What exactly does that look like?
Honestly, if anyone tries to tell you how you HAVE to do it, be a tad bit skeptical. In my opinion there is no “one-size-fits-all” plan to being more self sustaining. Sure, some of the components are quit similar and many of the ‘list’ may be the same from family to family, but if you’re getting the treatment that you’re not ‘doing it right’ as you embark on this journey, don’t worry. Doing SOMETHING toward being self-sustaining is better than waiting to anything because someone told you the ‘right’ way to do it and now you feel limited.
Some tangible components to consider when moving toward a more self-sustaining life are:
- Heirloom Seeds
- A renewable safe water source
- Shelter
- Energy (Wood, Solar, Fuel)
- Stored food (we suggest real food for health reasons but some MREs for emergency are fine)
Some of the non-tangible items consist of skills:
- Gardening
- Preserving the Harvest (canning, dehydrating, root cellars)
- Alternate cooking (Solar Ovens, Campfire cooking, etc)
- Herbal Remedies
- Sewing
- Hunting
These skills are things that once learned can only increase in value and can never be taken away by circumstances. Our strongest suggestion is to learn these self-sustaining skills now while life is relatively calm. They are enjoyable hobbies with potential pay-off in the end.
No matter what order you plan to become more self-sustainable and less system-reliant, make the plan YOUR plan rather than thinking you have to follow someone else’s road map. You’ll be more likely to enJOY the journey if it is something you feel lead to do.
