Jill Harness

Freelance Writer

Jill is a contributing writer with over a decade of experience writing on home projects. She specializes in DIY and gardening topics and has written for Hunker and Lifehack.

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Portrait of Jill Harness
Portrait of Jill Harness

About

Growing up with a father who owned his own construction company and multiple rental homes, Jill learned from a young age when to DIY a project and when to call a pro. This knowledge proved useful when she moved into a fixer upper in Santee, California, and soon found herself replacing vanities, hiring termite exterminators, repairing drywall, and more. 

While long interested in gardening, she wasn’t particularly gifted with caring for plants until the pandemic, when she found time to revitalize a strip of weed-filled dirt beside her driveway and establish a large succulent garden. Now she’s working to revitalize her entire dirt patch of a yard. 

Jill has a bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University, and has written about home topics for over ten years on sites such as Hunker, Encyclopedia Britannica, Mental Floss, and Neatorama. 

Quick facts

Location
Santee, CA
Education
San Francisco State University (2005)
Expertise
Home Improvement, gardening, landscaping

Highlights

  • Written home improvement and lifestyle tips for Hunker and Lifehack 

  • Hands on experience repairing and improving her own home

  • Enjoys gardening and landscaping

Published work

Articles
Here’s how to get rid of armadillos humanely to keep your yard free from these burrowing insect lovers whether or not they’ve already moved in.
When you remove a tree, you may wonder, ‘Who do I call to grind a stump?’ A tree service can help you grind the remaining stump and roots.
Looking to update your bathroom? Check out our bathroom remodel checklist to learn what steps you should follow to get the job done with minimal stress.
When you’re working on a kitchen remodeling project, you’ll need to make a big decision regarding your countertops: bar height vs counter height.
Choosing between concrete and granite countertops is a big decision. They both have long life spans but very different looks and upkeep requirements.
Learning about problems with refacing kitchen cabinets can help you avoid common errors before and during your kitchen upgrading project.
To learn how to build a deck, you’ll need to consider design, materials, labor, and time. Our guide will show you how to build a deck to fit your lifestyle.
Prioritize deck safety tips for your favorite outdoor space and spend more time enjoying nature with friends and family and less worrying about your deck.