What does being "self sufficient" mean to you?

[Bullitt]

For me personally self sufficiency is more like zen--not something completely achievable with a set end goal but more of an on going process of continual learning.

That is a great way to approach it -- always striving for improvement.

 

[Baymule]

workinthedream, I think what you are shooting for is to be as self sufficient as possible, without giving up modern living. I like my dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, freezer and refrigerator--not to mention the 4 ton unit humming along right now, keeping us from sitting in a pool of sweat. Oh, almost forgot the 60" LED TV! (smacks forehead-how could I be so dumb) Could I live with them? Absolutely. And I have. Hurricanes strike and leave us without power for weeks, damage to the house has disrupted us for longer times-not fun. If SHTF, could I survive? Yes. And I could feed the family too. Do I want to live a life of deprivation? No. But I can if I have to.

We live in town on a small lot. Chickens in the backyard, garden in the front yard. I can, dehydrate and freeze. I make jam and preserves. I grew corn this spring for cornmeal. I have a grain mill and I can mill corn and wheat. I bought wheat from a Mormon food center, they have lots of food stuffs that store well and that is part of their beliefs. I have food stored that would feed us for a good while if a disaster struck. But I also know that you have to be able to replenish your food supply and the best way to do that is to grow your own food.

You sound like you are on the right track, so keep up the good work. You might look into building a root cellar for long term storage. SS doesn't mean having to live in a remote cabin without electricity, a outhouse out back, tanning deerhides and wearing buckskins, hauling water from the creek and sleeping on a cornshuck mattress. What it does mean is that you can live with modern conveniences while providing for your family from the produce and animals on your land. It means a smaller grocery bill and better food to eat. It means a healthier lifestyle, family time together and knowing that if push came to shove, yes you could make it.

 

[Workinthedream]

Actually I think what I was really asking is what YOUR definitions were and I thank you all for the replies. I like some of the ideas - like grinding my own flour - gotta try that, When I moved in here it seemed like it was very windy every day so I bought a wind meter to see if it was windy enough to generate power. I don't know if we hit the doldrums or what but it seems like the wind has really died out for the last two months. Not giving up though and will probably build a low wind generator at some time if for nothing else to power the low voltage landscape lighting around the house my wife wants! I agree that we can all raise more of our food. That is what I like about the ideal of SS. I also have a five year old that I want to feed healthy. Thanks again for all of the suggestions!

 

[HS Pye]

Self sufficiency to me means to be continually learning new things as you grow independent from outside sources. I thought I might share with you these links for generating power and being self sufficient, it would take alot of work but nothing is free!

http://artitectuur.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/earthship-systems.jpg

http://naturalbuild.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/building-an-earthship/

http://freevilleearthship.blogspot.com/

http://www.dreamgreenhomes.com/plans/earthship.htm

HS Pye

 

[lacasse farms]

Means to me, Completely off the grid producing my own food, water, and shelter. Not owing anyone any paper money and using the barter/trade as much as possible. Taxes and Insurance would be the only reason for cash. Me and my family are working towards this right now. Currently we are in RI but we are preparing our 19 acres in Maine to become a complete self sufficient farm.

 

[Annie M]

Self sufficiency, to me, means having an integrated life. By that I mean that I raise a vegetable garden to feed us, the extra gets put up via canning, freezing, dehydrating and the peels and inedible parts go back to the soil to re-enrich it. Or it goes to the chickens who will use it and provide me with meat, eggs and fertilizer. I am growing fruit and nut trees, berries, horseradish, asparagus, rhubarb and am looking to add other perennial crops. I'm trying to set up our place to feed my entire family and my livestock. I am not a prepper. However, in my opinion, the chemical industry has too much power over the world's food supply with inadequate testing of new chemicals and genetically engineered crops. I am honestly afraid for my kids and grandkids because of the toxins so prevalent all around us. My self sufficiency goal is to minimize my family's exposure to chemically infused food. That's the long and short of it really...I want to offer a cleaner, more basic food supply to the people I love the most in this world. An added benefit is that I love working with plants and animals...I can't remember a time in my life that I wasn't fascinated by them.

 

[Workinthedream]

Hey Annie,

I can honestly say that your definition most closely mirrors my own. I would love to be off grid and not be reliant on anyone for anything but for where I am in my life right now that is just not possible. I am heading in the direction where I raise most of my families fruit and vegetables (right now I can't grow avocados or papayas!) for the same reason that you state. I have a friend that leased our farm last year (we bought in July so the lease was already in place) and I could not believe the amount of chemicals they poured on the soybeans that he had planted. They were GMO so they were Roundup ready and roundupped they were. They also put out insecticides that he told me I couldn't even buy as a normal person (they are a controlled substance). We are letting the fields rest this year - mainly to establish pastures on them again - so we hope that most of the residue will be gone by the time anything actually eats the grass. Thanks for the replies!

 

[Dwkuska]

My idea of self sufficient is just that... not needing to be another weapon of massive consumption as the world teaches us we should be. I know a guy who lives in Eastern WA who is darn near 100% self sufficient. He retired from the ARMY special forces after 15years. He bought his land and house and has retro-fitted it. I will have to get the specs but somehow 1 solar panel keeps his hot water tank @120f and the rest of the panels on his roof somehow generate enough power to cover his needs and still bring him a small check from the power company(apparently they pay you if you put more power onto the grid then you use).

His wife has a very impressive half acre garden that supplies them with enough veggies and fruit for the whole year. They dont eat a whole lot of meat but rather get most of their protein from eggs from the chickens that roam their 10acre lot. They dont buy feed for their animals as the dogs eat what he hunts, and the veggies are canned or dried for winter times for the family and animal, I dont know if they buy dairy but his chicken eggs and power company checks apparently pay the taxes for the property. He is a pastor of a church and can proudly say he takes a measily $120 salary a month.

I would love to have his level of self sufficientcy as I dont think its unrealistic. That doesnt mean you become a hermit. It just means you are not dependant on anyone or anything that you dont produce yourself. I suppose I would have to sell a few chicks or eggs every year as bullets arent cheap. But the wife and I are on the way to it.

 

[Workinthedream]

My idea of self sufficient is just that... not needing to be another weapon of massive consumption as the world teaches us we should be. I know a guy who lives in Eastern WA who is darn near 100% self sufficient. He retired from the ARMY special forces after 15years. He bought his land and house and has retro-fitted it. I will have to get the specs but somehow 1 solar panel keeps his hot water tank @120f and the rest of the panels on his roof somehow generate enough power to cover his needs and still bring him a small check from the power company(apparently they pay you if you put more power onto the grid then you use).

His wife has a very impressive half acre garden that supplies them with enough veggies and fruit for the whole year. They dont eat a whole lot of meat but rather get most of their protein from eggs from the chickens that roam their 10acre lot. They dont buy feed for their animals as the dogs eat what he hunts, and the veggies are canned or dried for winter times for the family and animal, I dont know if they buy dairy but his chicken eggs and power company checks apparently pay the taxes for the property. He is a pastor of a church and can proudly say he takes a measily $120 salary a month.

I would love to have his level of self sufficientcy as I dont think its unrealistic. That doesnt mean you become a hermit. It just means you are not dependant on anyone or anything that you dont produce yourself. I suppose I would have to sell a few chicks or eggs every year as bullets arent cheap. But the wife and I are on the way to it.

I think that is great but I could not do it. One my wife would just not live that way if she could help it (I am not in this by myself - HA

). Also I live somewhere it gets really hot in the summer (like 100-110F hot) so I like to run the AC in the summer. I also like our pool to jump into in the back yard. Could I get enough solar panels to power all of this or dig a pond to swim in? Sure but in that case I am just paying the solar panel company and not the power company for my power. From everything I have read the solar panels manufacture and disposal are just as bad as the coal or nuclear power (cleanest form of power according to the EPA BTW) for the environment.

I like the idea of producing all of my food though. We are growing up 10 ducks so far (four will be slaughtered soon and the rest will be retained and improved for the next batch). We also have chickens and geese on the way. I am going to raise as much of their feed as I can also, We plan on raising pigs in the spring too. There are plans for about 1.75-2 acre garden in the spring and I am building the greenhouse now (it kills me to buy plants for $2-3 dollars or more a piece when I can just grow them from seed for (10-100 seeds for $3) much less). The other thing is how can you live on $120 a month! We use more in gas each month than that just going back and forth to work. He must get a really good retirement from the Army! I admire him for doing what he is doing but for me it just is not possible.

Keep it coming as I love the discussion!

 

[Plough]

Self sufficiency to me would be able to be 100% able to feed and care for myself on my own with no purchased items. While this might be nice to have all the items, skills and knowledge with so many things that are time consuming I prefer to be self reliant.

I have emergency prep supplies, a well established urban farm yard, and the skills needed that in a pinch. I have the knowledge for those highly time intensive things that are more easily purchased, and while not per se "self - sufficient I have a network of people that I know I can tap for skills and or expert knowledge that I might lack or are less skilled in. Community makes you more resilient than the individual.