Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

Episode 236

11 Ways to Become Self Sufficient

I have often said that self sufficiency is the best security blanket. But I see fewer and fewer people that truly appreciate the value in being able to take care of yourself with little or no outside help. I think this attitude prevails in our current culture because the average person no longer sees the need to have such skills. 

However, our world is constantly changing, sometimes over night. Consequently, I think self sufficiency is more important than ever before. The problem is that most people do not know where to begin because our modern culture has deprived us of some very basic skills. 

In this episode I am going to outline 11 ways to become self sufficient and live your life that way you want. 

Welcome back every one to the Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E236 Eleven Ways to Become Self Sufficient and Live Your Life the Way You Want. 

In this episode I want to outline eleven ways to be more self sufficient that is easily within the reach of everyone of us. Additionally I want to point out the importance of developing some level of self sufficiency even though most of us think that in our modern world this is completely unnecessary. 

Good News Story of the Week

But before we get to that I first want to talk about the good news story of the week. And this week it is about coral. 

Most likely you have heard me talk before about the importance of coral as a keystone species. Coral reefs support an enormous amount of sea life and are being lost at an enormous rate due to pollution, acidification of our oceans and due to global warming. Consequently, a lot of research has been conducted on how best to regenerate coral reefs. 

One research group have discovered that a bio-ink coating derived from algae can boost the settlement of coral larva by as much as 20 times. Most restoration projects have focused on building coral nurseries and of course plant genetically identical coral colonies that are susceptible to the same destructive events. 

The point of the recent research was to help build genetic diversity. Scientist recently discovered that a certain pink algae plays an important role in attracting coral larvae. The scientist quickly developed their own version of this special ink containing specific metabolites and chemical signals. 

Early experiments were very successful. They are now starting new work to tweak there special ink in order to work with different coral species. 

This of course is great news about rebuilding coral reefs around the world. And being an active scuba diver, this is great news to me because I get to see these things first hand. 

Now let’s move on to this weeks episode. 

Whenever I talk about self sufficiency most people look at me like a deer in the headlights. Because the vast majority of people now live in urban areas, taking care of yourself and being outside of mainstream is a foreign concept. Furthermore, most people look at me and tend to ask “Why?”  

In my early childhood years I spent a lot of time on the two working farms that were in the family. We were constantly doing something in order to provide for ourselves. I remember numerous fishing trips, picking fresh apples, foraging for blackberries and raspberries, helping tend the garden and take care of all the animals we we raised for food. And of course, being a kid, I complained relentlessly about always having to do the chores. Consequently, I find it quite humorous that decades later I am living the same type of lifestyle. 

What I did not realize nor appreciate at the time is that I was being taught the skills needed for self sufficiency. I was being taught how to take care of myself when no one else was around. I was being taught self resiliency. 

Sometimes it is difficult for me to believe that I’ve lived on the cabin homestead for 29 years as of this summer. I think a lot about my early struggles and what it took for me to get where I am today.  I also think about how little I really knew in the beginning and the endless list of skills I had to learn. It is no big surprise that living in a culture propped up by instant gratification that most people view self sufficiency as simply being able to go to the supermarket on their own. 

In today’s modern culture we tend to congratulate ourselves for our intelligence and our technological advances. Such things have made our lives tremendously easier but it has also made up complacent. You must know that I am not a gloom and doom kind of guy. I am not a pepper and I do not even think about the apocalypse. However, I would like to point out something quiet obvious. 

Our world is changing so rapidly and it often makes it difficult for even the most stable minded person to feel some sense of personal security. In the unlikely event that we were to truly have a national emergency, the government is never going to worry about the average citizen. They are going to focus on protecting the people in power, protecting important infrastructure and vital resources. The average person is going to be completely on their own. 

With that in mind, that is not the reason I developed my homestead the way I did. I did what I did because I am independently minded. I realized long ago that self sufficiency enabled me to live outside of mainstream, take care of myself and not be sucked in by many of the trappings of modern society, especially the money. Additionally, being self sufficient gave me a nice security blanket. Being self employed, if something happened to me and I was disabled and unable to work, at least I had the resources needed to take care of myself for a prolonged period of time. 

All that being said, what exactly am I talking about? What exactly does it mean to be self sufficient? Well, the basic definition is to be able to provide for your own needs without relying heavily on outside help or resources. It is about being independent and sustainable. It is about resilience.  

Now there are some key aspects to being self sufficient. Things such as producing your own food, your own energy, having a water supply, having some basic medical skills and even home repair skills. Then of course there is financial independence and even emotional resilience which makes you confident under stress and while dealing with some unexpected challenges. 

While that may seem like a lot to try and accomplish for yourself, it is not as difficult as it sounds. You just have to keep in mind that it does not all have to be done at once. After all, I have been on the cabin homestead for many years. However, there are certain key aspects to being self sufficient. So, let’s go through each of 11 vital skills keeping in mind these do not have to be accomplished in any specific order. Even if you only achieve half of these, you are still far more ahead of the game than the average person. 

 Eleven Key Skills for Being Self Sufficient

Once again, these do not have to be achieved in any specific order. I would suggest choosing something that is easy, then move along to something more difficult. But, here are 11 vital skills for self sufficiency. 

#1 Growing your own food 

This is something that can be accomplished very easily even if you live in a small apartment or flat. I’ve seen some people grow a considerable amount of their own vegetables on a 10 square foot balcony. But even if you only have a few square feet you can have an herb garden. Window sills are perfect for hydroponics projects. If you have a porch then set up a container garden or a vertical garden. These things are perfect for small spaces. There are varieties of most vegetables that produce smaller plants that are perfect for this type of set up. 

If you have yard space, do a traditional garden and set up raised beds. Use techniques such as square foot gardening. Leave part of your yard as natural as possible and cultivate flowering plants to encourage pollinators. 

Additionally, you can learn about composting and even natural pest control to avoid using any sort of pesticides. 

#2 Raising animals

While this may be a little advanced for most people, you can still do a lot of this even in an urban area. You just have to consider local regulations before starting. 

Raising chickens for eggs and meat are one of the simplest things to do. We have been doing this for years. Raising rabbits for meat is also a good choice. Rabbits have a high feed to body weight conversion. They mature to butchering weight very rapidly. They take up little space and are easy to care for. One buck and a couple of does would provide a significant amount of meat over the course of a year. Rabbits even have less of an environmental footprint than chickens.

#3 Preserving and storing your own food

This can be as simple as keeping extra dry goods and basic supplies at home. Another easy choice is to purchase bulk goods at a local warehouse grocery outlet. Bulk dry goods, canned goods, spices and basic cooking supplies are a good place to start. 

Take it a step further by learning the basics of canning your own food. Purchase a food dehydrator and preserve extra fruits and vegetables during peak season. Fermenting foods is another great choice and it is super easy to do. But the ultimate easy way to preserve your own food is freezing. Properly freezing foods has a very short learning curve and can be achieved in less than a couple of days. 

Preserving my own food is something I have done for most of my life. I have home dried fruits that have been in my cellar for 8 to 10 years and they are still good. Once you learn to preserve your own food the sky is truly the limit. Preserving your own food not only reduces waste but it also provides a great deal of food security. 

#4 Generating your own energy

Generating your own energy is the ultimate in self sufficiency. Our entire homestead is run off of solar and I never regret that choice. However, it was not always that way. We started out small and built it up over time. 

Generating your own energy can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Solar can be used for electricity and heating water. Small wind turbines and even mini hydroelectric power stations can be set up if your living conditions are appropriate. Even using wood stoves and passive solar for heating is a great place to start. 

While this may sound challenging, it truly is not difficult at all. Plug and play solar electric systems are easy to find and a total no-brainer to set up. Even if all you have is a couple of solar panels that charge a solar generator that is a great place to start. In case of a prolong power outage, that can be used to charge phones, iPads, computers, emergency radios, and basic lighting. 

If you live in an area where the power grid commonly goes down, set up a few solar panels with battery back up and use that to power your refrigerator, freezer, or dedicated circuits in your home. There are so many options with renewable energy these days that you can start as simple or complicated as you want. And the best part is that it is super easy. 

#5 Harvest and purify your own water

Water is of course vital to being alive. We can go far more time without food than without water. Water security is possible even if you live in suburbia. You just have to store extra water in appropriate containers. 

Keep a nice supply of water purification tablets around in the event of an emergency and the local water supply becomes contaminated. Gravity fed water purification systems can easily be purchased online. We have been using Life Straw products for years. 

Other purification systems are also available such as charcoal, UV, and ceramic. Portable filtration straws are also commonly available. Depending on where you live, rain water collection is also a possibility. #6 DIY Household Repairs

While this may not seem all that important, I have saved myself tens of thousands of dollars by doing things myself. I have gutted kitchens, finished out garages, installed solar, water cisterns, plumbing, built greenhouses and chicken barns. 

The best part is that you can learn all these skills yourself. It is entirely possible to take online classes, take a hands on class at your local hardware store, read a book or even help a friend that is doing a remodeling project. 

I have literally gotten quotes for refinishing jobs for up to $25K, decided to do it myself and finished it for less than $5K. Most of this stuff is not brain surgery. You may need a little guidance and it may take you a bit longer at first. But every time you do something, you learn a new skill. After a few years you will be pleasantly surprised at what you have accomplished. 

#7 Learn Basic Medical Skills

Basic medical skills is one of those things that are greatly undervalued. However, I can point to numerous occasions when I have used these skills from something minor to urgent and even lifesaving situations. 

Learn CPR. Learn how to treat common injuries and illnesses at home. Organize and maintain a comprehensive first aid and emergency kit. Classes are easily available through the Red Cross, local fire departments, and even online. The information is there you just need to take advantage of all the opportunities. 

Having these basic skills will not only build your confidence it may actually save you life. At a minimum, if you get injured you may be able to treat yourself or at least prevent further injury by stabilizing yourself until you can seek proper medical attention. Trust me when I say, one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself and your family is to learn basic medical skills. 

#8 Learn to minimize your waste and reuse materials

This is another area where most people have a lot to learn. For example, repurposing food scraps into other recipes can save you a considerable amount of money. Composting wasted food and yard waste can be used as a natural fertilizer instead of using commercial products. Repurposing jars, wood, fabric, and metal for home projects can also save you money. Practicing zero waste shopping, minimizing what you buy helps to reduce your use of resources and is more planet friendly. 

Developing these kinds of personal habits can save you time, money, and resources. 

#9 Master essential life skills

This of course is a very broad category that contains skills that are often overlooked. Things such as cooking from scratch using only basic ingredients is invaluable and will save you a considerable amount of money. Learn basic sewing and knitting in order to mend clothes will keep you from unnecessarily buying new items. Knowing how to use basic hand tools. Learning how to perform basic maintenance inspections on your vehicles can prevent some very expensive problems. 

Beyond that, mastering simple communication skills is invaluable. This is something that is quickly being lost in our ever increasingly digital world. Knowing how to be a critical thinker and problem solver will serve you well your entire life. Problem solving and conflict management is another skill and is grossly under valued. And of course, proper stress management will go a long way towards keeping you healthy. 

#10 Develop some independent sources of income

I cannot over emphasize the importance of being in control of your own money including where that money comes from. I have been self employed for over 25 years and during that time I have kept multiple sources of income. Consequently, if any one thing falls through it makes no difference. 

Even if you have a full time job, take the time to develop a side hustle. Start a small business or even set up a small online business. This may take some time. But by doing so will you give yourself some extra income and some extra financial security. 

#11 Build a local support network

When most people think about having a self sufficient life their thoughts usually lean toward living rurally, having few to no neighbors and maybe even living in isolation to some degree. However, nothing could be further from the truth. 

Although we do live in a rather isolated area, we still have a close set of friends that are literally available to help anytime we need it. And sometimes that has been in the middle of the night. 

Having such a network helps when it comes to exchanging skills, exchanging and bartering for goods, helping each other with projects, and sometimes just exchanging thoughts and ideas. Not to mention the social aspect. Having a community makes self sufficiency much more achievable, less isolating and makes it much more fun. 

As I like to always say, the best time to make a friend is when you don’t need one. 

Conclusion

As you can see, each of the skills that I mentioned here is something that is attainable for every one of us. Self sufficiency is not a lost skill. Personally, I think it is as important and vital now more than ever. Its just that our modern culture convinces us otherwise because everything is easily available, that is until something goes wrong. 

If you want to learn to be more self sufficient, start small and build your skills one at a time. Yes, self sufficiency is a lifestyle. But it is also a mindset of empowerment, resilience and being in harmony with the world around you. 

In my opinion, if you take the time and effort to build a self sufficient lifestyle, you can create something that aligns with your personal values. You can create self confidence and a great deal of personal freedom. Before you know it you will be living your life exactly the way you want to. 

Management guru Peter Drucker once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Consequently, it naturally follows that is you want to live your life the way you want, create it.