Self sufficient living is experiencing a resurgence of interest as many see pollution rising and natural resources being depleted. Many are also turning to this way of life as they consider the economic benefits of learning to live a more sustainable lifestyle. So what is self sufficient living anyway?
A Definition… Self sufficient living refers to depending on renewable resources for the needs of everyday life. This means choosing to utilize those resources as opposed to depending upon municipal systems for our power, water and fuel needs. It also involves learning to grow our own food, along with preserving and storing that food. As people become more and more accustomed to sustainable living, many also learn how to make a variety of the items they use everyday – like soap, clothing, etc..
Why?… Some are adopting a more self sufficient way of life out of a reaction to the fast paced, high stress lifestyle typical in a metropolitan setting. They see this as a way to simplify their life and adopt a lifestyle that is healthier, both physically and emotionally. Others are doing it as part of a preparedness plan in light of increasing economic and political uncertainties as well as looming threats like natural disaster and even terrorism.
Here are the major things to think about when considering the option of self sufficient living.
First, let’s consider our most basic need – food. Most people rely solely on the grocery store. Why not become your own supermarket by growing your own? You might not feel capable of such an undertaking, but there are plenty of good books on the subject to get you started. Even if you don’t have a garden area, start in pots for now – at least you’ll be getting started. The other important skill in providing for your food needs is learning to store that food. We’ll look more at methods to do this in future articles.
Food – There has been increased interest in gardening in recent years as evidenced by an increase in garden seed sales. This is truly a part of self sufficient living that anyone can start right away. While there are many helpful books on the subject, this is one area in which it largely comes down to experience. Thus, the sooner you get started, the better. Even if you only have a small patio, you can start gardening in pots, even during winter months, you can grow some things in the house. The other aspect of food involves learning to preserve and store food. This is something that people used to be better at, but with the convenience of supermarkets, many do not consider just how fragile a family’s food supply can be. Natural disasters remind us of this when interruptions in transport result in shelves being emptied in only a matter of hours. Methods for food preservation and storage include canning, dehydrating, air vacuum sealing, and use of air tight storage containers.
Water Sources – Another important consideration involves water. Where are you getting yours from? Sustainable water sources include springs, wells, and even creeks or streams – in which case you’d need to consider a filtration method. Keep in mind that there may be legal limitations pertaining to the use of surface water where you live. Many overlook the importance of this issue. Furthermore, it’s wise to consider the volume of water required to sustain not only your family, but also additional needs such as agriculture. You can see that there may not be a whole lot you can do about this unless you’re in a country setting with a considerable piece of land with water on it. This takes us to our final point.
Homesteading – There’s no way around the fact that urban living is the least friendly to becoming more self sufficient. The topic of finding country property is one we’ll take up in another article, but keep in mind this can be done with the proper planning and persistence. For sure, rural living is the most ideal situation for becoming more independent.
You can experience self sufficient living, enjoying the benefits of becoming independent from utility companies and supermarkets. Keep your dream before you and persevere and a simpler, healthier way of life can be yours.
If you want to realize your dream of self sufficient living, come and visit http://www.selfsufficientlivingblog.com and learn how this way of life can be yours.