going self sufficient

[mimififi]

Hi there,

I am really interested in becomming as self sufficient and enviromentally friendly as possibly but don't feel brave enough to just self up, purchase small holding and install septic tank just yet!

I was wondering if you could recommend some self sufficient-ish measures that I could take in order to ease into the life style gently. I live in a regular house with a medium sized garden. We are not allowed to keep chickens (more the pity) as there is a deed of convenent about this. It is a fairly new house.

Anyone done this lifestyle change? how would you recommend I go about sampling this life? Anyone recommend websites, books, magasines etc....

Any info greatly appreciated. OUr ultimate aim is to move to a larger peice of land and to give up a life of husband commuting to city...but we need to ease in gently I think!

many thanks

mimi

[nickmo]

Buy 'Country Smallholder' or 'Smallholder' magazine for some ideas; have a look at 'Grow Your Own' or 'Kitchen Garden' magazine for veg growing tips.

Go to the self sufficiency site at: http://www.self-sufficient.co.uk/index.htm or the 'sort of' sufficeint info at : http://www.selfsufficientish.com/ for townies to use.

Buy FreeRange magazine - www.freerangemag.co.uk - for info on local farmers' markets and supporting the local economy - talk to producers at f/markets about using spare land for your use; speak to local council about an allotment to get you growing or find the local allotment club - local library will have details. Stack of links off this site: http://www.allotment.org.uk/garden/Self_Sufficiency/index.php

Go greener and see: http://www.greenchoices.org/who.html site for eco friendly tips and info. - energy, food, courses to take etc; and start now on major recycling, composting, and ditching unporoductive flowering plants for a decent veg patch.

Mostly, enjoy the positive change...

[mimififi]

that's an excellent answer, thanks nickmo for all those cool links.

Sounds likeyou are a chap in the know!

:-)

[nickmo]

Hi MF -just keen to support anyone that would like to make improvements.

Grew up on home grown veg and 'proper' food and I really think that as there are so many easy little changes - without as you say turning into 'Tom & Barbara' overnight - that can help your budget, improve health, give you better food, make good positive eco-friendly changes too - without hugging a whale or sleeping outdoors all year round in hand-made felt capes or whatever - and generally give a bit of a lift to how you live, why not try it out?

I have known people go for the smallholding, but not without being quite adept at a whole host of skills. It might be the thing to do a bit of training in various subjects to give yourself a better understanding of the requirements when it suits - there are a few such courses about - on livestock, larger scale fruit and veg growing, poultry keeping, etc etc - and you do have to be able to turn to a lot of DIY type skills too, but start with something manageable in scale and enjoy it.

Lots of people also start up web blogs about their efforts, so if you fancy doing the lifestyle changeing thingy it might be fun to do the blog too - you'll always get good advice and help.

Have fun!

[nickmo]

Oh and should say - if you want green credentials for your sewerage - get a reed bed installed... http://www.reed-bed.co.uk for example and don't forget to go on an agritourism or ecotourism style holiday as well - lets you get to see a country, not just lie on a lounger by a pool with the rest of the hordes...

[Clanad]

Seems we've had a similar conversation in the past, mimi. Best of luck! Firstly, I would begin by making a small, experimental cold frame to try your hand at year round gardening. We're pretty self sufficient here, but that's more due to neccessity that desire! A small cold frame is a minimal investment. You can build a small (3 foot by 6 foot) raised bed garden out 2 X 8's to use as the basis for the cold frame. I could give you all the instructions, but I imagine some of the publications recommended by nickmo will have a discussion. Start small but think big. It's amazing to be eating fresh carrots in January as well as all the other produce you can raise. Perhaps we'll talk more as you progress. Best of luck!

[WendyS]

Hello mimififi - I think it's a secret dream of many of us to do a "Tom and Barbara" but I guess most of us have to compromise, at least at first. We also have a medium size garden. I have a vegetable patch but also grow climbing beans & tomatoes against a fence in one of the borders and intersperse my lettuces, cumcumbers and other veggies in others borders with my flowers so we really get a lot of food from relatively small area. We also have 2 compost heaps, 4 water butts and recycle as much as we can. Alas we also can't keep chickens because of a covenant, but perhaps you could rear rabbits for food?. If you enjoy reading about those who have opted out of the system, I really recommend "The Hovel in the Hills" and "Garden in the Hills" by Elizabeth West, (Paperback by Corgi, last reprinted 1981. ISBN 055210907X about a couple who moved to a Welsh hillside and tried to become totally self sufficient. May be out of print now but try Amazon.
As a preparation for self sufficiency I suspect that a prolonged period of doing without luxuries and putting your savings aside for a future rainy day is probably one essential discipline, to help fund all the things you need to become self sufficient.. Learning carpentry and some electrical skills would help. Did you watch "It isn't easy being Green" on TV recently? . Don't know where in the country you live. If you're in East Sussex, Middle Farm near Charleston Manor on the A 23 run regular poultry keeping courses.

[shaneystar2]

I would love to lead "The Good Life "too !! Even little things can make a difference though and you can get a good deal of satisfaction out of it.
We recycle as much as possible ,have a composter ,I grow lettuce and radishes and runner beans on a wigwam. Have a little greenhouse thing where I grow stuff from seed.A well tended garden is something to proud of even if it is just flowers and shrubs ...at least it's green !
We downsized from London back to Norfolk and although we only have a set income now it is a nice feeling to eat a home grown lettuce or wear a hand knitted garment or send someone a home made card and to have the time to cook from scratch and buy good local produce....and be less stressed !!
Good luck Mimi.xx

[KARL]

Possibly the biggest initial step, if not taken already, would be to simply opt out of being led by advertising and perceptions of what we "need" of consumer goods. Going a bit further and not being ashamed of using and re-using things that others perceive as disposable would be next. Lots of toiletries and fancy cleaning materials are completely unnecessary and a number of simple things (most notably vinegar) will replace many of these at a fraction of the cost and far greener too.

[WendyS]

Karl - couldn't agree more with you on opting out of the consumer-led society. It is enormously liberating not to feel you have to compete at material level with everybody else. I've bought so many bargains from charity shops and car boot sales (no VAT !) and agree with shaneystar that it is immensely satisfying just to step outside into your garden and pick your own fresh food. I also enjoy cheating the gas board by putting on an extra fleece instead of turning up the thermostat.

Mimififi, if ever you have a chance, visit the Centre for Alternative Technology in North Wales. Haven't been for many years but if you're interested in self-sufficiency it's a fascinating place, built in a large disused quarry. Which is going to lead me to post another question in People and Places about what it is like now.

[nickmo]

Hi Mimififi - have a look through some of the links here as well - http://www.acountrylife.com/index.php and check the forums and links as well should be something of interest - check the courses info.

WendyS - not the one you mention but here's a guy thats done the deed : http://www.konsk.co.uk/index.htm

[mimififi]

I would just like to say a big thankyou to all who have helped me in this question. I am very grateful. I am sorry that I have taken so long to reply; my pc broke down (thoughmore user error than technological deficiency!) and I have been unable to log on.

I will try all the things thathave been suggested. I now have runner beans, tomatoes, radish lettuces and corgettes in the garden and if I manage to control the slugs, I might even get some produce! I am looking into some fruit trees although it will be a while before they establish I assume, and will begin thinking about my winter veg.

I have already started to downsizemy life and feel better for it and the kids have enjoyedit too. Ipray that myhusband sees the benefit and begins to question his journey to the city everyday and what things he maybe missing out on in this pursuit. Maybe soon we will both sing from the same songsheet? That would be nice.

[mimififi]

p.s I didn't mean for that last comment tocome across like thatat all! I just meant that he feels very scared at just changing everything we have ever known andworked for and as the breadwinner, the prospect of jeapardisingour stability is overwhelmingly scary.

Also sorry abou the ridiculous typing. I spilled a cup of teain my keyboard today and now all they keys are sticking. It is very irritating!

[KARL]

Yes, mimififi, you remind me that the job treadmill is one of the most awful peer pressure points for the majority of people. I am fortunate to work in a field where there is much demand (well, easily enoght for me) for my input but for approaching two decades now I have stubbornly decided when I feel like accepting another commitment or not. I once met a colleague/friend who is similarly placed and when asked I told him my last job was finished. He nearly had to be taken to hospital for treatment of palpitations etc. when, on his further question, I said I was not looking for or in any hurry to find another job. Reality of survival aside, this fear is encouraged by lots, but it is maintained by the individual in question. I wish you and your family the very best of luck and much happiness. The best way to ensure it is to find peace of mind. I know someone who I fear will never be happy - somewhere there will always exist money that he/she (not telling which so as not to suggest this is gender dependent) does not own.

[mimififi]

you're right; we can always buy more clothes more shoes, more stuff for the house, but we would never be saited.