How to Become Self-Sufficient at Home
- 1). Start your own home-based business to supplement, then replace your income. You will rely on yourself for your income and eliminate the possibility of being laid off or fired from your job.
- 2). Grow your own food. Plant a vegetable garden with non-hybrid vegetables that produce seeds, and save the seeds for the following year. Use square-foot gardening techniques to utilize space effectively. Plant herbs and fruit trees. Raise animals such as chickens, pigs and cows for meat, eggs, milk, cheese and butter. Build a pond in your yard and raise fish. Grow grain to feed your animals.
- 3). Create a compost heap in your yard and use your own compost, or use free manure to enrich your garden's soil.
- 4). Preserve excess food and store it for winter. Bottle, dry or freeze vegetables and fruits while they are in season. Dry, freeze or smoke meat and store it in vacuum-sealed bags.
- 5). Raise a bee colony to pollinate your garden and make honey. Honey will not spoil and can be used in place of sugar.
- 6). Use natural power to provide heat and energy for your home. Collect and cut firewood, install solar panels and build a windmill to provide hot water, heat and electricity. Use geothermal technology to heat and cool your home.
- 7). Sew your own clothing. Purchase patterns and fabric, or raise sheep for wool and spin your own yarn.
- 8). Make your own soap, laundry detergent and other cleaning products from household ingredients such as baking soda and vinegar.
- 9). Reserve rainwater from the gutters on your home for use in your garden and lawn.
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Trade goods and services with neighbors, family members and friends. - 11
Complete necessary maintenance on your cars and home whenever possible. Learn to change the oil and tires on your car and perform your own electrical and plumbing work in your home. - 12
Walk or ride a bicycle to avoid unnecessary fuel costs. - 13
Conserve energy. Turn lights and appliances off when not in use. Set your thermostat higher in the summer and lower in the winter. Dry your clothes on a line outside instead of using a dryer; wash dishes by hand instead of running the dishwasher. Plug electronics into power strips and unplug the power strip when the equipment is off.
