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“Why make something when you can buy it?” My husband asks every time I start another “wacky project” in the kitchen.
There are lots of good reasons! Making my own stuff helps us avoid harmful chemicals, saves time and money, plus I like experimenting to see what I can do.
Read the original list of 5 Things You Should Be Making (Not Buying) here.
Vanilla Extract
We go through lots of vanilla since we make our own granola bars–and homemade vanilla is one-fourth the price of store-bought. Score!
Odor Eliminator Spray
I keep a bottle in Little Peanut’s room and one in the bathroom. No dangers from hazardous chemicals, and you can mix your own scents or leave it unscented.
Soft Pretzels
Don’t panic! If you can make cookies, you can make these. Add some shredded cheddar cheese to the dough for extra yum.
Hand Sanitizer
Reduce your family’s sniffling, sneezing, coughing and aching with a simple, natural hand sanitizer that doesn’t contain alcohol.
Insect Repellent
If you’re worried about spraying DEET or other chemicals on your kids, mix up a batch of this natural bug spray. A friend told me it kept the rabid Seattle mosquitos away from her son at Scout camp!
Great ideas.
However I am a believer in supporting others in what they are good at. That means paying them to do something. Self sufficiency is not really the answer. I could be if I wanted to, but then I would spend the whole time providing for myself and the family. That is all very well, but you see, I am an artist – composer, teacher, sculptor, toy maker, instrument maker…. Looking after myself is ok, but doing things for others gives me more satisfaction in the long run…
I really like your site, just found you today. In the past I enjoyed making and gifting essential oils, herb flavored vinegar and cooking oils. Also, I made many innovative herb jellies, for cooking or just spread on your favorite cracker. Anyways, thank you for allowing the access all the wonderful ideas you share.
I make my own peanut butter. Its so easy to make and it tastes way better than the store bought stuff. I use honey roasted peanuts because we always used to buy honey peanut butter. It takes about 4 cups of peanuts to make 1 pint. Put peanuts into food processes and turn it on high. Once you get to the clumpy stage add some peanut oil. I drizzle it in until the peanut butter gets to the right consistency. Add the oil slowly a little at a time so your peanut bitter doesn’t get too thin. I have also made cashew butter and almond butter both of which came out great!
I make spray cleaners. One amonia based, one bleach based. Fill 1/4 of tge container with amonia or bleach, squirt in som dish soap, fill with water. Much less spent the if you bought Fantastic or some other spray cleaner!
I no longer use any type of glass cleaner. I just use microfiber towels and hot water- dunk it, wring it out, and clean even the dirtiest outside windows!
I do make my own powdered laundry detergent, but I don’t add the Fels Naptha to it. I use that to pre-treat stains.
I love this blog!
I make all kinds of stuff! If you want to see my blog and learn how to make soap, dishwasher detergent, laundry soap, etc… Upcoming things will be cheese, mineral makeup, liquid soap, clothing, cleaners etc…
http://oprepare.com/2013/11/05/267/
Instead of using vodka, why not use Rum? I like Sailor Jerry’s. It is made from sugar cane, and tastes one whole lot better than nasty vodka. I also use a high-end Bourbon for my home-made vanilla. Tastes like pure ambrosia. I promise.
I am referring to making Vanilla.
That sounds delish! When I run out of this batch, I’ll have to talk to Sailor Jerry.
i make my own mayonnaise! some salad dressings ans seasonings.
im slowly but surely making my way to making all our condiments.
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I make my own household cleaners,insect repellent,taco seasoning,body wash,body spray and perfume,essential oils and much more!!!!
I make bread(gluten freefor my oldest & gluten filled for my hubby) so much cheaper! I also refuse to buy cookie dough, cake mix or biscuits. I like knowing what’s in the food my family eats!
I make my own chocolate syrup using agave nectar. I make my own taco/chili spice, and I make my own spaghetti sauce. Love your ideas. Thank you for sharing.
I make my own Laundry soap. Saves TONS of money and works just as well as the store-bought stuff. 1 bar of soap (WITHOUT lotion!!), 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup Washing Soda. Grate the soap and mix well. I use 4 TBSP per load, but I have an extra-capacity washer. The recipe actually says to use 1-3 Tablespoons. You can also add 1 cup each Baking Soda and/or Oxyclean. And it’s safe for ALL washers! (No suds!)
Tooth powder, cleans better than toothpaste and helps gums and enamel heal themselves.
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures’ Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back tomorrow when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts! 🙂
I home brew my own kombucha. It was insanely easy to grow my own SCOBY from scratch. Now I can make a gallon of kombucha for the cost of 6 teabags and a cup of sugar; store-bought runs about $4/16 oz. here. I have arthritis and go through kombucha like crazy, so this is a huge savings for me!
I make my own peanut butter (http://www.dejongdreamhouse.com/2013/03/new-improved-chia-peanut-butter-recipe.html) and nutella (http://www.dejongdreamhouse.com/2013/03/homemade-nutella-dairy-free.html)
tehehe I thought “this is so great she MUST share it at Eco-Kids” and then I looked and you had already! lol Thanks so much!
Eco-Kids Tuesday Link-Up
Hi! Followed you over from New Nostalgia blog hop. These are awesome tips, especially making the vanilla and the febreeze. I will definitely be trying these. Pinned some of these and now following via FB.
Jackie
http://www.thenonmarthamomma.com
I make my own all purpose cleaner from vinegar, water and a little bit of dish soap. I even infuse my vinegar with citrus. Thanks for sharing. I found you via Hope Studios.
Angela
I have recently started making my own soft pretzels! They are so much better than the store bought ones!
Love this post. I haven’t purchased yogurt in about 5 years. I was amazed when I found out how how easy it was to make (I recently blogged about it) Better tasting/less expensive/no landfill trash, gotta love it. Thanks for sharing (visiting from Homestead Barn Hop)
~Taylor-Made Ranch~
Wolfe City, Texas
http://www.taylormaderanch.com/blog
So cool! This is such a great way to share some of your wonderful posts while also providing a useful resource. Love it!
i make most things, including salad dressing, vanilla, granola, all my cleaners and all baked goods. great post!
I make soft pretzels but they come out looking like awareness ribbons because I can make the pretzel shape. I make “paper towels” by cutting and hemming old bath towels to paper towel size.
great post!!! thanks for the tips!
I love to make things instead of buying them, so take heart, you are not alone. I make almost everything from scratch, but I like to focus on not wasting anything and repurposing things. I like to make convenience foods from scratch, like graham crackers, granola bars, cereal ~ things like that. I found you through Small Footprint Friday. Now I’m off to check out the rest of your blog ~April@ 5kidsonanacre.blogspot.com
I make everything homemade we live on a farm not much we need from the store but toilet paper
I make vinegar cleaning spray, peroxide spray/veggie wash, taco sauce, and taco spice. I want to make more things myself. Thank you for your info. This is the first time I’m visiting. Bookmarked.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/try-one-new-recipe-a-week-mac-n-cheese-bacon-grilled-cheese-sandwich/
I LOVE IT! I have recently began making all of my own cleaning supplies and bread! This weekend…It maybe whole wheat pretzels!!! Thank you for the recipe! I found you through the Small Footprint Friday blog hop! I am hosting one today and Monday at my site http://www.frugalfitfamily.com – hop over and link in if you get a chance! i can’t wait to spend more time on your site!
Hi, I’m Anne from Life on the Funny Farm (http://annesfunnyfarm.blogspot.com), and I’m visiting from the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop.
These are some great ideas! I like making things from scratch, too. This post has given me some good ideas for new things to try!
Anyway, thanks for posting this. If you ever get a chance, stop over to my blog to say hi! Have a great day…
I made a lot of handkerchiefs by cutting up old clothes, and now we don’t have to buy tissues!
I’m pinning! I make my own produce wash I use on produce that we can’t get organic. You can check it out here:http://thedomesticatedprincess.blogspot.com/2012/04/homemade-produce-wash.html.
Ooh, love this. I use zaatar on my soft pretzels–it’s a middle eastern spice, and it’s delicious–try it!
These are great tips. I make my own taco seasoning. So much yummier and no junk
I make brown sugar by adding molasses to white sugar in the quantity that I need. I also make my own steak seasoning–I control the salt content.
Hi. Are u willing to share the recipe? My email is jonshasha31@yahoo.com. I have been trying to get into all of this because it is so interesting to try all of these things and learning a new way of life. Thanks in advance.
Great ideas!
I just found you today throught Southern Lovlies Linky. I hope you are able to stop by my blog and say hello.
~ Megin of VMG206
http://www.vmg206.blogspot.com