Self-sufficiency is more than just producing food for the table. It could mean that you provide everything that you consume, but then we would be running around wearing only wool, and eating a very limited range of food. It would also mean being isolated, thinking that you don’t need anyone else for anything. You would also need to have the skills necessary to do every. single. thing. around producing food and clothing, and raising animals, and building infrastructure. So here’s my take on what self-sufficiency means for me…
Reducing waste
Many years ago, I was inspired by a community talk that I attended about living zero-waste. While we haven’t achieved absolutely ZERO waste, we have drastically reduced our waste without wasting our time, either. Our goal is to reduce our waste, be mindful of our carbon footprint and live as organically as possible. This, combined with living on our own 7-acre slice of paradise, led me to a journey of self-sufficiency. Being truly self-sufficient might mean to produce everything that you use or consume, but that’s just not practical. I’m not going to grow bananas in my temperate, almost-alpine garden, and I’m not going to build a climate-controlled, state-of-the-art growing room just to grow a bunch of bananas. BUT, it also shouldn’t mean going without. I mean, luckily I don’t really like bananas, but other, smaller, people in my family sure do!
Food security
Another motivating factor on this journey to self-sufficiency has been the issue of food security, where our food comes from and how sustainable it is in the future. Especially with recent severe weather patterns and the cost of living crisis globally making availability of food inconsistent or unaffordable. Saving money is a huge aim for us, as well as supporting local and being connected to our community. Our food bill is currently around $250 a week and my aim is to reduce this further.
Home-grown
So, what does self-sufficient mean to me? It means using the resources available around us to feed and clothe us as much as possible, but also provide some income or a means to barter and trade. We are so lucky to live in a small town where there are many young families like us. We are blessed with elderly neighbors who have a lot of knowledge and resilience in self-sufficiency. This has really helped us on our journey. I call it a journey, because I’m not sure where the destination will be, but we’re having quite the time getting there!
Mindfulness and meaning
Knowing where your food comes from and knowing that you helped grow it is hugely rewarding! Gardening and rearing animals are such activities of mindfulness. They help me feel connected to my environment, my life and the people and animals in it. I feel that this is such a positive by-product of self-sufficient life and homesteading.
It’s really proven to me how important being connected to something productive and physical is for us as human beings. I can see such a change in my own health as a response. Reducing my work hours and making more time to get outdoors was a great choice. I used to struggle with anxiety, but now feel so much more in control just by correcting the work-life balance. Sure, I could just work more, earn more, and pay someone to do all these projects for me. But there’s no fun in that. No process, no learning, no meaning.
The experience so far
What do my family think of it so far? The kids love the new electric car, and the homeschooling gig we did. But they’re getting pretty sick of eating lamb… (the only meat in our freezer right now). We have such a cemented sense of community now, from the lockdowns, to bartering and asking advice. I know all my neighbors and we support each other even if we live half a mile apart.
In this blog I will detail our self-sufficient, homestead life, and offer advice. I have tried (and failed) at many a ‘project’ over the almost decade we’ve been living here.
So, welcome to our family blog, I hope you find it funny, insightful, and useful. Feel free to comment and ask any questions!
