Make It or Buy It?
by muddy feet mama
Yesterday I picked up this terrific little book called Make the Bread, Buy the Butter. In snappy, no-nonsense prose Jennifer Reese (author) makes the compelling case that economy should trump romance when it comes to the “homemade” life.
Like a lot of us, her journey began with loss of income. After being laid off she chose to “economize by doing for herself what she had previously paid for.” Her book is filled with insights and anecdotes about her family, kitchen & garden, but what I love most about it (and what makes it unique in the realm of DIY home making books) is her collection of experiments and data. She does what I have never been successful at – breaking down homemade food production into dollars and cents – then offering her opinion as to whether is is cost-effective to either Make It or Buy It.
The author dishes on cheese making, killing chickens, keeping bees, making peanut butter and curing meat. She also shares recipes for making oreo cookies, glazed donuts and marshmallows. How refreshing! Absent from Ms. Reese’s story is the romantic hipster-ism of many current urban homesteading manuals. Also absent is any hard commitment to organics, food politics or “prepper” self-reliance. This is her story, her family’s shopping list, and her research into the monetary cost of homemade foods. I may not agree with every opinion she shares, but I certainly appreciate the spirit and frankness of her insights.
As I stare at the cauliflower waiting to be pickled on my butcher block table, the jar waiting for another batch of homemade peanut butter to fill it, the dregs of bread-butts reminding me it’s time for baking again… none of these things compel me to forgo the work it takes to make these things at home. But I am certainly rethinking the goats-for-milk plan and am grateful that making butter isn’t currently on my to-do list.
Lucy and Ethel try their hand at breadmaking
That’s it for now. Thanks for stopping by!
I don’t understand why you don’t want to make butter? I think it’s as simple as whipping up a cake and possibly easier. Get the cream put in blender or mixer and turn the machine on. Butter before you know it. i made it once by accident I was trying to whip up the topping for the homemade pumpkin pie.
I guess it’s about having on hand as much butter as I would need – and where does the cream come from? My fantasy is finding a 4-H person who needs someone to take their milk from them… currently I buy Straus organic butter by the case from my local food buyer’s club at the same price I’d pay at Costco for Kirkland organic butter. I’m open to suggestions for awesome cream sources of course! If butter was as simple as peanut butter I’d be happy to make it. Peanuts I can keep on hand in the freezer for years. Cream? More complicated I think. Am I wrong? Thanks for posting!
You definitely will not save money with goats. I am one of those people that tracks everything. We weigh everything that comes in and keep track of all money spent. Costs me about $20 in feed, equipment and healthcare (not including emergencies or housing) to produce a gallon of goat milk. Considering raw milk costs about $20/gallon I’m breaking even but compared to Strauss milk it’s far from saving us money.