The Myth of Self Reliance A mass emailing went out a while back from a prominent permaculturist looking for “projects where people are fully self sufficient in providing for their own food, clothing, shelter, energy and community needs. . .” There it was, the myth of “fully self sufficient,” coming from one of the best-known permaculturists in the world. In most US permaculture circles, the idea that anyone could be self sufficient at anything past a very primitive level was abandoned a while ago, and the softer term “self reliant” replaced it. But even self-reliance is barely possible, and, other than as way of expressing a desire to throw off the shackles of corporate consumerism, I don’t think it’s desirable. I took a Googling cruise around the internet and found that “self sufficient” shows up as a desirable goal on several top permaculture websites. I’d like to hammer a few coffin nails into that phrase. I hear people say they are growing 30%, 50%, even 70% of their own food.
Self-Suffiency Self-sufficiency is a good way to reduce pollution while saving money. The only drawback is that it takes time, but you will get much pleasure. Benefits More time with family - for example, you can cultivate the garden together, you save money by doing things yourself, you get good exercise by doing things yourself. Anyone can become more or less self-sufficient; the only thing required is time and work. Food - you can grow your own vegetables. Electricity - small wind turbines and solar cells can make a person or household self-sufficient in electricity. Heat - solar can provide free hot water from approximately April to October in Denmark. Moreover - you can collect the wild foods such as fruits and berries. Links Self-Sufficient Farm Solar Haven Backwoodshome Google Video Folkecenter
Practical self sufficiency through food skills. Living Primitively The Self Sufficient Blog The Self Sufficient Blog is my mini-journal about self sufficent farm living. It... -- keeps you up-to-date on new information and what others are doing to become more self sufficient. ---New methods and creative approaches to farm living. -- keeps you up-to-date with other postings or news about self sufficient farm living --Join my blog and become more self sufficent by clicking on the orange button to subscribe. Self Sufficient Living There is nothing like the feeling of self sufficient living. Continue reading "Self Sufficient Living" The "Ah ha" Moment Here I am, 54 years old. Continue reading "The "Ah ha" Moment" Aquaponics Systems Aquaponics systems, simply put, is an agriculture ecosystem where plants and animals co-habitat in a cultivated water environment. Continue reading "Aquaponics Systems" Homemade Solar Panels People are successfully making homemade solar panels that perform and look better than manufactured panels. Continue reading "Homemade Solar Panels" Farms R Us
Survival Garden, Be Prepared For Disaster or Food Shortage Emergency Growing A Survival Garden May Soon Become A Necessity! Have you considered that... survival gardening may soon be a true matter of survival and not just a choice? With the rapid decline of our financial system and food supply, grocery store produce and other products, may soon be at a crisis level shortage like we have never seen. At that point, gardening would no longer be a "choice" for a more self sufficient lifestyle, it would be a matter of survival for everyone! This scenario is fast-becoming very probable and real. With the costs of living rising all the time, you can see the practical benefits of growing your own garden... you can save money, increase your family's health, and become more self sufficient all at the same time by growing vegetables in your backyard. Take advantage of whatever garden space you have, even if your garden may not provide all the food that you need, it will have a dramatic effect in reducing your food bill. 1. Small Garden Space All Seeds are NOT alike...
DIY: How to Make Endless Hot Water Without Electricity Using some recycled parts and a small rocket stove you can heat and pump all the hot water you will ever need without power. This ingenious technique utilizes thermal siphon pumping to move the freshly heated water into the reservoir. Image:YouTube hot waterOff Gridsustainabilityvideo Related Posts « Subterranean Ant Cities are Far More Complex than Anyone Thought Possible Teacher Crosses The Line with “Urgent Notice” Sent Home to Parents »
Institute Self-reliant living in the 21st Century - productivity, creativity, sustainability at Judy of the Woods Rise Of The Preppers: 50 Of The Best Prepper Websites And Blogs On The Internet Are you preparing for the collapse of society? If so, the truth is that you are definitely not alone. The number of preppers in the U.S. has absolutely exploded in recent years. It has been estimated that there are now approximately 3 million preppers in the United States, and “Doomsday Preppers” is currently the highest rated show on the National Geographic channel. In fact, you could be living next to a prepper and never even know it. So what are all of these people prepping for? Well, the truth is that no two preppers have the exact same motivation. Whatever the motivation, it is undeniable that the prepper movement has gotten very large and that it continues to grow. In fact, there was a recent article in the New York Times about preppers that was actually written by a prepper entitled “The Preppers Next Door“… PREPPING IS THE BIG SHORT: a bet not just against a city, or a country or a government, but against the whole idea of sustainable civilization. And that is exactly right. 1.
How to Sharpen Tools: The Family Handyman Sharpening your tools Years ago, I drove by a storefront with a hand-painted plywood sign. It read “Tool Sharpening.” Curious, I gathered a boxful of dull old handsaws and circular saw blades in my garage and carried them up to the store with the hope of getting them sharpened. Inside I saw a lean old fellow with wisps of gray hair curling from the backside of an old hunting cap. A week later when I walked into the store, he asked me what my name was and started rummaging through a pile of bags and boxes. The next day I gathered my garden tools and brought them down to the same shop. A moment passed, then he looked me in the eye and said, “Why don’t you do it yourself?” That afternoon changed forever how I look at tools. Do It All with Three Simple Tools A Grinding Wheel, a Mill File and a Sharpening Stone You can sharpen most garden tools with a simple 10-in. mill bastard file (Photo 5). A grinding wheel (shown in Photo 4) is good only for removing larger amounts of steel. 1 of 7 2 of 7
Home Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Maslow wanted to understand what motivates people. He believed that individuals possess a set of motivation systems unrelated to rewards or unconscious desires. Maslow (1943) stated that people are motivated to achieve certain needs. The earliest and most widespread version of Maslow's (1943, 1954) hierarchy of needs includes five motivational needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. This five stage model can be divided into basic (or deficiency) needs (e.g. physiological, safety, love, and esteem) and growth needs (self-actualization). The deficiency, or basic needs are said to motivate people when they are unmet. One must satisfy lower level basic needs before progressing on to meet higher level growth needs. Every person is capable and has the desire to move up the hierarchy toward a level of self-actualization. The original hierarchy of needs five-stage model includes: 1. Maslow posited that human needs are arranged in a hierarchy: The expanded hierarchy of needs: