Things I love: DIY

In February, I'm going to blog about things I love. Anyone care to join me?

One of things I love is DIY. Do it Yourself! Maybe because in an alternate reality, my family would've been pioneers on the prairie. Why buy anything that you could make? with stuff you already have? I've always had to be thrifty, so that feeds into it, too. In fact, I think a lot of what is considered all that is "green" is actually just plain ol' thriftiness.

So anyway, I sew stuff, make stuff from scratch, reuse and repurpose stuff. Obviously I can't do everything, because I have two kids and limited time. So I pick and choose as I can.

I was excited to see this book making its rounds in blogosphere last year, and I finally got my hands on it with my Christmas money. Though for approximately $7, it's not prohibitive at all.

Make Your Place: Affordable & Sustainable Nesting Skills

It's a book about making whatever you need for keeping house using natural, non-toxic ingredients, with sections for health and first aid, personal hygiene, home cleanliness, and gardening.

I'll admit, I get bogged down by more complicated homeopathic stuff. But this is presented really clearly so that someone like me who doesn't know much more than to put aloe on a burn can really benefit and learn a lot.

Then there's recipes for any cleaning product you could possibly want to make, using all non-toxic ingredients. And we do try to keep toxins at a low around here.

It's a very practical no-nonsense guide for keeping house.

I really the perspective that the author brings:
"I came to realize that my skepticism about the importance these acts was based on a cultural belief that the domestic sphere is somehow less important than the public sphere. Which, of course, is such a load of crap... Chief...is the idea that DIY is about making even the tiny bits of our lives intentional: we focus our energy on what we know is right for us, rather than what is dictated by a market or culture." (pp2,7)

I can't wait to try stuff.