Homesteading / Simple living / Downshifting... anyone?

[BarredBuff]

Well I would just like to add that I now have Ducks and Rabbits!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I have done so many "little things" that I couldn't begin to list them all, but I am seeing the results daily. My grocery bill is lower then EVER

My light bill soon will be. water....eh...haven't dug a well...YET

Progress is slow, but steady

 

[BarredBuff]

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You need to join Sufficient Self.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

This year I have sold produce from the garden, eggs from the chickens, table runners and aprons that I have sewn, jams that I have canned, and baked goods that I made from scratch (actually having an open house this Saturday). Last year I gave out caramel apple jam and a loaf of freshly baked bread as gifts to extended relatives and friends instead of store bought gifts (will do the same this year). And this year I decided that I would make sure that my children's gifts would be made in the USA. I have found and bought some cute and unique things for them (from Santa

). I have gotten more into making my own household cleaners, too.

 

[BamaChicken]

Well I started making my own soap about a month ago and I love it so much I don't think I could ever use store bought soap again. I use it as shampoo also. A BYC sent me a couple of her Chamomille soap and it was so good on my face and skin I ask recipe and how to do it. I didn't want to be without it. Now my whole family is asking for it since the tried it. I also may my own body butter out of Shea butter. We hope to make a compost pile soon. we so many leaves and plenty of chicken poop. I want to make some raised beds to grow out veggies in. My freezer is full of all the peas and beans and corn I put up this year. We are going to plant some blueberrie bushes this year and maybe a apple tree. We have 5 pecan trees. Only one made this year. Not many trees anywhere have made so the price of pecans is very high. we have sold a five gallon bucket for 40 dollars. I have had about 50 lb cracked and am giving them out for Christmas. I made jelly out of Muscadines from my sisiters vines this year. It was fab.
I love doing things from scratch if possible. I do work a few days a week and so can't do everything I would love to do. I use Vinegar to clean the bathrooms and floors. I am going to try that recipe for the furniture polish olive oil Sounds great.
I have enjoyed this thread

 

[Want Less]

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One of my goals for 2011 is to learn how to make soap... Ive wanted to for a long time. There are so many techniques and "recipes"! How do you make yours?

 

[BamaChicken]

I made cold processed. I am still learning from reading. I used olive oil, coconut oil , palm oil, castor oil, water and lye, Shea butter, Chamomille, Fragrance oil Neroli and Vanilla berry and some buttermilk powder.

It takes about 1 hr to make it from start to finish. It is not a cooked process. You need to gather a few supplies before starting.
I found the about.com videos on making soap to be very helpful. I called my BYC friend a bunch to to walk me through the first time. I found those video tutorials by googling Soap Trace. they have a recipe that identical to the one I made except half the size.

The last time I made it i saved my Almond Breeze milk cartons for a mold because they are waxy and I didn't have to line with any type of paper. There are tutorial on making soap molds and people make and sell them on ebay.\\

24 hr after pouring up the soap into molds you unmold, cut and lay out to cure for three weeks. The only hard part is waiting for the cure. It smells good and lathers very well. Doesn't dry you out. Saving me money on buying facial cleansers and atringents and all the steps to getting the makeup off. If you are interested I can pm you some soap making forums and places to buy oils at good price in bulk.

 

[WingingIt]

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I'm sort of jumping in late, but I'd love the forum info., too, if you don't mind.

 

[Want Less]

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Definitely, when you get the chance Id love the info! Thanks!

 

[BamaChicken]

Here are a few sites
http://soapmakingforum.com/forum/index.php?sid=e4a4248380a8e15ecb8bd11ecd839847

this lady has a book you can download
http://www.tnfarmgirl.com/page/page/2929331.htm

this is a good site to buy oils. If you coconut oil you need to get the 76 degree
http://www.soaperschoice.com/cgi-soaperschoice/Web_store/web_store.cgi?query_price_low_range=0&amp

This is a good tutorial and if you keep looking on this site they will give you recipe for a small soap batch that is the same recipe I use accept mine is larger and I add different things at trace.
Hope this helps
http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/coldprocesssoapmaking/g/glosstrace.htm