Location
Kettle Falls, Washington
School
Bonners Ferry High School
Expertise
Organic gardening, Outdoor projects, DIY Homebuilding
- Nancy has built two homes from the ground up, including every phase of construction, from foundations and framing to drywall and custom concrete countertops.
- Through a lifelong passion for the outdoors, she developed extensive plant identification and foraging skills.
- Nancy worked with youth for over ten years in a wilderness setting and as a sports director for a parks and recreation department.
Experience
Nancy has spent her life engaged in hands-on work, from learning carpentry skills with her father to participating in community volunteer projects. She started her career working on a trail crew for the Forest Service and has cultivated extensive outdoor experience through outdoor education, gardening, and landscaping. An avid hiker and snowshoer, Nancy enjoys being outside at all times of the year. Both professionally and in her personal life, Nancy's affinity for the outdoors has inspired her to take on various home improvement and DIY projects. Over the years, she's honed her construction skills by working on practical outdoor spaces that are both functional and inviting. A long-time creative writer, Nancy started writing professionally to share her passion for gardening and outdoor projects with others. She has been a home and garden content writer for four years.
House Digest uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the always-evolving conversations surrounding design and home trends, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert takes and tutorials from our talented team.
As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
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Outdoor
By Nancy Schaffer 28 days ago
From a spinning ring that keeps squirrels away to a feeder shaped especially for woodpeckers, these Amazon feeders are just what your backyard birds need.
By Nancy Schaffer 28 days ago
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Flowers
By Nancy Schaffer 30 days ago
Sometimes, a much-wanted native wildflower can look like an invasive species. Learn to identify this purple-flowering plant before you accidentally remove it.
By Nancy Schaffer 30 days ago
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DIY Home Decor
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
Add a unique touch to your porch, your next party, or just around your home with an easy DIY that can turn old jars and pistachios into beautiful new lanterns.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Landscaping
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
Your soil needs to be at the right moisture level before you aerate it. If not, you'll just end up with a wet mess or holes that aren't deep enough.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Flowers
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
If annuals in a hanging planter aren't flowering abundantly, the entire arrangement looks lackluster. Fertilizer will help, but only if you apply it correctly.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Gardening Hacks
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
If you have old vinyl blinds, think twice before tossing them away. With this clever DIY, you can turn old plastic blinds into something useful for your garden.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Furniture
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
Instead of another storage box that adds clutter, this Walmart find doubles as stylish furniture or functional decor for your garden, patio, or pool area.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Flowers
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
This herbaceous perennial has a long bloom time that lasts all the way until fall, and its showy flowers are a pollinator magnet. Its growing zones begin at 3.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Home Improvement
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
Tired of soggy bathroom floors after every shower? Secure your liner against the wall with this simple, damage-free fixture.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Cleaning Products
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
Gutter guards can stop your gutters from getting overrun with debris, but they need to be cleaned too. Luckily, there's a tool designed for it.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Sales
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
October is a good time to see what power tools are on sale for those fall cleanup tasks and garden to-dos. A few of these Ryobi discounts are at least 40%.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Gardening Hacks
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
This hack shows how you can get even more miles out of your old bike. When you replace its tires, don't discard the old ones. Make them into a trellis instead.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Garden
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
Are mosquitoes taking over your yard right now? Here's a 'fiery' pick that can look great in your backyard while helping to repel the pesky biting critters.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Home Goods
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
Some of the whimsical ceramics once found at five-and-dime stores have become coveted vintage treasures, including one festive piece Halloween collectors adore.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Kitchen Organization
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
An awkward kitchen corner can become valuable storage with this Costco solution, featuring a clever design that fits tight spaces and four adjustable shelves.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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DIY Home Decor
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
It always feels like such a shame to toss a large pickle jar in the recycling bin. Keep it and transform it into a rustic crock or vase with some air-dry clay.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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Home Goods
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
One charming kitchen motif seemed to be everywhere in the 1980s, and vintage jars featuring the nostalgic design are finding new life as playful table decor.
By Nancy Schaffer 1 month ago
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DIY Home Decor
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
With a little paint, a pair of scissors, and hot glue, you can turn toilet paper rolls into enchanting 3D pumpkins perfect for a range of fall decorating ideas.
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
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Gardening Hacks
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
Purposes of mulch include retaining moisture and reducing soil erosion. Properties of this soft material from the laundry room could help, but should be tested.
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
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Cleaning Hacks
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
Dawn dish soap can cut through food grease amazingly well, but does it effectively clean oil off of asphalt? The answer is more complex than you think.
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
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Landscaping
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
Garden edging keeps yards organized and tidy, but it can also be costly and difficult to install for those new to using it. This product requires no digging.
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
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Home Goods
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
This light fixture doubles as a ceiling fan, making it a multifunctional staple for any room. The futuristic look also complements a variety of spaces.
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
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DIY Home Decor
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
Before tossing your empty glass jars into the recycling bin, consider giving them another job outdoors with an inexpensive addition designed for backyard birds.
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
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Flowers
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
These beautiful perennial flower plants are the perfect option to keep your garden looking so lively throughout summer and until winter comes.
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
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Cleaning Hacks
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
Is your house stinking up with stink bugs? Luckily, there's an easy solution that can trap them without the smell, and that you likely already have at home.
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
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Repairs
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
If you need to sharpen your hedge shears, Lowe's has a sharpening tool that can get your cutters back into fighting shape with hardly any hassle.
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
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Repairs
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
To ensure your home is ready for the harsh summers and bitter winters, this product needs to be replaced every few years for optimal function.
By Nancy Schaffer 2 months ago
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