SELF SUFFICIENCY

Self sufficiency doesn't have to mean you need to own a smallholding. It can start with as little effort as growing herbs or salad veg in a window box or patio pots and lead to as much or as little as you want in the way of growing your own food. It can in incorporte animals in the process, by way of a trio of chickens up to growing your own turkey or goose for christmas, and if you have time or space you can expand into growing your own fruit or having a small flock of sheep too.

Foraging for food in safe hedgerows can also provide you with free puddings, jams and preserves for using over a matter of months. Self sufficiency isn't either just about what you have room for in the land outside your home. There is much to be learnt from what you can achieve from within the home too. Cooking your own meals in large batches and freezing, making soups from vegetables that would otherwise go to waste and freezing for another day. Storing eggs when you have a glut, or turning them into cakes and deserts when they are fresh and putting them into the freezer ready for Christmas or a sunday pudding. It is rewarding, much cheaper, and just as good, to make your own household products and even some cleaning and body products too.
 
If you prefer, you can save on somethings and still splash out on others. The idea of becoming more self sufficient entirely depends on what you want it to be based on how much time you have to throw at it, how much money you want to save and how much pleasure you will get out of 'mend and make do' attitude as well as the fruits of your labours being rewarding from the fact you produced it and more importantly you made it happen.

Self Sufficiency

If you would like to follow our self sufficiency journey then follow us on Twitter. So far I've rambled mainly about things that have happened over winter but will offer advice on all the things we have found worthwhile, when we are doing things on the plot, in the garden or with the animals over the coming months.

I can offer advice on how to start small and develop and grow along the way. Talk about challenges we have had, the enjoyment when plans come together, what is worth putting effort into whilst also highlighting elements of things we tried and found unsuccessful or too time consuming.

Hopefully it will give you a headstart when you embark on your road to self sufficiency plus support you along the way.