Are you satisfied with your level of self sufficiency? If not, what areas do you need to work on? And what areas have you made progress in?

For me, I need much improvement with all levels, except bread baking. But I just learned of need for self sufficiency in Oct 07 and started to learn about gardening in Feb '08.

When it comes down to brass tacks I have just taken a footstep or two in the direction self sufficiency.

i'd be interested in getting a grain mill and making flour, learning to bake with it,i know how to bake bur only with store bought flour, making soap, solar power hot water, start a serious compost pile.

I am never satisfied with the self-sufficiency I have because you can always learn more. If we knew everything about it, we could earn a living off it. We just strive to get better.

I am off the grid, use solar panels and batteries, I use a solar oven, use gravity flow pressure for water from a spring. I grow a lot of my own food, except for dairy. I use a composting toilet, and I have old cars that I can work on the engines. I fix broken shovels, hoes, trowels so they won't be thrown away. I have kept the same string trimmer going, which isn't an easy feat!! It's a lot of work, but I like knowing how everything works. I like not adding much to the landfill.

Not everyone wants to have to figure out just which animals or insects are now making the phone line buzz funny, and go out in storms with full rain gear to repair where the ants made a nest right on a connection. It's mostly the animals and insects that ruin things, and in the spring are a constant source of concern.

I don't like losing a morning because something major has gone wrong and needs fixing, (although I am reminded again and again to keep it simple!) but when it goes well, which it usually does (partly because we don't have severe weather) it feels very good to understand the science behind these things (which is inevitable in order to fix things).

The one thing I probably do too much is take it all on myself when I should learn to delegate some bigger projects and not work myself until the sun goes down or I run out of energy, whichever happens first :lol:

I'm not even close to being satisfied with my level of self sufficiency. In fact, in the last couple years I've made no progress in that direction.

Hopefully the garden will pan out this year. Drought the last few years has meant I've had to buy everything.

Areas I want to work on: some solar power, having some chickens for our own eggs (but not if I have to buy commercial feed), and of course growing more of our own food and finding a source for decent meat.

Basically we need food, shelter and water. Ask; where do we get these things? For the most part it is very difficult to provide these things yourself unless you belong to a hunter-gatherer society. Lets face it, most of what we have for survival comes in on a truck and is bought with money. If you want to be self sufficient it requires that you be proficient at making money.

I guess if we are not on welfare we are self sufficient.

Until I learn to use this stupid computer and can outwit anything it throws at me, which by the way, is alot of craP ON A DAILY BAsis, f keys included, well, heck! I guess I will never be self sufficent! My son will always have to help me, cuz I can't help myself with this contraption!

And James1, if people are on wellfare, well, that made those guys self sufficent and we pay the bills! Hahahaha They figured out how to use the system, and us dumb asses(tax payers) pay for thier talents!

And save your breath! I'm not blind!

quote:

I guess if we are not on welfare we are self sufficient.

Very good point James.

Still I think there is a whole bunch I can do to reduce the amount of stuff that comes in on a truck that I buy with money.

I feel like I am taking baby steps, but in the correct direction.
*I bake MOST of our bread, but with store bought flour. I did recently find a grain mill at a thrift store for $3.oo. It needs a few small parts, but will still cost under $20 when all is said and done.
* I try to grow many vegetables. Emphasis on TRY.
* I have a small compost bin at the back of the trailer. I have to keep up appearances for the neighbors in the trailer park.
* I collect rain water and (illegally) save gray water for use in the garden.
* I do not use any pesticdes or weed killer in my yard or garden. BUT the handy man does use weed killer. On both.

Could I do more? DUH! Of course I could! But I think these things need to be gradual. Especially when converting the behavior of others. JMHO

april

baby steps for all of us would be wonderful.

I grow a lot for my family and to share.
This year ,I'm trying to share my space with others.

It's really cool to help other folks learn how grow their own food.

quote:

Originally posted by James_1:
Basically we need food, shelter and water. Ask; where do we get these things? For the most part it is very difficult to provide these things yourself unless you belong to a hunter-gatherer society. Lets face it, most of what we have for survival comes in on a truck and is bought with money. If you want to be self sufficient it requires that you be proficient at making money.

I guess if we are not on welfare we are self sufficient.

Thanks for all the replies.

Yes, money helps...but.

My incentive for self sufficiency is based on the trucks not running.

The previous responder with the solar panels and all is at an impressive station of self sufficiency.

The drought sounds scary. If I could not turn on the water faucet all my stuff would be dead too! Luckily in the Ohio Valley we gets pretty good amounts of rain.

Was thinking about rain catchment as an option if ever needed. I only have one 65 gallon barrel and a smaller 30 gallon container as of now.

I guess this brings up the question if your desire for self sufficiency is by design or desire?

Mine is by desire based as of now.

I am troubled about our future our country and the direction the world is headed in.

This may change someday and my interest may turn into a 'design based' need as I have no other alternative.

Hey allenwrench.. What part of the Ohio Valley do you live in that got sufficient water in 2007? WE didn't get sufficient water last year. I do collect all the water I can catch in the garbage cans that I have.

I'm hoping the rain will cooperate this year to make me more self sufficient in the vegetable department.

For me its an on going challenge. I will never arrive and be totally self sufficient. But striving for it I love.
We grow, hunt, gather and have chickens for eggs, meat, manure.
We compost.
We recylce.
I can, freeze, dry.
Collect rain water.
Don't use pesticides,etc...
We burn wood from our land.
Would like alternative energy sources but not feasible at this point.
Changing to non hurtful cleaning compounds.
Working to support us selling food and plants etc...
Lisa

i wont be totaly self reliant untill the corn gets ready so i have a stockpile of zhit paper to stock the out house

quote:

I guess if we are not on welfare we are self sufficient.

I do volunteer work for folks who are on "welfare". What's that supposed to mean? These are people who have no legs, some no hands, and some who are veterans. They are actually pretty good gardeners! One lady is in a wheelchair and has her own website on gardening from a wheelchair.