I've been reading a lot of blogs written by people who have chosen a 'self sufficient' life style. I find this very intriguing and although I applaud and appreciate the dedication necessary for such an endeavor, I wonder if it is economically feasible or better to be viewed as mainly a life style choice. As a life-style choice, I would consider it a wholesome fulfilling way to live and bring up a family.
If I were younger and had the option, I think I would choose to live this way. However, it would have to be a 'no-kill' self-sufficiency life-style... which would probably not make it financially sound from the 'waste not- want not' standpoint. But I could see having chickens strictly for the eggs, a cow or goat for the milk and butter, etc. and a huge vegetable garden. I could even see sheep or alpaca for yarn, but the killing part would never happen... And its not that I consider it wrong, I don't. This is the way of the farm or ranch life. It just wouldn't work for me. But I agree that as the old BBC show "Good Neighbors" used to demonstrate, it was a 'good life' although not an easy one.
As I've commented on some of these sites before, you need to be young and strong... and I sometimes wonder when you find time to sleep?
I had friends who lived that life style in the 80's and 90's. It was a lot of hard work. They had really good food, though.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm sure they did. I can remember staying with my Aunt in the summer. They had a farm in Mississippi. Their food was wonderful.
DeleteIt's tempting to me, sometimes, to live "off the grid." But I haven't the skills to do that, or the desire to be removed from all the "creature comforts." I also don't have the energy or stamina, at this age.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could kill an animal myself, but I grew up in the country, several decades ago now, and of course it was common to eat your chickens, raise a steer for meat, hunt moose, etc. We got a lot of meat from neighbours who did just that, and our veggies came from our own gardens.
But in an urban environment, we're far removed from our sources of food.
It's impossible to escape the reality that "life feeds on life," but for me, the issue is more what kind of life our food sources lead before being slaughtered. I'm not a vegetarian, though, which makes me a hypocrite.
BTW, I went vegan years ago, for about 6 months. Gained weight in spite of the crazy exercise because I never could get full eating mostly carbs and fruit (and veggies too, of course). And when I finally went back to eating meat, I absolutely craved pork, ate a porkchop every day for weeks. My body was missing something, obviously.
Now most of my protein comes from dairy--eggs and cheese--but even those have ethical issues.
Might as well just fast till we die, because these days we can't eat anything. LOL.
BTW, my body has great difficulty with ANY grain except white rice (not just gluten), any nut (even peanut butter, etc.) and any seed (even including quinoa). So that doesn't leave much except protein, veggies and fruit.
This is a huge digression from the intent of your post--sorry. I guess I just mean we all have to find the lifestyle and food that works best for our own selves.
And yes, you are right. We do have to find the lifestyle and food that works best for each of us. But I love it that blogging lets us share these things.
DeleteAh, it all sounds appealing until you try to do it, and find yourself working twenty hours a day for no money at all. I figure, you still need a lot of cash to pay the mortgage, see a doctor or dentist, insurance, etc...
ReplyDeleteI suppose that's true. You may manage to feed yourself but you still need money for medical bills and insurance. I personally think its a great life, but its not for everybody. Its a lot of hard work... but for those who chose it and have the strength and stamina to live it, they do reap wonderful rewards.
DeleteHello, Rian, and thanks for dropping by. Interesting topic, this. I have friends who still live moderately self sustaining lives. Between groups of them they trade around a lot of foods, goods and services. Reminds me of back in the sixties. That movement trailed away, too, but did leave some good ideas behind.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Joanne. It is a fascinating topic, and I love reading about it. Our area (which is suburbia... outside Dallas) has started community gardens on empty lots (most run by the churches). In this case I believe most of the produce is given to the needy. But its such a great idea!
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