What is the DIY lifestyle?
Simply put, DIY means "do it yourself". The true spirit of this lifestyle isn't just about saving money, it's also about enjoying the process of being able to make things you use without having to rely on someone else or purchase products from unethical corporations. It's about that feeling of accomplishment you get after making something really awesome. When you do it yourself you have control over the ingredients that goes into your projects – food, hygiene products, garden soil – choosing materials that are better for you, your family, and the Earth. urbanDIY offers innovative and inspiring how-to articles and ideas for every area of your life. Discover how easy and rewarding it is to make delicious cheeses, handmade soaps, tree-free paper, natural cleaners, sewn accessories, party decor, garden compost, and so much more. Key words: self-reliance, empowerment, and sustainability.
Not enough space on your apartment balcony to be a farmer?
No problem. You really don't need a ton of space to grow some food and make your own stuff. Although we plan on buying or building our new home in the next few years (which will undoubtedly lead to a ton of new projects for this site), right now our home and backyard are both pretty small. However, we've made it work for lots of fun stuff over the years. You'd be surprised how much you can do with just a little elbow room.
Not enough time between work, kids, and your social life?
Actually, you may just find that a lot of projects are easy to squeeze in during evenings and weekends. And don't forget to have the kids help. How else will they learn to do this stuff? Also, I bet if you asked your friends, there's at least a couple that would love to come make stuff too. Have them bring the wine... or better yet, make the wine together for sipping during future project sessions. Good times for everyone!
Not enough money to invest in big fancy projects?
Forget shopping at big box stores for crafting kits and such. We work at keeping costs low, making as many things from scratch as possible and using a lot of what's naturally available to us. Of course, some supplies may need purchasing such as raw materials or basic tools. Thrift stores and yard sales are great places to find inexpensive pieces of equipment. If something must be purchased new, I encourage you to support your community and buy ingredients from local sources and small ethical businesses. Look around and check out your resources. Oh, and of course we love farmer's markets for fresh foods we aren't growing.
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