Those of us who are getting back to living closer to the earth, back to a simpler life, throw around the term “self-sufficiency” liberally. But what exactly does that mean?
The term implies that you are independent from everyone and do everything yourself. You go out into the deep woods, chop down trees and build a cabin with tools you forged yourself from found metals and/or stone. Then you forage your food, until such time as you can save seeds from edible weeds and begin to plant them yourself, and domesticate squirrels and pigeons for their meat.
You have no computer, TV, radio, telephone of any kind, or motor-powered vehicle, because you can’t make them yourself. And you never read any kind of book, because then, God forbid, you would be learning from someone else.
But what “self-sufficiency” implies and what it actually means in today’s world are two different things. The slow-but-sure growing movement of individuals, couples and families to be more self-sufficient hinges on the desire to be able to take care of one’s basic needs without government or other large organizational interference (such as food and drug companies).
What can self-sufficiency look like?
- Having a backyard garden.
- Learning a trade, craft or art that can allow you to make money without having to work for someone else.
- Homeschooling your kids.
- Living off the grid, using solar, wind and/or water power to run your home.
- Taking a martial arts class.
- Learning how to hunt.
- Running a small farm and selling your produce and meat products at farmer’s markets.
- Walking and bicycling when you can, instead of using gas-powered vehicles.
If you do any of these things, or any combination of them, on a regular basis, you are on the move toward self-sufficiency.
When self-sufficiency becomes the wrong thing to do
If you are developing a more self-sufficient lifestyle because you believe it is the best way to provide a solid future for your family; if you’re doing it because you want to get out of the rat race; if you’re doing it because you enjoy it, or because your personal philosophy of sustainable living compels you to…
go for it!
But if fear is your sole motivation – fear of not having, fear of losing (your job, freedom, etc.) – and you never have any sense of peace or joy about what you’re doing…
you are doing the wrong thing.
Wanting to be able to grow your own food because you will be healthier is a good thing. Doing it because you are in constant fear there may be no more grocery stores tomorrow is not.
My family is making the move toward greater self-sufficiency, and I encourage you to make that move as well. If nothing else, grow a pepper plant in a pot, and see how fulfilled growing part of your salad feels!
Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons: for greater personal freedom, for better health, to make a positive impact on your world. Then, you will be living life to the fullest.
But if you are living in fear, you are not living at all.
