Backyard Living Books began with a simple belief: everyone should be able to enjoy the satisfaction of building, growing, raising, and creating in their own backyard, even if they’re starting with no experience at all.

Too many beginner books assume readers already know the basics. They skip important steps, use unfamiliar terminology, or overwhelm people with information before they ever get started. We wanted to create a different kind of guide, one that explains each project clearly, builds confidence one step at a time, and makes learning enjoyable.

We’re Steve and Lisa McChesney, founders of Backyard Living Books and partners in both publishing and life.

Steve has spent much of his career writing, building businesses, and helping others learn new skills. That passion eventually led to Backyard Living Books, where practical information and clear instruction come together for readers who are just getting started. Lisa spent her career as a Language Arts teacher, where she developed a talent for making complex subjects understandable and encouraging students to believe in themselves. Together, we’ve combined those strengths to create books that are organized, visually engaging, and written specifically for complete beginners.