The Self-Sufficient Family Home: Why And How

The speed and intensity of modern life can sometimes make wastefulness a first-hand habit. Plastic packaging, food scraps sent into the trash and carelessness around energy and water usage fall by the wayside. However, the polluting effects of wastefulness have come into stark attention, with pollution blamed for 1.7m young deaths every year, as reported by the World Health Organization. Our wastefulness can have dire effects down the line.

With that thought in mind, you might be questioning how to slow down the family life and make a self-sufficient home. It takes hard work and dedication, but it’s possible – wherever you live.

Producing Your Own Nutrition

Once upon a time, and especially in many European countries, food self sufficiency was the way of life – not the exception. World War 2 in particular ingrained a habit of making the most in many people. However, many people have lost their way in the 21st century. There are plenty of resources online on how to become self sufficient, and they mainly revolve around two main themes: vegetables and livestock. Whilst you may not be able to squeeze a cow in your yard, many families have capacity for a chicken, which will provide years of delicious eggs and, if you’re so minded, meat. When it comes to vegetables, many plants aren’t tough to grow, and will flourish with just water, heat and a little love.

The other bonus to keeping animals is the opportunity to teach your children where their food comes from; and plants can be an amazing learning experience and an opportunity to gain real skills.

Producing Your Own Energy

Producing your own energy has never been easier given the proliferation of new energy techs. Solar panels are popping up even in snowy states, given the invention of new, flexible solar panels, which can be adapted for any situation and capacity. In warmer states, cutting down on your air conditioner usage when possible will enable you to even sell your electricity back to the grid from the sheer amounts made through scorching mornings and afternoons.

Saving Up Water

Making efforts to capture and utilize rain and dew has always been advisable in hotter states. In the rainier systems, this is less of an issue – the amount of groundwater and related means that many citizens of the rainy states won’t collect. However, water collected in a butt – and then appropriately filtered – can reduce nationwide strain during the hotter months.

These are the three basics of self sufficiency; your own food, your own energy and your own water. It seems like a lot to take on when many parents muddle through every day and have a full, child-packed diary. However, with the right determination, it’s easier than it sounds, and the benefits are priceless.