 ft. front and back boards and cut the top of each board to form a 90° peak.
  • Take the (2) ¾ in. x 5 in. x 6 ¼ in. roof boards and cut a 45° bevel off one side of each board.
  • Take the (2) ¾ in. x 3 ¾ in. x 22 ¼ in. side and door boards and cut a 45° bevel off one end of each board.

DIY Butterfly House Build Steps

For the full build steps, open and download the PDF to get started.

Download the instructions here:

DIY Butterfly House Build PlansDownload

That’s it! Now all there’s left to do is set up your new build in your pollinator garden and enjoy all the beautiful sights your new DIY butterfly house has to offer.

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Build a DIY Staircase Planter This Weekend

by Exmark

There are near-infinite ways to spruce up and get the most out of your deck. From a laptop tech desk, to space-saving container gardening, the list goes on. But what to do about those stairs? This build lets you bring a splash of color to an entirely new area of your house, while keeping your outdoor spaces easily accessible for those day-long backyard parties. So, follow along in this episode of Done-In-A-Weekend Projects and discover how to build your very own DIY staircase planter.

Download the instructions here:

DIY-Staircase-Planter-Build-PlansDownload

Tools

  • Circular saw
  • Carpenter’s square
  • Tape measure
  • Impact driver or drill with T25 bit
  • Pencil
  • Paint brush
  • 80-grit sandpaper

Materials

  • (1) 2 in. x 12 in. x 6 ft. pressure treated pine board
  • (2) Three-step pressure treated stair stringers
  • (1) 2 ½ in. red exterior self-starting star flat-head wood deck screws
  • Water sealer or stain

Staircase Planter Cut List

Take the 2 in. x 12 in. x 6 ft. board and make the following cuts:

  • 2 in. x 12 in. x 13 ¾ in. front board
  • 2 in. x 12 in. x 10 in. bottom boards
  • 2 in. x 12 in. x 10 ½ in. inside boards
  • 2 in. x 12 in. x 4 in. back board

Then, take the 2 in. x 12 in. x 13 ¾ in. front board and rip it down to 2 in. x 6 ¾ in. x 13 ¾ in.

DIY Staircase Planter Build Steps

For the full build steps, open and download the PDF to get started.

Download the instructions here:

DIY-Staircase-Planter-Build-PlansDownload

That’s it! Now all there’s left to do is find the perfect spot, get gardening, and take your stairs to new heights.

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Build a DIY Window Bird Feeder This Weekend

by Exmark

There are very few things more relaxing than the amazing sights—and sounds—birds have to offer. But how do you go about bringing some of this outdoor Zen into your kitchen or living room? The answer is simple: a DIY window bird feeder.

This easy build provides a fascinating view of our feathered friends going about their daily routines. Creating great educational opportunities, family bonding moments, and even a little fun for your indoor pets, too! So, bring the outdoors in with this episode of Done-In-A-Weekend Projects and discover how to build your own bird feeder.

Download the build plans here:

DIY Window Bird Feeder Build PlansDownload

Tools

  • Drill
  • Jigsaw
  • Miter saw
  • Speed square
  • Brad nailer
  • Sand paper
  • Tape measure
  • Wood glue
  • Pencil
  • Ear and eye protection
  • Dust mask

Materials

  • (1) 1 in. x 8 in. x 3 ft. pine board
  • (2) 1 in. x 4 in. x 3 ft. pine boards
  • (1) 1 in. x 2 in. x 3 ft. pine board
  • 1 – 1 ½ in. brad nails
  • (4) suction cups
  • Landscape fabric (optional)

Cut List

  • Take the 1 in. x 8 in. x 3 ft. pine board and make the following cuts:
    • A. (1) 1 in. x 8 in. x 14 in.
    • B. (1) 1 in. x 8 in. x 2 ½ in.
  • Take the 1 in. x 4 in. x 3 ft. pine boards and make the following cuts:
    • C. (2) 1 in. x 4 in. x 7 in.
  • Take the 1 in. x 2 in. x 3 ft. pine board and make the following cuts:
    • D. (2) 1 in. x 2 in. x 3 ¼ in.
    • E. (1) 1 in. x 2 in. x 8 ¾ in.

DIY Window Bird Feeder Build Steps

For the full build steps, open and download the build plans PDF to get started.

Download the instructions here:

DIY Window Bird Feeder Build PlansDownload

That’s it! Now all there’s left to do is pick out the perfect window, hang your new DIY window bird feeder, and enjoy all the sights and sounds our avian friends have to offer.

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David Bancroft’s Cast Iron Brisket Brunswick Stew and Cornbread Combo

by David Bancroft

The cast iron legend comes saddled with a whole bunch of “dos” and “don’ts” that can make cooking with it quite daunting. So, who better to give you the lowdown on all things cast iron than James Beard-nominated chef David Bancroft? Watch this episode of Prime Cuts: Cast Iron Edition as Bancroft and his friend John Cassimus show you how to create a mouthwatering brisket Brunswick stew and cornbread combo, using nothing but good, ol’ fashioned cast iron.

Brisket Brunswick Stew

When selecting your meat, David stresses that you don’t have to limit yourself to brisket. Brunswick stew is a campfire stew after all, meaning you can add any meat that suits your fancy. Possum, raccoon, squirrel—if you can smoke it, it’s perfect. However, for this recipe, he’s using fresh pit-smoked brisket from his restaurant Bow & Arrow, which he had going for about 18 hours, “low and slow,” in the pit.

David uses a splash of Worcestershire sauce to notch up the flavor on his stew, going against the rule of never using vinegar in cast iron, as it eats away at the hardened metal if left exposed to it for too long. Addressing this bit of cast iron lore, he says it’s a-okay to add vinegar as long as your kettle has been properly seasoned.

Once the stew is near complete, Bancroft and Cassimus add some seasoning to really make the flavors pop. David throws in his homemade barbeque sauce and John adds his rub—a concoction so secret that not even he remembers what he used to make it. But, they emphasize that you can use any rub or sauce you want to really make this recipe your own.

Follow Bancroft’s brisket Brunswick stew recipe and become a cast iron pro!

Cornbread

One of the benefits of baking with a cast iron skillet is that it every inch of it gets warm when placed over heat, providing an even temperature that results in an even cook. So, for this cook, Brian and John use a miniature cast iron skillet, the perfect size for making small servings of cornbread to pair with some delicious brisket Brunswick stew.

The trick to making cornbread on cast iron is to get the skillet as hot as possible, which creates a great, crispy sear for the crust. And, to take that crust to the next level, Bancroft likes to use his “secret ingredient”—melted salted butter.

Once the cornbread is cooked all the way through, Bancroft spoons on his signature honey butter hot sauce: a mix of salted butter, honey, and hot sauce. He says the magic of this glaze is that you can choose whatever hot sauce you want to achieve the taste and heat you desire.

To finish off the cook, he sprinkles on some benne seeds (a shorter, heirloom sesame seed) for some toasty and nutty flavor. However, if benne seeds are hard to come by, David says sesame seeds are a great substitute.

Follow Bancroft’s cornbread recipe to make a cast iron side your backyard guests will love.

David Bancroft’s Cast Iron Restoration Tips

by David Bancroft

There’s a reason why the cast iron legend has grown so large over the years: it’s incredibly durable and lasts a long, long time. So long, in fact, it often becomes a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation. But time does a number to even the highest quality cast iron—and that’s why David Bancroft is here to help. Watch this episode of Prime Cuts: Cast Iron Edition as the James Beard nominee takes his family’s old cast iron cookware and makes it look brand-new, walking you through the process of cast iron restoration.

Stripping Your Cast Iron

David says there are plenty of ways to clean up your cast iron—be it electrolysis, washing powder, or sandblasting—but many of them are resource- and labor-intensive. Instead, he’s going “Grandma Style” to clean his family’s old cast iron skillet, using a simple mix of baking powder, steel wool, and a little elbow grease.

To kick off this project, grab your old cast iron and head over to the sink. David recommends wearing gloves, just to save your fingers from the steel wool. Dump some baking powder into the skillet, add a little water to get it to a thick, toothpaste-like consistency, and get to scrubbing the paste over every square inch.

Once the cast iron is fully coated, you’ll see the rust start to peel off the walls almost immediately. However, to get the best results, Bancroft says to let the paste soak on the skillet for about three to five minutes.

After the wait is over, this is where the fun begins. Add a little more water and really dig into the cast iron with your steel wool, again scrubbing the paste into the cast iron. Once the entire thing is stripped, wash off the paste and repeat if necessary. David stresses that it’s okay to wash off some of the pre-seasoning since you’ll be re-seasoning it anyway.

Re-seasoning Your Cast Iron

The re-seasoning process is simple—just take a generous amount of oil and really lather up the entire skillet, making sure to get it into all the nooks and crannies. Then, grab a disposable cloth and clean off any of the excess oil.

Next, turn on your range to max heat and lay the skillet over it, face down. David says the goal here is to get your cast iron as hot as possible, until it starts smoking. But, if you’re not comfortable with this method, he says that popping it in your oven for half an hour will work just fine.

All there’s left to do is to repeat this step two or three more times, and you’ll have a cast iron skillet that looks like it was just fresh out of the forge. And that’s it! Your cast iron restoration is complete. Now, it’s good to go for many more years, even more meals, and perfect to use for a delicious brisket Brunswick strew or mouthwatering cornbread.

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The Bone Collector’s Ultimate South Georgia Dream Yard

by Michael Waddell

If you’ve earned the name “Bone Collector,” it’s safe to say you know a thing or two about outdoor living. But how does the Bone Collector go about living his backyard life? Follow along as we travel close to the Alabama-Georgia border and meet Michael Waddell on his South Georgia dream yard.

Michael’s Dream Yard Inspiration

When asked about the inspiration behind his dream yard, Waddell emphasized that it’s all about making his friends and family feel welcome. He says that you can always go places and make memories, but he wanted his property to be the place for everyone to come and hang out.

And there are plenty of opportunities for memories to be made—from a beautiful pool, large grilling station, and a state-of-the-art entertainment area. Or, for some more “old school” fun, there’s tons of space to have a catch or toss around the frisbee. To top it all off, they’ve created a pit bike track where they like to race and take the occasional tumble.

Ultimately, he views a dream yard as a place where you’re able to get outside and have some good family fun, all from the comfort of your own property—and he’s designed his yard to do just that.

Owning a Slice of Mother Nature

Waddell doesn’t think of his property as just a dream yard, but a wildlife sanctuary. His family loves hunting, so having the opportunity to enjoy deer, turkey, and other wildlife that live on their land is really special. And, being able to own a piece of the outdoors has helped them garner a deeper understanding between the balance of their lives and nature, and just how important our renewable resources are.

Since he’s an avid hunter, Waddell is also big on conservation. He and his family see it as their duty to look after the native wildlife that help them live their field-to-table lifestyle. To help, Michael uses his Exmark mower to cut different areas of his pecan orchards throughout the year, creating protection for deer and their fawns from coyotes and other predators.

A Chicken’s Dream Coop

Staying true to their conservation efforts, the Waddells have a magnificent chicken coop that’s his wife’s pride and joy. But she’s made it into way more than just a coop—it’s a veritable chicken dream yard that rivals their family home. She has decked out the inside with beautiful décor and pictures of each chicken, and the outside is just as breathtaking. Michael likes to joke that they might have a lot of problems, but eggs aren’t one of them—they always make for some amazing omelets to start their day.

Living off the Land

Coming out of a historic pandemic, Michael realized how much he took being able to head over to the grocery store for granted. While he and his family have always lived field-to-table, not being able to buy certain fruits and veggies pushed them to become entirely self-sustained. His property now has all the veggies and meat his family will ever need without having to step foot off his land, giving them some big peace of mind.

Perfecting His South Georgia Dream Yard

Taking care of a property as large as the Waddells’ is a never-ending cycle of maintenance, so Michael needs great equipment that’s up to the task—especially in spring and summer, when everything is in bloom. He calls his Exmark Lazer Z the “crème de la crème” for its dependability and precision, but most of all its workhorse-like durability. He’s able to get his range ready to go in only a few minutes and cut through even the highest and toughest grasses with ease, helping him and his family live their backyard life to the fullest.

Now that you’ve had a taste of an ultimate dream yard, what will yours look like?

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