• Simple candles for a simple life.candles image by Eldin Muratovic from Fotolia.com
  
  The term "homesteading" brings up images of life on a farm, Bible readings with the children, and a self-sufficient life structured around the home. In truth, modern homesteading is about re-evaluating our lifestyle. Homesteaders make what they can and acquire the rest from local sources. Homesteaders learn skills and crafts that save them money so that they can spend more time at home. Homesteaders may be of any religion, or no religion at all.
  
  

Baking Bread

• While not always categorized as a "craft," baking bread is a necessary skill for homesteaders to learn. Artisan breads that include whole grains, cheeses and sometimes even legumes in their recipes are true crafts as well as being the healthiest bread to eat.
  
  The craft of baking bread is a time-consuming process. It requires kneading dough for at least 20 minutes, allowing the dough to rise twice, which takes a few hours depending upon the recipe, and of course, baking time. For those who wish to homestead the results and the nutrition are well worth their efforts.
  
  An excellent resource for any bread baker is, "The Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book: A Guide to Whole-Grain Breadmaking" by the authors of "Laurel's Kitchen."
  
  

Soap and Candles

• Making soaps and candles are often lumped together because both products used to be made with tallow. Today, candles are seldom made with tallow. As tallow is an animal product, vegetarian soaps are not made with tallow. However, a homesteader who lives on a ranch may choose to make tallow and would have opportunity to use it for both soap and candles.
  
  Homesteaders who do not live on ranches still enjoy making their own soaps and candles. One of the best types of soap relies on olive oil as its base. Making soap from scratch requires mixing the correct proportions of oil, water and lye. (If you don't use lye, you are not making soap.) Additives such as essential oils, oatmeal or color are optional and make soap making creative and fun. Soap must usually cure for a couple of weeks before it is ready to use.
  
  Homesteaders who wish to make candles but do not keep bees will need to purchase beeswax. They may find it well worth the price and effort to dip their own beeswax candles. Not only is the craft of candle making fun, but candle light may take the place of an electric reading light. This saves money on electricity and creates ambiance.
  
  

Sewing

• True homesteaders do not shop in the mall for clothing, they sew their own clothing instead. While a homesteader may choose to purchase some items, such as shoes and work jeans, sewing skills are vital to their level of self-sufficiency.
  
  Many homesteaders take the chore of sewing necessities a step further and add a creative touch to everything they make. Instead of a simple pillow, they create a patchwork pillow with a lace border. Fabric scraps are turned into dolls for children to play with. Some homesteaders even sew their own cloth diapers.