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BASIC HARDWARE
Nails - Box and common,
16p, 12p, 8p, roofing, and ringshanks for siding and decking, at least 20
lbs of each. 4p and 6p finishing and casing nails, 10 lbs or each.
Drywall screws
Wood and metal screws in quantity
Door hinges in various sizes
T and H hinges
Two pair of heavy duty gate hinges and latches
Metal shelf brackets in assorted sizes
Cabinet hinges
Hooks and eyes
Cup-hooks
Door hasp and padlock
Door bolts and window latches
Assortment of door pulls and knobs
Duct tape
You may not think
so, but I guarantee, you will find a use for all the tools and equipment
on this list in the course of building even the simplest shelter in your
first weeks. A handy supply will save you many trips back and forth to
the nearest hardware store.
FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT
This list is
somewhat subjective. One person’s necessities are another man’s
luxuries, but these are the things that I think any basic household ought
to own, if they plan to live simply, but comfortably, on their land.
Some of the items may not get immediate use, until the house is built and
ready to furnish, but you are going to be glad you have them packed away
when that glorious day arrives. It’s all the little things, you take for
granted that you miss the most when you need one. How many of us have
gone on a picnic and forgotten the salt or a bottle opener? Case closed.
Okay let’s start with basic furniture.
Work Table - Let me suggest
you get your hands on a standard folding banquet table, the kind that
folds flat. If you can get two, even better. They sit well on uneven
ground and will make a handy place to prep food and do dishes and cook.
They also make dandy work benches for various construction projects.
And they can be folded up and won’t take up valuable space when not
needed.
Dining table and chairs -
Either a round table or a drop leaf as they take up less space.
Eventually this will be the center of family life so it’s best to have a
separate table for dining that isn’t used for rough kitchen work.
Pantry cupboard - Until
you have wall mounted kitchen cabinets, you will be glad to have enclosed
storage for food and kitchen goods. One of those tall metal kitchen
closets is what I have in mind, or a pie safe.
Kitchen dresser with
drawers and open shelves - Until you can manage wall mounted
cabinets, you will need somewhere to store dishes, pots and pans,
silverware, utensils, and linens. Even a few old kitchen wall cabinets,
stacked together with some board shelves or an old bookcase is better than
nothing.
Comfy chairs or rockers -
Real ones not some glorified camp chair. Even in a tent, babies
need rocking and tired bodies need a soft place to sit. And a little
footstool or hassock so you can put your feet up at the end of the day.
Double bed with box spring and mattress
Single beds for the children with box springs and mattresses
Chests of drawers or dressers
Night tables
Chest/chests for storing all the linen
(separate linen list to follow)
Pitcher and bowl, soap dish, mug for toothbrushes etc.
Slop jar and a chamber pot
(really very useful item late at night)
Chaise perce - This is French for a potty chair and honestly they are
a great idea for the simple homestead. Pick up an old invalid potty
chair at Goodwill, make a slip cover for it and keep it in a corner of the
bedroom or in a little closet. It makes a handy spot to sit down to
put on your shoes and again it’s useful at night and in bad weather, when
you can’t face the trip to the outhouse or the bushes.
Towel bar or hooks
Mirror - One good sized
one for the bedroom at least, more if you can.
Bath mat - A big fluffy one to
catch the water when you use the bowl
and pitcher.
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