Some ideas for reducing waste

I listed No. 68 out of a sense of duty to the environment, our budget, and my own sense of responsibility. If there's a way for me to avoid bringing home plastic that I'll turn around and trash, I want to follow that way.

But I think No. 68 is about more than using mesh bags for my grocery shopping, or buying in bulk to avoid the over-packaging of one-off items.

There is a whole world of goods in our home that I could make myself. Foods, tools, art. What, exactly, am I getting out of buying those things from a store other than convenience? And do I really need the convenience? My life isn't overwhelmed; I'm not hurting for free time. And though I overthink my life in general, I am not so mentally stretched that I couldn't pick up a few extra projects.

So I'd like to list some ways I feel I could make our home more do-it-ourselves and trash-free(ish):

1. Knit our own dishrags (we have plenty now; when they wear out, I'll investigate the best yarn and have at it).
2. Bake our own:
    * breads
    * cookies
    * crackers?! Can you bake your own crackers? Surely. Why not give it a go?
    * pastries
    * tortillas
3. Make our own:
    * shampoo (I've seen recipes. They'll require rigorous testing.)
    * soap
    * yogurt (from which we can make soft cheese!)
    * snacks (chips, granola, trail mix)
    * cereal (?!)
    * sauces
    * soups
    * pasta
    * jam
    * butter
4. Compost
5. Recycle

I want this list to grow, a lot. And I don't know if I'm setting myself up for disappointment or heartache or the most amazing new life or what. But if I could feel like we relied as little as possible on processed, prepackaged goods, I'd feel pretty good about it.