subject: 4 Ways To Become Self Sustaining [print this page] 4 Ways To Become Self Sustaining 4 Ways To Become Self Sustaining
With the state of the economy these days, more every day people are attempting to become more self sustaining and to do that they turn to raising animals and growing vegetables.
Becoming more self sustaining can usually be accomplished in a variety of ways. If you are like a large percentage of people, you are looking for even a few ways to be able to provide for your family without having to depend on others. Many people don't know that you can become more self sustaining simply by growing your own vegetable garden or raising a small flock of backyard chickens for eggs.
Other folks that make a decision to become more self sustaining are dedicated to doing even more and decide that they want to do more than have a little backyard vegetable garden and a small flock of egg laying chickens. For those of you who have even five acres, you will have the ability to plant rows and rows of tomato plants, pepper plants, corn, beats, green beans, potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce and anything else that you have the room and desire to grow. You can preserve some for your family to eat during the winter and you can take your extra vegetables to a local farmers market to sell the remainder of your bounty. This allows you to earn a little extra money and supply all the vegetables you and your family can eat and be very self sustaining.
Having a few acres also allows you to raise a large flock of backyard chickens for egg laying and for meat. If you have the desire, you can also raise rabbits, goats, piglets and a steer or two for meat. Goats and a milk cow will also keep you and maybe even your neighbors in plenty of milk.
You won't get wealthy this way because it will cost you to feed these animals and you will have to invest your time to properly take care of them. But simply being more self sustaining and not being dependent on others to provide your basic food needs is a great feeling. You also know where your food has been before it hits your table, who has touched it and what it was fed before it was slaughtered. All of this adds peace of mind in an increasingly chaotic society.
If you decide to go the chicken route to become more self sustaining, you will need a strong, predator proof chicken coop and chicken run. If you decide to keep goats, your hen house will also have to be goat proof or your hens won't have any food to eat! There are tons of designs and chicken coop blueprints online.
