Why should I make things myself?

Let’s be honest, for the vast majority of the population, it is impossible to live in a world where you sew your own clothes and cook every meal from scratch using plants you grew and construct your own furniture and power your house by riding a little bicycle. There are people who tend to blame one another for not doing some of these things, which is totally human, but not totally fair. The way the modern world runs is not sustainable, the average person doesn’t have that much choice as we are all, in some way, contributing to these systems. Not to say that these systems don’t need to change, they desperately do, we need climate justice (#justrecovery), to move away from fossil fuels, to manufacture less plastic and disrupt fewer ecosystems. That’s where activism comes into play, this is why we strike, this is why we write letters, this is why we educate one another and work together in our homes, schools, offices, communities, organizations, etc. All that being said, it is undoubtedly valuable to make things yourself… here’s why:

1. Acquire life skills!

Learning how to do/make/fix/use something will teach you techniques you can use to solve future problems. Further, it makes you see things in a new perspective that can help you down the line. You never know when these skills may come in handy!

2. Learn about the world!

The way you were taught to do something may not be the best way. Take a look at practices from other cultures, life hacks, or even ask more experienced people for their strategies. You’ll realize there are different ways to do things. If you ultimately don’t use them, you can at the very least appreciate them. Broaden your horizons!

3. Appreciation!

By making things yourself you gain a whole lot of respect and gratitude for the people that make those things. Maybe you’ll realize that it isn’t as easy as it looks and gain a sense of appreciation. I find it’s easy to forget that there are people (and a planet that supports those people) behind everything we buy, do or experience, it’s important to appreciate those people.

4. You can do it together!

These activities are often great to do with someone else. Bake with your siblings! Teach your kid how to fix something! That being said, these activities can also be very relaxing to do alone.

5. Better quality!

Many manufactured items aren’t made to last, making it yourself can allow you to ensure better quality and durability. You have better control of materials, where they came from and how it’s made. Eliminate a bunch of the questions and doubts you have about manufactured products.

6. Personalized!

The power over how/what you make is awesome, not just because you can create personal gifts. But let’s say your favourite cookies are vanilla and strawberry, but you don’t love the strawberry part. You can just leave that out of the recipe. Right to your taste!

7. Creativity!

You gain skills that allow you to make what’s in your head come to life. Create the different things in your life however you like. You are able to experiment and try different things. The more you can do yourself, the more your options open, including what’s possible creatively and artistically.

8. Share with your community!

You can do something as small as baking for a food drive to going full bee-keep and producing your own local honey. Knit a hat for your friend’s little sibling! Fix your neighbours drain! …But maybe not during quarantine, so make a mask instead!

9. Not buying from polluters!

A huge environmental bonus is that fewer items are being bought from large corporations. Just think of how many resources had to be extracted, then shipped around, then processed, then shipped around again, then manufactured in a factory, then packaged, then shipped to warehouse, then into stores or to your house just to make one little item! Not only is that a massive carbon footprint, but issues like unethical labour practices, plastic waste, deforestation, etc. often come along with it. By making things yourself you’re cutting out some of those steps. Plus, you’re not also left with useless packaging. Plus plus, you’re ‘voting with your money’ by not supporting those corporations.

10. Fun!

I… I don’t know how to better explain this point.

11. Cheap!

Often, you can save money! Though not always the case, there are multiple products that are cheaper to make yourself (materials cost less than product). Further, by acquiring certain skills you may not need to pay an expensive specialist to do something for you/ fix something.

12. Independence!

Having the ability to make things yourself promotes self-reliability, which is not only a great feeling, but incredibly important in life.

13. Less screen-time!

If you feel like you spend all day staring at a screen, doing DIYs allows you to do something else that is still productive.

14. Satisfying!

The satisfaction and excitement of making something yourself is underrated. The sense of accomplishment, even if you make something small, is so encouraging. If you feel unmotivated or idle, do something yourself, even if it’s small!

15. Start being green, start with the little things!

Living sustainably is not about being perfect, but it’s something we all will eventually need to do. So if you’re overwhelmed with all the environmental problems in the world, start with yourself. Start doing little things such as making things yourself. Not only do you begin to learn about the world, it encourages you to do more. In some cases, doing things like making dinner with plants from your own garden can connect you to nature. Little actions add up!

16. Use things that would otherwise go to waste!

Learn how to take things you’re ready to throw out and turn them into something useful! Peels to lint to milk cartons to raggedy clothes can all be used for different purposes! Also being able to fix something rather than replacing is good environmentally and monetarily. Don’t buy new, make the old new!