I did that. Can recommend. Trust no one, test everything and you'll be fine.

There's a school near where I live called Williamson College of the Trades which offers three-year courses in Carpentry, Electrical, Landscape Management, Machine Tools, Masonry and Power Plant work. Cost is $140 per year (not a typo) since all students get scholarships to cover the normal tuition. I squandered my youth on a liberal arts education long ago, but if I were starting out today this is the place I would try to get into. Somehow, they still have to recruit to get enough people to fill their available positions.