Are you aiming for self sufficiency?

[forestdale]

I love the idea of self sufficiency but I don't think it's achievable for DH and I.  When we retire properly I'll have more time to devote to becoming self sufficient but there are some things I'll never do.

On my list of can dos, and most of them I'm already doing:

• raise chickens for eggs
• grow organic vegetables
• barter eggs for milk and cream
• sew, knit and mend
• cook from scratch
• bake bread
• make homemade laundry detergent
• harvest rainwater
• make compost
• reduce, reuse and recycle
• rely less on supermarkets
• shop locally
• support local tradespeople
• fish at the local beaches
• make homemade pet food
• reduce the amount of packaging brought into the house
• grow trees, shrubs and plants native to my local area
• can, freeze and dry my own produce
• pick local strawberries and make jam
• read books and magazines only from the library

I fully intend to live as simply as I can within the confines of my small homestead, which is around one acre, but I'll still have my computer and I'll travel a bit with DH.  We will also buy small luxuries when we want them but our days of wasting and consuming just for the sake of buying something are over.

Can you see yourself moving towards self sufficiency or a modified version of it?

 

[homesteadmamma]

When we first started in our journey to simple living, our goal was to work more towards self-sufficiency. When we moved out into the country, we worked even more towards self-sufficiency. That continues to be our goal today.

Will we ever achieve full self-sufficiency - no. I don't think its possible in today's economy.

We will do or have done:

barter when we can

grow organic vegetables - we've doubled our garden size and are looking at doubling it again next year.

sew, knit and mend along with making my own quilts and some of our clothing. Because material is so expensive, most of our clothing is purchased at thrift stores

cook from scratch

bake bread

harvest rainwater

make compost

reduce, reuse and recycle

rely less on supermarkets - this has become easier and easier as we have relied more on our own garden and farmer's markets, along with local farmers

shop locally

fish and hunt

reduce the amount of packaging brought into the house

grow fruit trees as much as possible

can, freeze

make jam, preserves & jellies with our own fruit when possible. Otherwise, we purchase from the local farmers in our area

read books and magazines only from the library

do all our own renovations such as installing the remaining windows ourselves, do any insullation that needs doing, doing our own electrical work. Anything that dh doesn't know how to do, he gets a book from the library and reads up on it.

work more on our home-based business (crafts)

continue to make all our Christmas gifts

However, we won't ever be self-sufficient in regards to purchasing dairy products, some of our meat, personal hygeine products, medicines. Along with that, much of our fruit can't be grown in our area so we need to rely on purchasing that from large grocery stores (peaches/pears, melons, oranges).

[homesteadmamma]

Rhonda, this is one area that is really dear to me. I love the question and although I responded as to what we do already, I firmly believe that we can get to probably 75% of self-sufficiency if we work at it.

We found that at first it was difficult because:

Not many that we knew were working towards it. The preferred to have others do it for them. We were the odd balls (and still are).

We didn't know alot about many things. We knew a bit about gardening and quilting. In most other areas it was done by trial and error with many mistakes. I'm so proud of dh because he isn't someone who gives up. If he makes a mistake and can't figure something out, he isn't too proud to ask or read up to find the answer. He also isn't too proud to say, thats something I/we can't do.

Also when we first started we lived in the city where there is so many conveniences and its so much easier to go out for meals, pick up bread at the bakery, steak from a specialty store, kwim. Where we are now, nothing is that easy so it becomes easier to be self-sufficient.

You mentioned travelling. I think even in travelling you can be self-sufficient also if you work at it (at least to a point). When we travelled on our dream trip to Northern B.C., we rented a motorhome, smaller than we could have. We could have went using a tent, however this was our dream trip. However, we cooked all our own meals, made up our own games, picked fruit along the B.C. coast at very reasonable rates and travelled in Oct. when the prices of everything was reduced. Our trip still cost us $7,000.00 (all paid for in cash). Had we eaten at restaurants, we would probably have added another $75 per day and we were gone for almost a month. Had we travelled during tourist season (May - Sept), it would have probably doubled the amount we spent.

I personally think that in everything we do, we can learn to be as self-sufficient as we want to be. In some areas I refuse to be - thats in my quilting and in dh's woodworking. I use 100% cotton for my quilting and purchased at quilting stores, whereas I could get cheaper material at Walmart or I could even tear up old clothes from thrift stores and make quilts from that. Dh uses the best of wood (oak) and he has top notch tools. In every other area of our lives, we are working towards self-sufficiency.

[PrairieRose]

I have to say that we're probably not going to work hard enough to become even 75% self sufficient, although we could if we wanted to. Dh is a master gardner, can grow anything that you can imagine. So we could be preserving all of our own food, since we have a huge lot that we could convert much more of to garden. He is also pretty "handy" in most areas although he doesn't enjoy being so handy (in other words I hear a lot of "griping" when he has to be..... ). I can sew, crochet, mend.... . Together we do most of our own rennovations and updates on our home. My point in replying to this thread is this. We could definitely be almost self sufficient. We are working toward a more "deliberate" lifestyle but we really aren't interested in spending all of our free time in the summer canning vegetables. We may take up harvesting rain water for the conservational value more than self sufficiency (but I like both) and some other means that would ultimately lead to more self sufficiency. I'm not knocking anyone who chooses to be self sufficient. My point (and I'm obviously taking the long way of making it!) is that we are working to be less of the consumerism mind set but we do enjoy the conveniences of modern day living and intend to make full use of a lot of them. BUT, in doing so we want to live lighter and make the very most of every dollar and resource that we have. Am I making any sense at all?
I really only consider us homesteaders b/c we live in a small town, grow a fair amount of our own food during the growing season, enjoy our little plot of land and live much simpler than most of our friends, not b/c we're trying to be completely self sufficient.

[DaisyLady]

While our goal is to be as self-sufficient as possible, I'm not sure we could ever become 100% self-sufficient. I think that in the end run that would defeat our goal of doing the things we really love in life by turning some of it into a chore. So as long as we are enjoying what we do, be sensitive to our environment and loving to our friends and family then I'll be satisfied. The key is that we have the choice...

[forestdale]

I'm pleased to be surrounded by like-minded people. I don't believe complete self sufficiency is possible either. To be authentic you'd have to get rid of your car, TV, computer etc and I don't want to do that.

I agree with you about things being a chore, Lisa, but all the things I'm doing now and will do in the future I do becuase I enjoy the process of doing them as well as the end products that enrich our lives.

CJ, the point you make about travel is a good one. We intend to travel when we sell the store. DH wants to go in a caravan or motorhome whereas my idea of roughing it is to stay in a 3 star motel. However, we have invited my sister to come with us on our travels - she and her late husband had planned on doing the big motorhome trip when they retired and when I asked her she jumped at the chance. So we are now planning a trip in a motorhome suitable for 4 people. I'm sure I'll survive, and love it. We will definately incorporate aspects of the self sufficent life into that trip, even though my sister will most likely be horrified. But what can I say, life's a surprise journey for all of us.

Chriss, I loved your statement: "So as long as we are enjoying what we do, be sensitive to our environment and loving to our friends and family then I'll be satisfied. The key is that we have the choice..." You're right, the key is choice and it's a wonderful key to carry through life.

I am constantly reading and incorporating small things I read about into our lives to enrich and inspire us. I'm really looking forward to retirement so I can indulge this interest in self sufficiency more.

[homesteadmamma]

Rhonda, the motorhome we went in was a 25 footer. It had a/c, microwave, tv, shower and toilet, along with a tiny bathtub (too small for us to fit in ). If we did it again, we would rent a 27 footer instead. We had pretty much all the conveniences of a hotel (well not quite). It was a whole lot better than a tent!!!

[Kimberlina]

I don't have time to read the whole thread right now (will come back to it later) but not only do I think complete self-sufficiency is not possible here, but DH would never do it. BUT, I am working on some aspects of it. Even if I don't do these things all the time, it is nice to be able to so some things for myself that other people think they could never possibly do.

[Mom23boys]

I don't think we could ever be 100% self sufficient. We are trying to reuse and recycle to help the environment. We also are growing our own vegetables (first year, but we are doing it). I have enjoyed gardening and want a bigger garden next year. We also bake bread, cook from scratch, read books from the library, fish and hunt, make our own home renovations, mend our own clothes.

I am sure there are alot of things I would like to try and do. There are also some things I think we would never do. I have tried drinking cows milk...not store bought, but from the farm. It wasn't for me. My step-dad was brought up that way and got me to try it...nope, didn't like it.

[sunshine]

Our original intent was to become 100% self suffcient. . . . howeve, with dh's illness and my arthritis it's not possible now. I DO know people who are self sufficient.

[QuilterMom]

It's our goal to become as self-sufficient as possible - we realize that 100% will be impossible though. We are working on gaining a little ground in this area each year.

[Kimberlina]

Okay, I'm back. As I mentioned, we will never be self-sufficent- DH has no desire nor is he even willing. He is a product o the electronic age in every way- he is a TV producer, after all, so we can't really get away from it. But within those confines, I do try to tread a litle more lightly. Take DDs toys- so many people buy her so many toys- we try not to buy her too much because I am trying to tread a little more lightly. And we use second-hand clothes for her.

As far a self-sufficiency, I would say my main reasons for doing what I do are pride, the challenge and enjoyment, and being kinder to the earth and my community more than it is about truly becoming self-sufficient in any regards. Looking at everyone else's lists, these are the things I already do, some more frequently than others:

-grow organic veggies, some fruits
-cook from scratch
-bake bread
-make homemade laundry detergent (sometimes- it is time for a ew batch!)
-make compost
-harvest rainwater for the garden (just started a few weeks ago, small scale)
-recycle, use less, re-use
-support local tradespeople (for instance, this AM DH wanted to buy mulch at a big chain home store. I told him we needed to buy it from the guy next door, even though it costs more.)
-most of my books are from the library. I do buy a few used, and the only books I buy new are the Harry Potter series, as a gift from DH to me. (Magazines are not from the library as they don't have many, but I do donate my books and magazines to them when possible)
-shop as locally as possible, although that can be difficult (I am loathe to admit that I do shop at Wal-Mart, but I do try to buy from the local shops that are still in business, like the hardware store, etc. If I had more money, I wouldn't do this at all.)
-mend, sew a little (not too great at it, but I get by) as well as crochet
-freeze my own produce
-make many of our gifts
-do most repairs ourselves
-I cut DH's hair


I'm sure there are other things that I do that I will remember and add later. I do like to try to do most things myself. It gives me a real sense of accomplishment to say to my friends, "I made this/grew this/fixed this myself." And they are usually astounded and impressed.

[jlxian]

This is a great thread and very thought provoking!

Trying to imagine myself in a sod house somewhere with no neighbors and no links to "civilization" --- that is how I see being totally, 100%, self sufficient. No, I don't think it is possible for me, or my family.

And, like most of the others, our main reasons for striving to some degree of self sufficiency are varied --- less consumerism being the main motivation. I do still shop at WalMart (ACK!), but we try as much as possible to buy from locally owned businesses or from "the guy next door". And we do not hesitate to purchase second hand items when they fit our needs.

Our garden this year is huge compared to previous years -- basically a response to the economy as well as a fresh stab at becoming more self providing. We look forward to harvesting lots from it. But I do not want to be one of those people who spend every waking hour in the summer canning or freezing stuff --- being the ant versus the grasshopper.

I look at our situation as this -- if we were home 24 hours a day, without having to run to town everyday I think we could get a lot more done on our place. Unfortunately (???), we are both employed outside the home, and the kids go to school in town, and there are the endless trips to town for activities and adventures in consumer science. And then there is the matter of ready cash for many of our SOMEDAY projects.

Our capabilities, some not totally utilized at the present, include:

GARDENING, but not totally organically at this time (I promise it will be in the future!). We are growing lots of veggies and fruit. We will harvest and freeze or can a lot of produce in the coming months. Our storage for potatoes and the like is inadequate, but it is also an area we are working on. We have been talking about building a tornado shelter (fraidy hole) that will double as a root cellar.

RECYCLING/REUSING --- We do a lot, but it could be expanded upon

COOKING FROM SCRATCH --- Again, not 100%, but it is POSSIBLE.

COMPOST --- I'm learning, and my heap is just sitting --- but its a start. I've also been begging the lawn clippings from my co-workers (unfulfilled so far) and plan to check with the local recycling center to see if they will give us the bagged clippings they receive. The only problem I see with this is that you cannot be sure of what chemicals are used on these lawns --- does composting ameliorate this situation?

WATER CONSERVATION -- We are going to set up a rainwater harvesting system for garden irrigation, and we are limiting showers to 10 minutes (this is hard for a 12 year old girl.....)

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY --- in years past we have raised pigs, so we know we can do it, but we are not currently raising any. And we hope to get chickens SOMEDAY. My son covets owning a cow, but (there are always buts.....), our fences are too terrible at this time. And we need to get some goats to keep down the poison ivy (again the fence issue comes to play).
We do have a hive of bees and harvest several quarts of honey each year.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY -- this is an area of expertise for my husband, and on another homesteading forum I read that if everyone just converted their hot water heating to solar heating it would be a huge step in the right direction. Its a SOMEDAY thing for us, to change to solar hot water, but its possible. And wind generation of electricity --- if nothing else for a small appliance.

SEWING -- I can do this, but have not for the last 12 years. Its on my "to do" list, truly.

FIREWOOD -- can cut our own, no purchasing necessary. This last season we were also able to pick firewood up from the right of way by the power lines -- the power company hired some folks to clear out an area under the powerlines along a route we travel daily. They even cut it to woodstove lengths -- and all we had to do was stop on the way home, throw some in the back of the truck and take it home. It was green, but it was free.

REPAIRS/CARPENTRY --- we do some, but could do more on our own. My husband has many skills in this area --- underutilized!

MAKING GIFTS -- I try to come up with at least one Christmas gift idea each year that I can make for lots of folks. I'm not always successful, but I try.

SOAP MAKING -- This is something I really want to learn to do. We have this big supply of wood ashes..... I am eager to learn the process.

Yes, this is a life-style, philosophy, mind-set, that we are gaining ground on each year. But without being at home all the time, its a slow journey.

Thanks for this thread!

[Michele Annette]

When we get land to build a house we will try to be as self sufficient as possible but I know we will not be 100% self sufficent. I would love to try though.