1. Save TimeFor real. Making your own (jelly, bread, cheese) takes just a few minutes actual work time. Most of the ‘time’ involved in household DIY is wait time, or time you can be throwing Frisbees and playing with the dog instead of driving to the store, staring at shelves trying to find an approximation of what you really want, and waiting in check out lines. The longest any project will ever take you is the first time. Feeling unsure takes time, but after you’ve done it once? Seconds.

2. Save Money – Homemade is cheaper. You aren’t paying for labor, shipping, advertising, ALL THAT. And when you learn to reuse, you stop tossing out leaves and then going out to buy mulch—and paying others to exert themselves building your fence, growing your veggies, and pruning your trees and then buying a gym membership or equipment and videos so you can burn a few calories. Then you can spend all that money you saved on things you really enjoy, like jewelry, Pomeranians, or mushroom compost and battery powered circular saws. Wait, those last two might just be me.

3. Save the Planet – DIY is less packaging, less toxic chemicals (well, you could put them in if you want), and teaches us to see the resources around us differently. There’s very little real trash. The rest is future mulch, future potting soil, recyclables, weed blanket and household storage containers. DIY means a trash can that’s ¼ full. Kid you not.

4. Simplify Your Life – At first making your own stuff seems more complicated than running to the discount store, but then you realize that you can clean everything in your house with four basic ingredients AND manage weeds, yard pests, and greasy bangs, make deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, and toner–all with the SAME STUFF!!! Talk about simple.

5. Get Healthier – DIY is less fluff more stuff. Nutrients are higher, ingredients lower. People function best when they eat something fresh and bred for goodness and not travel stability. Vitamins and minerals are meant to come in produce, not pills or fortified foods. And there’s something good for the soul in reconnecting to where our food comes from. Caring for gardens and animals that feed us grounds us and gives us purpose in a way that can’t be described to those who haven’t experienced it.

6. Get More Choices – You want dill flavored cheddar cheese? Raspberry-mango shampoo? DIY gives you complete control over ever aspect of your products. It’s total freedom to be as picky as you like. If you want cherry-vodka hand sanitizer, it’s yours.

Ivory