February 18, 2022 The A.O.P. +More Team
In the past few years, we've really learned what it might be like to have to rely on yourself for survival. While we're not likely to have to hunt our own food again or learn to gather, there is something to be said of learning to become a little more self-sufficient.
Self-sufficiency is something that has been discussed for a number of years, along with 'going back to basics' and 'living off-grid.' These terms all mean different things but the general idea is that you live by the means you create for yourself.
We've been doing some research into self-sufficient living and we've gathered all we've learned here. In this blog post, we're going to look at what self-sufficient living is, why we should aim for a little more self-sufficiency, and a few tips for living a self-sufficient life.
To find out more, take a look below.
What is self-sufficient living?
Self-sufficient living means a lot of things. In essence, it is about learning to make, bake, grow, and sell your own products to create a cyclical life where you provide for yourself. It means being a producer rather than a consumer and being able to provide for your daily needs.
To be self-sufficient, you will need to own your own land to be able to provide for yourself, though you can still produce your own food on a smaller scale without land. Your land should support the needs of your family. For those who do not have the space for this, you may find that even a small windowsill garden can provide a little to your kitchen.
Self-sufficiency entails living off-grid and understanding how to maintain your own systems. It also means being debt-free and focussing all of your money, time, and energy on your family and your needs.
Self-sufficiency is essentially making your life one big circle where you produce enough to survive. To find out more about why you should aim for a self-sufficient life, keep reading now.
Why should I aim for self-sufficiency?
There are many reasons that people decide to be self-sufficient, from the personal satisfaction of growing and creating your own products to the sustainable living aspects of the concept. We've created a list below of a few reasons you should try becoming a little more self-sufficient. Check it out.
- Self-sufficient living has huge benefits for the environment and when you become more self-sufficient you help to restore some balance to the earth. Becoming self-reliant, growing your own fruit and veg, baking your own bread, sewing your own clothes - all of these things help to reduce your carbon footprint and tackle personal sustainability issues, helping you to live a little more green.
- Self-sufficient homesteading can also prepare you for emergencies. If you become more self-sufficient, you are unlikely to be impacted by local or regional shortages and can be more prepared in emergency situations. It may also help you in the case of extreme weather where getting to shops isn't an option.
- Self-sufficiency teaches you many skills and helps you to be much more resourceful It can teach children valuable life skills and help them to survive adult life more easily. It can also help to expand your mind and to teach respect for the earth and where our products are from.
- And finally, self-sufficiency offers lots of ways to save money. The economic advantages of the self-sufficient lifestyle mean that you can save money while still having enough to feed your family and survive. There are many ways this lifestyle helps you to save money, including not having to buy produce and repairing your own gadgets when things go wrong.
Tips for self-sufficient living
While not everyone will be able to go fully self-sufficient, many can start making small changes that allow them the freedom of being a little more self-sufficient than they were before. Below we've created a list of tips for you to try out as you begin your journey to self-sufficient living. Take a look now.
Grow a garden
Whether you have acres of land or just one windowsill, growing your own food can help you to be a little more self-sufficient. You could plant lots of fruit and veg in your garden or create a small-scale herb garden in your kitchen for easy seasoning! Growing your own food means having healthy foods at your fingertips.
Learn to compost
To reduce waste and have your own ready-made fertiliser, composting is a great option. Get yourself a compost bin and begin adding veg scraps and other suitable waste to your bin and create your very own fertiliser.
Save your seeds
Once you have harvested from your home garden, you could try saving some seeds from each different vegetable you have grown. This means you don't have to buy more seeds and can create a cyclical method of planting and growing in your garden.
Collect rainwater
Collecting rainwater is a fantastic way of watering you're garden without using more water than necessary. You can install a rainwater collection system in your garden very easily.
Add solar panels to your home
Using renewable energy is a great way to become more self-sufficient and choosing to install solar panels can help you to power your home without burning any fossil fuels. Depending on where you live, you could try other methods of renewable energy too.
Learn basic household maintenance
Learning how to repair things in your home and your car can mean the difference between calling someone in and doing it yourself. To be truly self-sufficient, you need to be able to carry out your own repairs!
Use renewables
From produce bags and cloths to diapers and women's hygiene products, there are so many options for reusable items to replace disposable ones now that you don't need to even consider disposables. Opting for reusable products means doing your part for the environment as well as saving money!
Use local suppliers
Head to your local farmer's market or favourite small online business next time you to run out of something you can't produce yourself. Local and small businesses tend to use less energy, create less pollution and waste, and work in smaller batches, making them better for the environment. You're also supporting local workers when you choose not to shop with big corporations.
Use natural beauty products
Whether you're making your own or you're shopping with small businesses, using natural beauty products means less waste and fewer damaging chemicals making their way onto your skin. Check out our entire range of natural beauty products today to find out more.
Eat seasonally
If you're growing your own food then you will have to eat seasonally, but if not, try buying from local suppliers and eating products that are in season. This means not relying on your food travelling across the globe and it means that your food will taste better because it’s been grown in the conditions it thrives in.
Cook from scratch and use up your scraps
Cooking from scratch means not relying on processes and pre-packaged foods and it means learning how to cook wholesome and healthy meals. Additionally, you could try using up scraps from your other meals to add flavour to your food and make your kitchen more sustainable.
Buy in bulk
When you do need to buy your own products, make sure to buy in bulk to reduce the amount of waste you produce and to save money!
Purchase sustainable clothing and learn to mend
When you find holes and other damage to clothing, first assess whether it can be fixed. If it can, repair it and keep wearing it. If you have clothing that desperately needs repairing, try shopping consciously and choosing sustainable suppliers.
Conclusion
Self-sufficient living is achievable in varying forms for everyone. Even if your home isn’t going to become fully self-sufficient, there are ways you can add a little more self-sufficiency into your routine with just a few tweaks. To live a cleaner, more sustainable life where you can save money while still providing for your loved ones, try out our few tips for self-sufficient living now.
If you're interested in self-sufficient living, check out our eco-home section to find some fantastic products to help you out.
Frequently asked questions
How do I live completely self-sufficient?
To be completely self-sufficient, you're going to need land enough to grow food for your family and provide for the entire year. You will also need to be debt-free to ensure all of the money you have is going into providing for your family and producing. You will also need to learn basic home maintenance and car repairs and learn to eat seasonally while preserving food for the rest of the year.
Can you live self-sufficient?
You can live in a self-sufficient way by following a few steps. You will need to learn how to grow your own food, conduct your own repairs, and live in a minimalist way. You will also need to generate your own energy and you will need to know how to live off the land. You will also need to be debt-free and be able to provide for yourself and your family.
How can I live off the grid?
You will need to have land or buy a home that is off the grid. You will learn how to create your own energy and find your own freshwater. You will also need to grow your own food and learn how to preserve food. You should also gather the right kind of clothes for the seasons and keep yourself in good shape.
What should you grow to be self-sufficient?
There are a few key crops you should grow in your efforts to be self-sufficient. These crops are hardy and good for the different seasons. These include:
- Potatoes
- Corn
- Dry beans
- Green beans
- Wheat
- Cabbage
- Squash
- Greens, like kale, spinach, etc.
- Carrots
- Onions
