26 Ways On How To Become Self-Sufficient

1. Grow your own garden

Growing food in your own backyard can save you more money like cutting the cost of your groceries or you can avoid on eating out. The cost of fuel these days are increasing rapidly which affects the cost of food. Families with the average income will be the ones who will be affected the most with these price increases.

If you don’t have a space or a wide backyard to grow your own food, don’t worry because there are ways wherein you can grow your own food even if you have a small space.

2. Grow herbs

The cost of both fresh and dried herbs in the grocery store is too high, and most people just can’t afford them. You don’t need to have a wide space backyard to grow an herb garden. You can grow herbs in small spaces or in pots and containers and they are very easy to grow.

3. Grow perennial food plants

Grow perennials so that you will have a good source of food each year. Some perennials that you can grow are artichokes, asparagus, Jerusalem, rhubarb, and strawberries.

4. Grow soft fruits

Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are soft fruits that you can grow in small spaces and you will have a good source of fresh and tasty fruits each year.

5. Plant fruit trees

There are few fruit trees that you can grow without taking up too much space. All you need is to train and learn how to prune them properly. These fruit trees can give you a bountiful of produce in just a few years.

6. Save seeds

Buy open-pollinated heirloom seeds and learn how to store them properly. You can also save the seeds of your produce this year to be planted next year. In this way you don’t have to buy new seeds every planting season and you can save more money too.

7. Preserve your food through dehydrating

Dehydrating food is very easy, all you need to do is get a dehydrator. You can dehydrate eggs, you can make jerky and fruit roll ups, and many more.

Fruits are good for young and old people and you can make a tasty snack out of them. Most places in the country have orchards and these are the perfect places to buy fruits for a low cost.

8. Can your food

Now that you have your own garden and you’re harvesting too much more than what your family needs, it is important to know the different ways on how to preserve your food to avoid wasting them. One way of preserving food is by canning. Preserving your food will make your produce last longer.

9. Raise livestock

If you still have a little more space left in your backyard, you can raise a few chicken or rabbit in here. Raising chickens in your backyard will give you a fresh supply of eggs and you can use chicken manure to fertilize your garden. Chickens can also help you get rid of garden pests by eating unwanted insects.

10. Start your own apiary

You can start your own apiary, even just a small one. Bees are the number one pollinators of plants. They can make your crops healthy by pollinating them. They produce fresh honey and beeswax in which you can use to make soaps, candles, and many more.

11. Learn how to make dairy products

Dairy products are easy and fun to make in the kitchen. You can make butter, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt with your kids. In this way they can learn how to make their own food in a fun and enjoyable way.

12. Learn how to grind your own flour and learn how to bake

You can buy grinders on the market and use them in turning wheat berries into whole flour or grind your own cornmeal.

Wheat berries will have a long shelf life if you store them properly, and they contain more nutrition than the processed flour you are buying commercially.

Now that you know how to make your own flour, you should also learn how to bake your own bread. Learning the different ways on how to make your own food can be useful especially in survival situations. Acquiring food during these situations is very hard, knowing how to make your own food using the resources that you have can be a big help for your survival.

13. Cook your own food

As much as possible avoid eating on restaurants, fast-food chains, etc to save more money. Having a garden is great because you can easily pick up your food and cook them. You can learn different dishes on cook books, cooking shows, and even online all you have to do is do a little research.

14. Don’t waste food

Stop wasting food. Avoid throwing away leftovers. Make sure that you only cook what you and your family are able to eat. Don’t cook too much food that you’ll end up throwing away.

15. Turn your waste into compost

Turn your food waste, leaves, news papers, cardboards, weeds, grass clipping, and others into compost for you to use in your garden. If your compost pile has a disgusting smell, it only means that you’re doing it wrong.

16. Learn different things to acquire food

Fishing and hunting are the easiest ways to acquire food; all you have to do is to learn how to do them. You need to learn these skills because you can use them during a SHTF scenario. You will have a great chance of survival when you know some skill for acquiring your own food.

17. Collect rainwater

One of the best ways of water procurement is to collect rainwater from your roof. You can use the water that you collect in watering your garden or giving it to your animals for them to drink or you can use it in an emergency situation.

However, collecting rainwater is now illegal in many states.

Learn more about the rainwater harvesting regulations of each state.

18. Look for other sources of energy

Wood stove is a good example of an alternative energy source. Having a wood stove can help you save up on your heating bill and you don’t have to depend on foreign oil.

19. Make your own beverages

Beer, cider, and wine are simple and easy to make. Making these beverages will only cost you a fraction of the price when you buy them on stores. Carrots, pumpkins, and tomatoes are some things that you can turn into wine.

20. Learn how to make your own soap

Soaps such as hand soap, dishwashing detergent, and laundry soap are easy to make. Making them will only cost you some pennies compared to the high cost of the soaps that you can buy commercially.

21. Start your own worm farm

Worms can help you in many ways like they can help you compost and enrich your garden soil. You can also make a fertilizer tea using these worms and use it in your garden. If you want to make some extra cash, sell your worms to sporting good stores and fishermen.

22. Set up a smoker

You can smoke your cheeses, meats, and veggies to add a flavor to them.

23. Cut your own hair

Cutting your own hair is a simple way to save more money. You can save up to $20 per month just by cutting your own hair.

24. Don’t throw things that you can still re-purpose

Before throwing some things you need to think if you can still use them for other purposes. In this way you can save on trash bill and you don’t have to buy something new.

25. Live debt free

As much as possible you should try to live free from debt. Don’t use credit cards with high interest rates. Save money for future use and make a budget plan.

26. Dry your clothes naturally to save money

Electric dryer is one of the main causes why you are paying a high electric bill monthly. If you want to cut your monthly electric bill, set up a clothes line and hang your clothes there to dry.