Homesteading Binder & Lye

I thought that the very best way to begin tracking what I know, what I want to learn and general information is to start a Homesteading Binder. I have an admittedly small binder to use, but it will be remedied if (when) the information outgrows the binder.

So far this binder has one thing in it: a guide on How to Make Lye. It's a direct print from this page here. It sounds promising with ways to gauge the strength of the lye with regards to soap making, and without having to constantly buy ph strips from a store or online.

I spent quite a bit of time wondering where in the world I would get lye if I didn't buy it, and after all that wondering I decided to actually research it. I should have lead with that! It took all of three seconds to read that lye is made from soaking wood ashes in water. Specifically a hardwood because other types will not mix well with the fats necessary to make soap. The website above makes a few wood suggestions, but the forests around me are just packed with sugar maples and so that's the kind I will use.

I'm not set up to try it now, but as a resource it's a good thing to nail down and add to the binder. Does anyone else keep a binder like this? I know that Quinn at Reformation Acres has mentioned hers a time or two, with some good downloads to use.

Animal, garden, land, fencing, and home management can be all contained in one Homesteading Binder, or multiple ones where each is dedicated to one topic. I'm not sure how this will work out, but I have confidence that I will learn and adapt as I move along. As I change it, I will share it here!