The first approach we’ll consider involves the use of grow lights. While this can be very effective, it also requires a significant amount of electricity which can present a problem in terms of being self sufficient. The advantage, of course is that you can grow pretty much anywhere indoors, regardless of windows or other natural light sources. If you’re off the grid, this option probably isn’t appealing. On the other hand, this is a great way to increase your learning speed as you can continue to gain experience growing year round.

A much better approach which is more consistent with sutainability, is to attach a greenhouse or solarium to your home. This enables you to take advantage of natural light and the heat source for your home. You can start with something simple – like a bay window, or go “all out” with a full greenhouse attached to the house. It may be that you just need a place to start your plants before moving them to the garden.

Want to get started today? Why not begin with sprouting? It’s simple and fun for the whole family as well and offers a great source of nutrition to add to salads and sandwiches. You get results quickly – within days rather than waiting for months. The Sprout Garden 3 Tray Family Sprouting Kit includes sprouter, drainboard, covers, 3 sprouting trays, 2 oz. of certified organic alfalfa seed, and instructions. Once you’ve got the idea, expand your crops and try sprouting beans along with other grains. What’s nice about sprouting is that any window will do – you don’t need any special construction for this form of indoor vegetable gardening.

Have fun!

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Food shortages and extended power outages are just the kind of challenges that self sufficient living protects against. Here’s one more example of the benefits of learning to live off grid, growing vegetables in your own back yard, and simple living. Sustainability is not just a concept for those concerned with environmental issues, it’s something for every family to consider. And what better time than now to get into this, when these things are within the reach of most everyone.

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Neel Kashkari – Former Bailout Chief

Gwendolyn Bounds – WSJ writer/editor

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The only problem with this approach is that there is a real dicotomy between trying to make something sustainable, in the midst of a metropolitan center – the epitome of non sustainablility. Minor interruptions in transportation and natural disasters repeatedly remind us of that. There are different schools of thought on this, but the irony of trying to create a pseudo natural environment in the midst of a concrete forest seems futile.

Why not pursue the real thing – actually living in an environment where sustainability is the norm, not something to be contrived. Families are discovering the benefits of self sufficient living in a rural setting. It takes careful planning and alot of hard work, but those of us doing it will testify – it’s well worth it. You’ll find articles in our blog that can help you start planning and working toward making a change in your life you’ll never regret.

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1. Clean glass canning jars first. Some boil their jars to sterilize, others simply run them through a dishwasher relying on the hot water to do the job.

2. Soak lids and rings in hot water (just under boiling point) for about 20 minutes before use to soften the seal. (Don’t boil them at this point.)

3. Pour hot fruit only a little at a time into the jars to avoid cracking.

4. After the canning process, allow the jars to sit for about 24 hours.

5. Test for proper sealing by pressing gently on the center of the lid after jars have set for at least 12 hours. The lid should not “pop” up and down.

6. After the jars have set for 24 hours, remove the rings and clean the jars to remove any fruit that leaked or spilled out during canning. Food residue left on the outside of the jar in the vicinity of the seal can grow mold which can then migrate into the jar, breaking the seal.

CLICK HERE For a canning recipe for apple sauce.

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America’s Cities are facing a serious crisis – but there is hope for those who prepare. That’s the message of a new movie from Urban Life Video productions. The documentary film makes a compelling case with interviews of authorities ranging from top universities like Harvard to the halls of congress. But it’s not such a gloomy forecast for those who are taking steps toward self sufficient living. You can get more information and even watch the movie for free on the internet by CLICKING HERE.

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While there are various counter top water filters available, we’d like to encourage you to consider the advantages of a Berkey water filter. Whether it’s bacteria, cysts, parasites, or even unwanted chemicals, this filter will bring them to non detectible levels. The Berkey works off of gravity so it does not need water pressure to operate. It is so efficient that it can take non-potable (unhealthy) water and make it safe for your family to drink. Also, because it is free standing, this makes it a great portable water filter as well.

If you’d like more information, go to the Berkey website by CLICKING HERE.

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1. Water

This is the first item because it is such a vital need and one for which so many people depend on municipal supplies. The best and most ideal way to provide water for your family in a sustainable way is from a spring or creek which runs year around. although this is challenging to find, there are still rural properties available which have such surface water sources. The next best choice is a private well, which does involve an upfront investment, but a good well will provide water for decades. If you are not in a position to move to the country yet, it’s a good idea to own a quality water filter so that you could provide your family with potable water in a crisis.

2. Food

The average city has only about three days of food, and when crisis hits, the shelves are emptied in a hurry. Even many people who live in a more rural area depend on grocery stores for food, yet a disruption in the transportation system can quickly result in the same problem – empty shelves in the supermarket. There is no reason why people can’t grow much of their own food – providing they have a place to do it. As this post is being written at the edge of spring, it’s a perfect time to get your garden started. CLICK HERE to read more about garden seed selection. But self sufficient living also involves learning to store food as well. This enables your family to enjoy year-around more of the food you grow yourself. CLICK HERE to check out an excellent website on long term food storage techniques.

3. Warmth

Most people rely on electricity or gas for heating their home. A better alternative is with the use of a wood stove. There are many options when it comes to wood stoves, but we recommend considering a wood cook stove, as this can serve two purposes – both heating your home, and providing a way to do cooking and baking. There are excellent quality wood cook stoves available now, but we recommend the Flame View model which is Amish made and of superior quality. CLICK HERE for more information.

Country Living…

You can see that it is simply a given that country living goes hand in hand with self sufficient living. If you still live in the city however, you can start to put these things into practice. If you desire to move out of the city start putting your mind to work in that direction and ask God for help. With careful research, planning, and help from above – you can make that move.

On this website you’ll find other articles on subjects like solar, hydro electric, and wind power.

There are other things that we can do to become even more self sufficient. For example, we can learn to make our own soap, clothes, lotions and other personal care needs such as natural remedies using herbs. We will address some of these in future posts.

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The story goes on to report dramatic increases in sales of long storing food which began last September, right about the time the real economic crunch hit. Interestingly, Bruce Hopkins, spokesman for Best Prices Storable Foods, told World Net Daily that they were having trouble obtaining No. 10 cans partly because the United States Government was buying up such large quantities. He added that the feds bought most of the freeze dried canned stock from some companies.

The article points out that this “new” preparedness movement doesn’t have the trappings one might expect. Rather than your typical camouflage-loner-survivalist type, the suggestion is that many folks who are now moving toward self sufficient living are your average, everyday Americans that see what’s coming and are simply doing what makes sense.

While I would agree that it does make sense, I can’t help but think about the most important changes this kind of lifestyle has brought to my family. There’s something really enriching about the hard work, planning and preparation involved, as well as getting back to the basics. It’s drawn us closer to each other, and closer to our Maker – and that’s been the biggest blessing of all.

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In our last post we looked at projections made by GEAB about more economic troubles looming ahead. It’s simply logical that such developments will be the hardest on those who have not seen the value of self-sufficient living.

Even more important are the mental and spiritual benefits of a self reliant lifestyle. Here at our mountain home we are surrounded by the beauties of nature – the best place to commune with our Creator. Every day we enjoy food from the orchard or garden and breathe fresh mountain air.

I share these descriptions in the hopes of awakening a desire. If you would like to adopt a more simple, self suffient way of life, there’s no better time to get started than right now. The best place to start is with a garden. Even if it’s a small one, it’s the first step. Perhaps you don’t have a garden area. In that case, start in pots.

If you live in an urban area, begin looking at your options for employment and housing that would allow you to get away from the city and into a more natural setting.

You can also start learning about alternative energy options. (We have several articles posted here and more coming soon.)

For us these changes didn’t all happen at once, it was a step-by-step process that took planning, perseverance, and prayer. If we could do you it, you can too!

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Could GEAB be wrong? Yes, inspite of the fact that their economic projections have been extremely accurate in the past, they could be wrong. If that is the case, it doesn’t change that fact that even if things don’t get worse than they are right now, we are currently in the worst economic crisis of recent history. It also brings into sharp focus that those who start growing their own food, learning and developing alternative energy systems for their homes, and simplifying their lives, will be at a great advantage. In other words, there’s no better time than now to learn about and start practicing self sufficient living.

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While the potential of disaster is certainly a good argument for moving to the country, learning to grow your own food and setting up an alternative energy system, there’s an even better reason for self sufficient living – it’s just a healthier, more sane way to live. CLICK HERE to see the first movie trailer at www.thecitymovie.com.

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While definitions may vary, I think a one-year supply is reasonable. Utilizing a variety of preservation and storage methods, most families can acheive this goal with a little planning and budgeting.

Rather than deal with the topic in depth on this blog, check out http://www.longtermfoodstorageblog.org.

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If you want to save money and are interested in a construction project, you can find plans for building your own system. CLICK HERE to view a sample website with plans and instructions for a rudimentary system. With a bit of ingenuity you could improve on this, but it shows how simple a system can be and still effectively produce a significant amount of hot water.

Here’s a great resource for many aspects of solar power including a chapter on heating water. Click the image or CLICK HERE for more information.

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A simple solar water heating system pumps cold water to a collector and then the heated water flows back to a storage tank. The water pipes in the collector are attached to an absorber plate, painted black to absorb the heat from the sun. As heat builds up in the collector, it raises the temperature of the water passing through the tubes which finally flows to the storage tank. A good system will even heat water on a cloudy day.

The use of hot water solar panels is simple and doesn’t create any pollution. More elaborate systems can even be used to heat a home through the use of radiant heat tubing.

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So here’s the question – is it really practical for families to think about growing their own food?  While it’s unrealistic to think that you will grow everything – fruit, vegetables, grains, etc., you can certainly grow more than you might think. What’s more, you can have enough surplus to share or trade with others who grow the things you don’t manage to produce. To do that will require careful planning, preparation, and yes – hard work.  But those who do it agree that it’s well worth it.

Where do you start? I want to recommend an excellent book written by an expert who’s been growing much of his own food for a long time and making a living with the surplus. I consider The New Organic Grower a must read for anyone who wants to make a serious dent in their food bill, and explore the idea of becoming more self sufficient, perhaps even making some money to boot. The book covers everything from the tools you’ll need, crop selection, planting and crop rotation, and pest control. The beauty of this book is that Eliot Coleman shows you how to have a successful small family farm which can provide both food and a living. With spring just around the corner, it’s not too early to get ready for your garden now.

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Unfortunately, this subject has been presented in an “either – or” way. In other words, it is made to appear that we have a choice to either use pesticides, or go GMO. This approach falls short as there is another alternative – namely the use of harmless yet effective methods of pest control. We’ll look more at that in a future post.  For now, let’s look at another important factor when considering seed selection.

While many popular garden varieties come from hybridized seeds, benefits of hybridization must be weighed against the disadvantages in terms of self sufficient farming. The seeds of hybridized varities are, of course, not viable for reproduction, which for practical purposes makes the farmer dependent upon a seed supplier.

So if we’re looking for non-hybridized and non-GMO seeds, where do we turn? A great source book to find such seeds is the Garden Seed Inventory. This volume also helps the gardener identify seeds which are especially suited for specific climate zones. The Garden Seed Inventory is put out by Seed Savers Exchange, a nonprofit organization committed to saving heirloom garden seeds from extinction. The organization was founded in 1975 by Kent and Diane Whealy, and now has nearly 8,000 members around the world. Its headquarters are at Heritage Farm in Decorah, Iowa.

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Self sufficient living involves many facets including: alternative energy, gardening, food storage and preservation, natural and herbal remedies, and learning to live more efficiently and in harmony with nature. On the self sufficient blog, we’ll be sharing the best resources including books, videos, and other helpful resources. One great place to start is The New Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency. This classic includes 312 pages of helpful information written by a veteran who runs a school of self-sufficiency.

Self sufficient living has had an amazing impact on our family. It’s a very different way of life, but I can honestly say, it’s the most important move we ever made. If all of this sounds good to you but you don’t know how to achieve it, stick around.  If we could do it, so can you!

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