@ Anarko
2025-04-28 22:12:56
🌊 SURF 'N TURF 🏝️
-THE BITCOIN ISLAND LIFE-
https://image.nostr.build/54f677c5b79c4f98689a7285991b86e703510a5d0b6f9d29ffd45099cc19dfbf.jpg
Self-Sufficient Living 101.
Self-sufficiency is a noble and empowering goal. The idea that you can live independently and free from all the costs and limitations of the outside world is both attractive and encouraging. But it comes with a price.
Self-sufficiency is a significant responsibility. It essentially means you’re on your own to provide for everything you need to live safely and comfortably. How self-sufficient you become can vary, but total self-sufficiency takes planning and a careful analysis of everything you'll have to do along with how to do it.
Throughout this article, we’re going to share links to more detailed information and checklists for items to stockpile or assemble. Self-sufficiency isn't easy, but once you understand some of the basic concepts, it gets easier.
Here are the basics:
https://image.nostr.build/404a9335597ccababb9ddf0b572f36af349521625ce82a9d7b844a6b4995a16d.jpg
Power Generation
Solar Generator and Panels
Most people who live self-sufficiently are off the grid. They usually use solar power to generate electricity, but some also use wind power and even small-scale hydroelectric power. They also set up systems to store the power they generate, whether through lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries, or solar power banks.
Getting off the grid is a giant step towards self-sufficiency, but you have to do your homework to assess how much power you need, how you’ll store it, and how to use it efficiently.
Water
Without power you are going to need alternative solutions for water collection and storage. A had pump drilled into the ground is a simple solution. So are rainwater collection systems, RAM pumps on a creek or river, and even snow and ice in winter.
When there’s no power to deliver water, you have to find ways to find, harvest, purify, and store your own. Combining solutions can help, but here again, you’re on your own.
Just as important is proper filtration and purification. It’s not just about collecting water but properly treating it so it’s safe to drink. Boiling for at least 3 minutes is fairly foolproof, but water treatment tablets for immediate purification and long-term storage are just as important.
https://image.nostr.build/c46c33e07a8f28b30011178e19e0d14157b1db7053c1a22ce46efae1dde31aca.jpg
Gardening is an obvious solution, and anyone pursuing a self-sufficient lifestyle is an avid gardener. In fact, a truly self-sufficient lifestyle results in gardens stretching across a property, from vertical gardens to barrel gardens to potato towers.
If there’s a bare plot of land, there’s something growing there that you can either eat or use for medicinal purposes.
This is a complex challenge, It’s not just about bathing, but human waste management, laundry, and general cleaning. And if there’s no garbage service you need to figure out how to deal with anything you have to throw away. Here are the sanitation subsets:
https://image.nostr.build/b4d0140e9bd17e1124242b6805e699be2430a1761b4b915b1a59d6b80bc7d0de.jpg
Bathing
All you really need is a bucket of water, some soap and a towel to take care of some general bathing needs, but there are solar shower setups that can let you take a warm shower outdoors and there’s always that big washtub as an option.
Many wood-stoves have a reservoir attached to the side that can hold and heat up to 30 gallons of water to not only help with bathing but laundry as well.
How to Stay Clean Without Tap Water
Outhouses and Composting Toilets
Many people who live off-the-grid have both an outhouse outdoors and a composting toilet indoors. The composting toilet is nice to have in winter. If you’ve ever sat in an outhouse in January, you know why an indoor toilet option is a good idea.
Laundry
Laundry Drying on Line
There are a variety of ways to do laundry, and most involve nothing more than a wash tub and a washboard. You also need soap and maybe a second tub or 5-gallon bucket for rinsing.
Drying is done on clothes lines but once again, winter presents some challenges. You can make an indoor drying rack that will not only give you a place to dry your clothes. But add humidity to the very dry wood-fired heat.
General Cleaning
A self-sufficient lifestyle is both active and a bit dirty. Eventually you have to wash the floors, do the dishes, and just wipe down counters and cabinets. A bucket and mop is a good place to start but remember that vinegar is a great, natural disinfectant on floors and countertops. A dish rack to allow dishes to dry also makes sense.
Garbage and Composting
You have a few options to consider with garbage. You can burn it, bury it, recycle it or compost it. How you manage garbage depends a lot on where you live, but if you don’t have garbage service you need to improvise.
Recycling aluminum, plastic and other metals is a good idea. If there’s a local store or location that pays you for recycled metals you’re in luck. Worst case scenario is to bury it but few people like the idea. It all depends on your situation and location.
https://image.nostr.build/f2fb3ff65e7f1ea4cf9e91650bd3caec07995553715731b904f7f02135b89315.jpg
Communication
If you have a way to generate power and a satellite Internet connection, you’re in luck. That not only lets you use a laptop to communicate via email and social media, but gives you access to a wealth of information about anything.
A cell-phone of wireless mobile device also makes sense. Whether it’s just keeping in touch with family and friends or having the option to contact emergency services – a cell phone makes sense.
HAM radio is also highly recommended and has historically been the self-sufficient survival communication platform of choice. You need to take some classes and get licensed, but it’s one of the ultimate self-sufficient communication options.
Simpler and more basic solutions fall in the category of CB radios and other two-way radios. If you live on a large property with multiple family members or friends, it makes sense to think about two-way radios as an option. They’re pretty cheap, easy to use and try to power them with solar rechargeable batteries. That just makes sense.
Security
Many off-grid and self-sufficient homesteads are in remote locations. That helps as wild locations present more natural options related to water, firewood, fishing, foraging and hunting. But living in the middle of nowhere has a downside and while out of sight, out of mind is a good idea -remote areas are sometimes vulnerable to trespassers, poachers and others.
Good locks on doors and windows make sense, and a fence can at least discourage trespassing. A chain across the front of long-driveway is standard police recommendation, and having something as basic as a dog in the house can not only deter trespassing but alert you to something going on outside.
Perimeter lighting that’s motion activated and solar powered is another effective security deterrent as well as audible alarms and even motion activated video cameras.
How far you go with personal and property security has a lot to do with your location, the local situation and your personal feeling about security. Here are some links to various subjects related to security for a self-sufficient lifestyle:
17 Home Security Tips for Homesteaders
21 Common Home Security Mistakes
10 Unusual Home Security Tips You Might Not Know
30 Ways To Improve Home Security Right Now
Home Security After The Collapse: The Ultimate Guide
Learning the Skills
Self-Sufficiency Book
You can stockpile all of the equipment and supplies you can think of but what sets apart someone who is self-sufficient is their knowledge and skills. The Internet is a good source of information and there’s no shortage of YouTube videos covering many subjects in depth.
Take the time to learn more, and it also may be wise to put together a library of books on various self-sufficient subjects. If you ever find yourself without power or Internet access it’s good to have a reliable fallback like a good book.
10 Handyman Skills You’ll Need After The SHTF
How to Build the Ultimate SHTF Library
Self-Sufficiency for the 21st Century: The Complete Guide to Sustainable Living Today
It’s a Mindset
Man Leaning on Fence
Self-sufficiency seems to be defined by stockpiling and a good bit of preparation, but it’s really about a way of thinking, Our motivations for self-sufficiency vary. Some of us just are tired of over-paying for utilities and products. Others are genuinely concerned about the lack of goods and services.
https://image.nostr.build/a6c4fbbfdd54ef16385a11a6dd4d103557d11958548fc32a442d0a5306d7ea2f.jpg
Regardless of the reason, a self-sufficient mindset is a source of independence. It's reassuring to know that no matter what may occur, you have the will and the wherewithal to survive and thrive in the best and worst of times. These days it’s hard to know which way things will turn, but if you can keep a focus on self-sufficient behaviors and actions it just makes sense to continue to think and act that way.
Credits Goes to the respective
Author ✍️/ Photographer📸
🐇 🕳️
#Apocalypse #Music #Movies #Philosophy #Literature #scuba #architecture #art