We have discovered, through reader surveys, that do-it-yourself (DIY) projects are some of our most popular articles. Mother's readers love to tinker and are resourceful recyclers of what others may consider trash. Over the years, Mother Earth News has featured DIY projects that range from extremely simple, such as a backyard bench, to very complicated, such as the wood-gas generator.

But every project, even the simplest, requires some kind of tool. If you're just getting started in the DIY world, you may want to spend some time at a local hardware store to get an idea of the breadth of carpentry, plumbing and electrical tools available. You'll discover that there's a specialty tool for every aspect of a project, such as a scroll saw for making fancy cuts or a crimping tool for PEX plumbing pipe.

But you can rent specialty tools and save cash and space in your workshop by purchasing a few high quality, multipurpose tools that will last a lifetime.

Talk to the hardware store folks about the basic tools necessary for the list of projects you plan to do. Get a feel for which brands have the highest quality at a price you can afford. I have a wooden-handled hammer that my mother used while building our house when I was a baby (that would make the hammer 60 years old). It's just the right weight for my hand. A heavier hammer might drive the nail better, but I couldn't hold on to it for long because of the stress on my wrist.

Another good place to check out basic tools is at flea markets and auctions. A tool that has functioned well for 50 years and costs a fraction of a new one is a treasure. A little lubrication or a new wooden handle and you are ready to go!

In the August/September 2007 issue of Mother Earth News, we wrote about the Instructables (click here for the article), a web site that gives step-by-step instructions for all sorts of DIY projects from simple and wonderfully useful to complex projects that make you scratch your head trying to figure out a practical use. But all of the projects are interesting and fun.

Here are links to some favorites:

Chispito Wind Generator  

Self Watering Plant Container out of a 2 liter bottle  

Build a Tetris DVD (or book) shelf  

Instant Hammock

You're probably already taking steps to reduce the non-renewable energy that you use to maintain your lawn. (Click here for more ideas about that.) But if you're still using a gas-powered push mower, take some time to tune it so that it runs as efficiently as possible. Here are some things that you can do quickly and easily.

Change or clean the air filter. If your mower has a paper filter this is an extremely easy procedure — take out the old one and put in the new one. If your mower has a sponge/foam filter, buy a new filter, soak up some new motor oil with it and remove excess oil by pressing the filter between clean rags. Unless you are able to get pre-oiled filters for your mower, it's essential that you add oil to the sponge filter; the oil makes it catch smaller particles of dust.

You can also clean an old sponge filter (not a paper one), but if you consider all the factors (time, cleaning fluid, precautions), buying a new filter is probably the best option.

Replace or clean the spark plug. On most power mowers, the spark plug is easily accessible and can be quickly removed with a socket wrench after slipping the cable off the end of the spark plug. You can clean up the old plug with a bit of sandpaper or a small steel brush, but if it's been in use for two years, or if you use the mower heavily, it's probably time for a new one.

Setting the gap in the spark plug to manufacturer's specs is the most important aspect of this process, whether you're cleaning the old spark plug or using a new one. Gap tools have either metal blades or wires of a specific thickness. Choose the blade (or wire) of the specified thickness. It should slide snuggly into the spark plug gap without sticking. If it doesn't fit, pry open the gap with dull knife or screwdriver. If the gap is too wide, gently tap the end of the spark plug on a hard surface to narrow the gap.

Want more ideas? Check out

• Avoid Lawn Mower Pollution: Perform Routine Maintenance
• The Many Methods of Mowing