Today, we want to share some info on Making Products for a Self-sufficient Lifestyle- Part One. You may not be able to or even want to make all things, but at least you will know how if you need to. As we have said many times, no skill or knowledge is wasted.
Again, as has happened with some of our talks, this one turned out way too long. We tried to decide what info to take out, but we decided it was all important and someone may need it. So we have split this talk into two parts. This is Making Products for a Self-sufficient Lifestyle- Part One. Making Products for a Self-sufficient Lifestyle- Part Two is right behind this one, do check it out also.
So you will know that we do these things ourselves, not just talk about them, we have put in quite a few links to our other talks that are relevant to the section topics. Please feel free to check them out as well.
Please note, this is general information. It is for information, education, and entertainment only. Whether it is gardening, farming, animal care, survival, emergency, self-sufficient lifestyle, DIY projects, or herbal preparations this is for info-sharing only. It is not meant to replace urgent medical care. As we have said, we are not doctors, vets, or professionals of any kind. This info is not meant for medical diagnosis or as treatment advice. We do not guarantee any results that we have gotten for any of the projects that we share with you. We share info that has worked for us. For more info, please see the Out Standing in the Field disclaimer page.
Please note, this talk may contain affiliate links. If you use one of these links and make a purchase through it, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Whether you are preparing for an emergency situation or you simply want to live a more self-sustained lifestyle, becoming a homesteader is a great way to save money, live a life where you are not reliant on others, and enjoy better health, too.
But living off-grid also carries with it some complicated situations, if you are not prepared to handle them. Most people go no further than making sure they have a generator and some food stocked up to live in a grid-down environment.
There are many smaller things you need to know if you want to be self-sufficient, and that includes things like knowing how to make your own soaps and cleaners, learning how to sew or mend clothing, setting up irrigation systems for your property, woodworking, and much more.
These are not things you can simply order and have on hand, they are skills you have to learn and practice if you want to be truly prepared for a long-term event without electricity.
The information below will give you a start on what you need to know to expand your knowledge and learn these skills that can be passed down from generation to generation.
This is not an overnight process, but one that will increase your ability to address shortages and problems more easily, making you more resilient to whatever is going on in the world that’s outside of your control.
One thing you may want to become proficient in is creating your own products for cleaning and self-care.
Many of these products may be hard to come by during survival or emergency situations. Also, you can make healthier options and save money in the process by doing it on your own.
Many people do this without having any type of homestead and survival focus, simply because they want more Eco-friendly products to use in their home and on their body. You can make your own products, such as soap, deodorant, candles, and cleaners that you use without the addition of toxic chemicals.
First in Making Products for a Self-sufficient Lifestyle is making your own cleaning supplies.
1. DIY Products for Cleaning
DIY products can be made to clean your counters and furniture, your carpet, dishes, bathrooms, windows, and so much more.
a. Vinegar Mix
Mix up some white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and use that as an all-purpose household cleaner. If you dislike the smell of it, put a few drops of an essential oil scent you like to sweeten it up with a pleasant fragrance.
This mixture can get stains out of carpets, clear up any greasy surfaces, and make your windows shine without streaking.
If you have any wooden furniture, mix some lemon juice, olive oil, and water, and it will polish it up perfectly.
B. Laundry Detergent
Another thing you may want to learn to make yourself is laundry detergent. You can use a supply of borax and grated soap with washing soda to mix a nice detergent. If you want a certain scent, you can add that in as well.
In an off-grid situation, you won’t be putting the detergent into a laundry machine, but using a tub and basin along with a washing board instead. Thoroughly clean your clothes before rinsing them and hanging them on a clothesline in the sun to dry.
Making Products for a Self-Sufficient Lifestyle can also include DIY personal products of all kinds.
2. DIY Personal Products
a. Soap
Another thing you will want to learn how to do yourself is to make your own soap. Whether it’s for your hands or your entire body and face, handmade soap can be tailored to your own personal preferences.
In the beginning, do not make it complicated. Start with a recipe and process that is easy for you to do. The more experienced you get with soap making, you can start to experiment with different ingredients, oils, and scents, or even a more complex soap-making process.
1. One way you can start with the soap-making process is to get some lye and water, as well as any oils that you want to use. Using what is known as a cold process, you’ll simply mix the water and lye before adding the oils and thickening the product so it can set up in a mold.
It is important that you finish the product up properly. Don’t use it right away. You will want it to cure for a few weeks in a ventilated area and then keep it dry from that point on. You don’t want it to turn rancid.
How you store your soap is going to be important. You don’t want to store it in direct sunlight, and you don’t want to put it inside plastic containers where it will sweat and eventually rot.
Ideally, you will have a storage room where you can place it in an area where air is circulating around it so that it maintains its freshness and effectiveness until you want to use it.
2. There is another soap-making process that you may want to eventually try, including the opposite approach, which is a hot process. This is where you will be cooking the mixture before you mold it.
You can make your soaps as rustic or as fancy as you want to. They can be plain, or you can add fragrance, coloring, and even herbs.
B. DIY Deodorant
To make DIY deodorant, many people use cornstarch, wax, coconut oil, and baking soda. You can add a scent like tea tree oil, too, if you want to.
The process is really very simple. Melt the oil and wax together, add the other ingredients, and form them into a stick or keep them in a mason jar if you prefer. Many people are doing this now because of the cancer-causing formulas that many companies have been known to use in their commercial brands.
c. Toothpaste
For toothpaste, many people simply dip their toothbrush into some baking soda. If you want to spice it up a bit, you can add a little bit of mint or some sort of artificial flavoring that makes it taste better.
You can also use coconut oil and sea salt in your toothpaste to help scrub the tartar and plaque off the enamel of your teeth. This will not only protect your teeth, but it will also help protect your gums.
d. Shampoo
If you want to start making your own shampoo, you can do that with a little bit of liquid Castile soap, some sort of oil, and water. Feel free to add the essential oils of your choice to create a fresh-smelling scent.
You can even make a simple shampoo out of a tablespoon of baking soda with a cup of water. Put it into a storage container and use it whenever you need to. Don’t make large batches that you won’t have enough space to keep or that may go bad before you can use them.
While you are considering Making Products for a Self-sufficient Lifestyle, do not forget your pets. Some of the same self-care products that you make for yourself and your family can be made for your pets as well.
How to Make Your Own DIY Pet Footpad and Nose Balm/Ointment
Another option for Making Products for a Self-sufficient Lifestyle is enhancing your home with happy scents.
3. DIY Air Fresheners and DIY Candles
a. DIY Air Fresheners
If your home needs an injection of fresh scents, you can create your own air fresheners.
Make a simple potpourri on the stovetop using essential oils or the peels of ingredients like citrus fruits on your homestead. Simmer it slowly in water and put the finished product in a spray bottle that you can spritz around the house whenever you need it.
Making DIY air fresheners is a pretty simple process. You will need either water beads or a gel like gelatin.
Make up the gelatin or soak the water beads. Add whatever essential oils or fragrance you want, and there you have it.
In many emergency situations, preppers, homesteading, and self-sufficiency lifestyles, you will find yourself in need of a candle.
b. DIY Candles
To make your own scented candles, you can choose a wax you want to use, like beeswax or soy, and add the essential oils that you want to fill your homestead with a lovely aroma.
All you have to do is melt the wax with the oil fragrance of your choice, add the wick to the container, pour the wax, and mold it to whatever shape you want. Make sure you store your homemade scented candles in a cool environment so that they don’t melt and release the fragrance too quickly.
One of the most important parts of Making Products for a Self-sufficient Lifestyle is being able to make or repair clothes and clothing items.
5. DIY Clothing and Homestead Textiles
When you are a homesteader or living a self-sufficient lifestyle, you will need hand-crafting skills like sewing, mending, and creating your own clothing. You may need to be able to make other items around your house, such as pillows, curtains, blankets, and more.
This helps you become self-sufficient, but you have to learn the skills involved in repairing and creating these items from scratch. You may want to learn how to sew, knit, quilt, crochet, spin, and weave so that you can have a well-rounded approach to your needs in this area.
A. Sewing
Sewing is probably one of the most basic skills you will want to have period whether you are using a sewing machine or doing it by hand, you’ll be able to repair fabric that has torn, refashion it so that it is larger or smaller for hand me downs or for growing children, and create things from scratch as well.
You can purchase patterns that you can keep on hand as part of your survival supplies, so that you have the exact stitching instructions that you need to create more detailed pieces of clothing.
When it comes to the supplies you will need, you may want to go ahead and stock up on sewing supplies, such as a variety of needles and fabrics, but you can also repurpose some of the existing clothing and fabric that you have on hand instead of purchasing new ones.
With sewing, not only can you create the clothing that your family will wear, but you can also create things like curtains, linens, purses and bags, and other items.
B. Knitting and Crocheting
Knitting and crocheting are other skills that go hand in hand with sewing, and they allow you to create more versatile products that your family needs.
These are perfect for winter months, when you need sweaters or scarves created from thicker yarns. You can also create nice, warm blankets and hats using these skills. Again, you may want to purchase some patterns ahead of time and start with some basic ones as you learn the skills before you move on to more complex patterns.
In the beginning, you may want to source your own yarn from a store, but if you are raising sheep, you can use their wool to create your own items from material right on your homestead. You can also use rabbits for their soft hair. And Llamas can be sheared for their wool also.
If you are going to use wool from your farm, you’re going to need to know how to spin and weave the product into a usable fabric. Not only can you create clothing, but you’ll be able to create blankets and towels as well.
You will want to have a spinning wheel and a loom on your property. In addition to raising sheep, you can also raise alpacas for their wool, or you can even grow cotton on your farm for additional fabric supplies
Before you jump into getting more farm animals, be sure to do your research into each kind that you are considering. Llamas can be difficult to handle. Sheep are smaller, but when afraid, they can lose their minds and run over whatever is in front of them, including you. Be sure you know how to properly handle new animals and what each kind needs to stay healthy and happy.
C. Quilting
Quilting will allow you to create gorgeous quilts you can fashion together and pass down from generation to generation. You might want to join a local quilting group to master this skill.
In quilting, you can use all kinds of shapes, colors, patterns, and leftover scraps to make blankets. Most quilts have an inner lining that makes them warm and cozy.
You can even make those old-fashioned, quilted stuffed animals.
We have put together a Making and Using Materials for Clothing Tips page to help you on this journey. This is a general checklist and tips that you may need to tweak to fit your exact needs. Keep in mind that every situation will be different, so the needs may be a bit different as well. Feel free to download the PDF, print out, and use these pages for yourself.
This is a four-page Making and using Material for Clothing tips page.
Making Products for a Self-sufficient Lifestyle- Part One is a simple overview of some of the things you can make for yourself. Look around and think about the things you use every day. Many of these things you can make yourself with simple, non-toxic ingredients. In case you do not know, most store-bought products have chemicals and toxins that are not good for you. Making your own products from Eco-friendly, safe ingredients can improve your health, save you money, and make you more self-sufficient.
We have put together a Make Your Own Products for a Self-Sufficient Lifestyle tips page to help you on this journey. This is a general checklist and tips that you may need to tweak to fit your exact needs. Keep in mind every situation will be different so the needs may be a bit different as well. Feel free to download the PDF, print out, and use these pages for yourself.
This is a six-page Make Your Own Products for a Self-Sufficient Lifestyle tips page.
We hope you have gotten some good info and ideas from Making Products for a Self-sufficient Lifestyle- Part One. Please check out Making Products for a Self-sufficient Lifestyle- Part Two for more products to make at home.
As we said, this is not a total list of things that you can make for yourself, but it is a good place to start.
If you are interested in some of our other talks, please check out these below.
Making Products for a Self-sufficient Lifestyle- Part Two
How to Start a More Self-sufficient Lifestyle
Thank you for visiting, and please come again for another edition of Out Standing in the Field.
Super good!