Maybe you aren't willing to invest the time, because you just don't have that much time to give?
Below is a breakdown of the time I spend making things from scratch, separated by category. Judge for yourself if the time required is worth the benefits.
TASK
|
TIME REQUIRED
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FREQUENCY
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LAUNDRY SOAP
|
10-15 MINUTES
|
EVERY 4-5 MONTHS
|
HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS
|
2-5 MINUTES
|
EVERY 2-4 MONTHS
|
GARDENING (TO GROW PRODUCE)
|
5 MINUTES
|
DAILY-EVERY FEW DAYS, DEPENDING ON SEASON
|
MEAL PLANNING
|
10 MINUTES
|
WEEKLY
|
DEODORANT
|
5 MINUTES
|
EVERY 5-6 MONTHS
|
TOOTHPASTE
|
5 MINUTES
|
EVERY 2-3 MONTHS
|
BREAD BAKING
|
5-10 MINUTES
|
DAILY
|
STAPLE ITEM COOKING (SAUCES, EXTRACTS, ETC)
|
1-2 HOURS
|
EVERY 2-3 WEEKS
|
COOKING
|
15-45 MINUTES
|
DAILY
|
A few notes:
- These are average times, so some days I spend 30 minutes on something and then don't have to deal with it for a week. Because of my hectic days chasing a toddler, I tend to do parts of things in few minute increments.
- I use very few recipes for household cleaners. For me, making cleaners usually means putting vinegar and water in a bottle, and maybe adding a few drops of essential oil.
- My garden is entirely in containers, so I probably spend less time than others would because I don't have to weed or prep the soil as much.
- I spend the majority of my time in the kitchen. By far. But as my experience with cooking from scratch increases, so does my efficiency. If I turn on the oven, I keep it on and group together some baking projects. Or today, as I made pancakes for the freezer, I also sliced and peeled apples for applesauce.
- I do not currently soak grains for bread. I have begun soaking grains for other baked items, such as pancakes. But I primarily use this book for bread baking (and it really does take just a few minutes a day):
Well, there you have it. This is the price you must pay to know what is in your food. This is the cost of keeping chemicals out of your household and personal care products. You can buy organic everything and all natural cleaners and beauty products, but the only way to know for sure what goes into your body and your home is to do it yourself.
What do you think? Is there something on this list you can find time for? Is it worth your time?
Amen to all of the above! I can actually credit my 4th pregnancy for making me aware of all the junk in processed food and all the toxins in cleaning products. While I was pregnant for some reason I could taste and smell every little thing; it was horrid. I have been making stuff from scratch for about 10 years now and LOVE it. Love your blog too!
ReplyDeleteExcellent! I'd love to see a picture of your garden. I have a great garden spot and am such a slacker about keeping it going.
ReplyDeleteHi - I will most definitely post a picture of my garden soon. Right now it is in the winter sowing stage in old milk jugs on my patio table. Hopefully soon the weather will start to warm up enough for my little seedlings to be transferred to their containers, but I don't dare hope for that any time before the end of March.
Deletehi. are you going to post the recipes you use to make all of these things? I have been thinking about doing some of these and would love a how to post or could you point me to one you have already done maybe? :) thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Some recipes I have posted, but it's been a while. Stay tuned for re-posts or new ones. In the meantime, check out my "31 Days to Home Made" button on the top for a couple to get you started.
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