| This subject is on my mind quite often these | | | | There are many resources available online to help |
| days. With an uncertain dollar, strained international | | | | you plan a garden and grow more food and |
| policies, and all manner of trouble around the | | | | better food. I would like to point out that while |
| world, being self-sufficient is something I would like | | | | fresh produce is great, remember to grow items |
| to achieve someday. Many people have a | | | | that can be stored for long periods of time or |
| distorted view of what this means. Perhaps | | | | that can be canned well. These can include |
| thoughts of living on a mountain top and never | | | | carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, apples, etc. |
| showering, a solar panel on the roof of your small | | | | Set aside a cool dry place for long term food |
| shack, and little contact with the outside world | | | | storage and consider an extra freezer, keeping in |
| come to mind. Nothing could be further from the | | | | mind its energy needs. Plan for easy access to all |
| truth. | | | | of your plants and use some form of weed |
| There are several aspects of life that all fall into | | | | control other than pulling. Weed pulling can never |
| categories which need to be addressed in order | | | | be completely avoided and I have never met |
| to be self-sufficient. The first few that come to | | | | anyone who really enjoys it, so do what you can |
| mind are, of course, food, water, energy, shelter, | | | | to keep it to a minimum. Gardening can be very |
| and the like. I would like to suggest that one of | | | | enjoyable, gratifying and another great learning |
| the biggest, most often overlooked aspects of | | | | experience for kids. |
| being self-sufficient is your finances or, more | | | | People with little or no land can still garden on a |
| directly, debt. No matter how energy efficient I | | | | small scale. Container gardening has become quite |
| make my house or how much food I grow, no | | | | popular in recent years. Just about anything you |
| matter what I do, if I have people knocking down | | | | can plant in a pot will do. Once again, do your |
| my door wanting my car, house, credit card | | | | research and plan ahead to maximize your space. |
| payment and blood, the steps I have taken will | | | | Don't bite off more than you can chew or it will |
| not avail me much. | | | | become frustrating and discouraging. |
| While most of us cannot afford to pay off our | | | | Energy is the last topic I am going to take on. We |
| house in a hurry, let alone all at once, there are | | | | use energy every hour of the day. In the past |
| several steps you can take to put yourself in a | | | | people had different expectations of how life |
| safer position. The first and most obvious is live | | | | should be. Today, however, we have grown |
| within your means. If you don't have an extra | | | | accustomed to our comforts and most of them |
| fifty bucks to go out to dinner, then don't put in | | | | come with an energy cost, making it is necessary |
| on the Visa. Stay home. I know this is hard for | | | | to plan for our potential off-grid needs. While |
| some, but it is a step that will make a huge | | | | most of us will keep using traditional power |
| difference. Don't spend what you don't have. | | | | service, it is important to assess what you will |
| The next thing to do is pay down or pay off | | | | want to have available if that service is |
| your debts. I am not a financial adviser, CPA, or | | | | interrupted or cut off. Another less dire way to |
| accountant, but I have done my research and it | | | | look at this is: how much money do you want to |
| only makes sense. Pay down the account with | | | | save on your power bill each month? |
| the highest interest rate first. Pick one credit card, | | | | I have written on alternative energy solutions |
| car payment, or loan and focus on eliminating it. | | | | before. I will take the time here to point out that |
| Obviously you have to keep making payments on | | | | both commercial and DIY solutions are available |
| all of your obligations, but if you have any extra | | | | for solar, wind, and hydroelectric power |
| put it in the same place each time. It will feel good | | | | generation. If you decide to go the DIY route |
| to see that debt shrink and will encourage you to | | | | don't try to power your whole house on Day |
| stick to the plan. | | | | One. Move in stages and use guides to simplify |
| Once again, you don't have to be a CPA to know | | | | the process. |
| that saving is a good idea. Even fifty dollars a | | | | In the same vain, we all like to be warm, and |
| month in a bank savings account is better than | | | | while one could be self-sufficient by wearing a |
| nothing. If you are able, look for higher yield CDs | | | | jacket, I recommend planning for some heat. |
| or money market accounts. Personally, I would | | | | Don't plan on using your electricity for your |
| have nothing to do with the stock market right | | | | primary heat source. Even with the most efficient |
| now, but if you must, be cautious and never | | | | technologies heating is an energy hog. The two |
| invest in something you know nothing about. For a | | | | best things you can do for your independent |
| worst case scenario, consider gold or some form | | | | heating system are insulating your house and |
| of a tradable commodity. Lastly, wherever you | | | | using wood. Have an energy audit done. Plan to |
| decide to put your money, remember: diversify | | | | add insulation where it is needed and fix leaks. |
| and never put all your eggs in one basket. Ever | | | | This will help your energy bill now and your |
| heard of Bernie Madoff? | | | | self-sufficiency plan in the future. Outdoor wood |
| Now let's look at some of the things that are | | | | furnaces are a great way to heat with wood. |
| more commonly thought of when self-sufficiency | | | | They work by heating water, which is then |
| is discussed. I'll start with food. Depending on your | | | | pumped throughout the house and used for |
| location, you may be able to do more or less. I | | | | radiant heat. This can be done within a forced air |
| live in the country, so we have some chickens | | | | system as well but is less efficient that way. |
| and we're looking at getting some other livestock. | | | | Wood furnaces are quite efficient and often only |
| Now this may not be for everyone, and if you | | | | have to be filled once a day. Not only do they |
| live in an apartment there is just no way. | | | | heat your home, but they also provide hot water. |
| For those who have even a small amount of land | | | | One other system to consider is geothermal. A |
| I recommend starting out with chickens. You | | | | geothermal system works by removing heat |
| order them as baby chicks and they are great | | | | from the ground then transferring it into the |
| fun to watch. Building a chicken coop or cart is an | | | | house just like a standard heat pump. The |
| easy project and can be a good learning | | | | difference is that the ground stays at a constant |
| experience for children and adults alike. I could | | | | temperature of around 56-57 degrees. That is |
| ramble on for pages about care and breeds, but | | | | warm in the winter and cool in the summer, so |
| that is outside the scope of this article. Do your | | | | the exchanging system has to do less work. |
| own research and make an educated decision. For | | | | These systems are very efficient and costly, but |
| those who are interested, we have Buff | | | | don't require splitting wood. |
| Orpingtons. As with many things, there are pros | | | | I have touched on many things that can be done |
| and cons to having livestock, the biggest problem | | | | to move towards self-sufficiency. When pursuing |
| being that animals take a lot of work. I | | | | this goal I recommend careful planning and a lot of |
| recommend livestock only for those who are | | | | research. I have linked to several helpful sites and |
| serious about being completely self-sufficient and | | | | resources throughout this article and am sure that |
| live where it is possible. As far as meat goes, | | | | with the help of Google you can find a wealth of |
| remember that hunting is an option if your | | | | knowledge. Have fun and keep in mind that living |
| location permits. | | | | self-sufficient is not just a thing you do, it's a |
| Gardening is a much simpler task to start with. | | | | lifestyle. |