Wikihow is a great resource for interesting weekend projects for the hobbyist. Here is an article that gives details of how to build your own solar panels from solar cells which can be bought online. You will also need non-conductive boards, tabbing and bus wire, soldering equipment, plywood, paint, diodes, a charge controller and batteries.
This article is particularly intriguing in light of the rapidly falling cost of solar cells. Are we moving towards a time when we can be energy-independent? Imagine a farm settlement that builds and maintains its own solar power arrays!