If you’re like most people, self-sufficiency isn’t something that you aspire to. You don’t wake up in the morning and think “Self sufficiency. That’s what I’m going to do today!” It’s not something that everyone can be, or wants to be (though self-sufficient living is growing more popular). But self-sufficiency is something that everyone can get better at, if they want to. Here we will talk about why it’s important and how you can get started being more self-sufficient in your everyday activities.
What is self-sufficiency and why should you strive for it
Self-sufficiency is a state of being self reliant and not needing help from others to meet your needs. It is a skill that can be learned, and there are many ways to become more self sufficient. You can start by growing your own food, generating your own electricity, and becoming more self reliant with water.
Self-sufficiency is important because it allows you to be independent and in control of your own life. It also ensures that you will always have access to the basic necessities of life, such as food, water, and shelter. And finally, self-sufficiency is a way to take care of yourself and your family in times of crisis or emergency.
Benefits of Being Self-Sufficiency
Not only will you save money but being self-sufficient is a great way to spend more time with your family as well as improve your home’s energy efficiency. In other words, you’re creating a safer and smarter environment for the whole family by focusing on reducing waste, saving water and getting rid of chemicals in favor of fresh ingredients. A few other benefits include:
- You will be much less reliant on the government and other people for assistance in times of crisis, which allows you to make better decisions about your lifestyle.
- It saves you money by allowing you to grow your own food and take care of household repairs by yourself.
- Offers a sense of control over life because you know that you can provide food, water and shelter for yourself and your family in any situation.
Growing Your Own Food
Growing your own food is one of the simplest things you can do to achieve self-sufficiency. You don’t need to start a huge garden or keep bees (although bees are self sufficient too), but you will get valuable exercise, get nutritious foods, and have self respect when you realize how much work goes in to growing food. It doesn’t have to take up all of your time either, but if it does, that isn’t a bad thing.
The best way to get started is to make a list of vegetables you eat on a regular basis, see what can grow in your climate, and then try to plant those first. You can either start with seeds or buy plants that have already started growing, it all depends on your time commitment and how self sufficient you want to be.
Start Composting (for Your Garden)
Composting is the practice of using compost to help plants grow. It involves taking all your food scraps (no meat, bones, or dairy), and allowing them to decompose into nutrient rich soil you can use to fertilize your garden.
Composting helps to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment which is beneficial to plants. The composting process begins with the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. This process releases heat, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. In the presence of oxygen, the microorganisms use these gases to break down the material into simple molecules which can be absorbed by plants.
The end result is a soil amendment that is high in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other micro-nutrients. Compost can be used to improve soil structure, increase water retention, and suppress plant diseases. It is also an effective way to recycle organic waste materials.
Become More Self Sufficient With Water
One of the most important things to self-sufficiency is having access to clean water. In a perfect world, every home would have its own well and pump fresh water from it whenever needed. But if you don’t want to pay for an expensive pump or contracting a company to drill a well for you, there are other ways that you can become self sufficient.
You can start by getting a rainwater collection system, this is a great way to collect large amounts of water and save money on your water bill. And if you live in an area with good soil, you can set up a greywater recycling system which collects used water from showers and bathrooms and then purifies it, making it perfect for gardening and other outdoor uses.
Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies
Why not make your own to save money and the environment at the same time, becoming more self-sufficient in the process. There are many things you can make and use, such as dishwasher detergent, shampoo and conditioner, laundry soap, window cleaner, all purpose cleaner concentrate. All solutions that will help you save money on buying expensive store bought chemicals. You only need a few ingredients like baking soda for example (for your dishwasher), and consider using white vinegar for your window cleaner, it’s just as effective and costs next to nothing.
For instance, one of the best ways to clean your toilet is using a mix of baking soda and vinegar, so mix a cup of each into a bowl then use a couple spoons or a scrub brush to get in there and scrub it down. It’s important not to use undiluted white vinegar on certain surfaces (such as marble) due to its acidic nature. Once you’re done, leave the solution in the toilet and it will work overnight, then flush it down when you wake up in the morning.
Using Salt for self-sufficiency
Keep a bag of salt or two in your home at all times for self-sufficiency. It has so many uses and is a fantastic item to have around the house. For example, sprinkling salt on your windowsills will keep away insects and other pests, and it also works as an effective pest spray because these creatures don’t like the taste of salt (which is also handy in the garden.).
Salt can also be used to create a DIY vaporizer that will help ease cold symptoms. You can also use it for de-icing your sidewalk or driveway as well as your car. Just make sure the solution is not too salty before using it, as this can actually damage your plants.
Use Natural Remedies for Health and Wellness Issues
The natural remedies you can make in your own home are so effective. For example, when it comes to healing wounds and burns, aloe vera is one of the best things that you can use. You can take off a leaf from an aloe plant (simply slice it open) then rub the gel on your wound for instant relief from pain and inflammations. Another great home remedy is a banana peel for acne, simply rub the inside of the peel on your face to reduce blackheads or other skin infections.
There are many other self-sufficiency alternatives that you can use so always try and keep some natural remedies in stock. For instance, apple cider vinegar is another item you should have in your home, whether for cooking or cleaning it’s an inexpensive way to get rid of all kinds of bacteria.
And lastly, one of the best things you can keep in your bathroom is hydrogen peroxide 3%, since this item can do everything from getting rid of stains on clothes or teeth whitening. It’s also great for cleaning your countertops or getting rid of bad odors in the house.
Conclusion: Final thoughts on self-sufficiency
There are many ways to become more self-sufficient in the home and save money while doing so. We hope that this blog has given you some ideas on how you can use natural remedies, cooking with salt, making your own cleaning supplies, or using a rainwater collection system for water savings.
Now that you’re aware of these simple steps, are your ready for a life with less stress? Once you have become self-sufficient, that’s when it finally becomes apparent how much time and money is wasted on all those unnecessary things. It can be an eye-opening experience and give you a real peace of mind!
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