Any garden or household plot, as a rule, yields a return and delights its owner when there is a sufficient amount of… water. If there is a natural source nearby or a central water supply, the irrigation problem becomes simpler, but in most cases one cannot even rely on a source. In a hot summer, Read more…
For small apartments, a balcony is a substantial addition to the living space, but it is neither all-season nor all-weather. To provide those conditions, the balcony must be protected from precipitation and wind — that is, at least glazed, which was not the case in houses built in the Soviet era. Fitting out balconies at Read more…
I invite the magazine’s readers to get acquainted with an original design of a universal self-propelled vehicle built by my brother Alexander. As he claims (jokingly, of course), the idea of making such a machine came to him out of laziness. He really did not want to spend his whole life doing hard, low-productivity work, Read more…
The various curtains and drapes popular with homemakers on windows and interior doors, consisting of two sliding panels, are often hung for greater decorative effect on wooden rods with large rings. If the material used is dense and heavy, opening and closing such curtains by hand is not so easy, and with abrupt efforts the Read more…
When people want to emphasize that someone has done a great deal of work, searching for a fitting comparison, they involuntarily turn to the hard labor of digging the earth and say: “They’ve shoveled so much!” Then everything becomes clear at once, and memories of stubborn soil, an aching back, and blisters on the hands Read more…
What is the mini-tractor “Muravey” like? What lies behind its pleasing, eye-catching forms? Indeed, the kinematics here fit the designer’s concept perfectly. The engine is a single-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled unit rated at 14 hp. It was taken from the Tula-200 motor scooter. The clutch is multi-disc, running in an oil bath. The tractor is fitted Read more…
All work on a homestead or summer cottage plot is a combination of construction, transport, and purely agricultural tasks. And if, to make the latter easier, you can buy various small-mechanization tools — from a motor cultivator to a mini-tractor — then for all other work, only a trailer for a passenger car, a cart Read more…
When there is an antique samovar in the house, it would be a shame not to use it at least on special occasions. You can even avoid the hassle of lighting a fire and simply pour ready-made boiling water inside. At first, that is what I did, until I decided to equip this relic with Read more…
No sooner do rivers and lakes clear of ice than thousands upon thousands of water-tourism enthusiasts begin preparing for the new season. They take their “folders” and “inflatables” out of storerooms and garages, and bring yachts and boats out of winter storage. Those who live near the water or have a car at their disposal Read more…
Needless to say, it is pleasant to warm yourself on a damp or cold day by the home hearth (whether a Dutch stove or a European fireplace), and to admire it as well, if it is skillfully made. A Russian stove is also fine — heat-retaining and multifunctional. But it requires a lot of space, Read more…
