A self-sufficient lifestyle does not mean that you have to have thousands of acres somewhere in the middle of nowhere. A self-sustaining life outside the system can happen no matter where we are. In fact, a self-sufficient life has more to do with our way of thinking rather than our surroundings.
How to make money by being self-sufficient?
I will explain what I mean here. Last winter, I spent the weekend at a Missouri farmer’s house. He and his wife spent countless hours that weekend giving me reasons why sustainable, off-the-grid farming is a thing of the past. They were surrounded by 140 hectares and not one of them produced a thing for them.
On the other side of the coin, I have met many people who live in a self-sufficient way outside the system, they live using what they have and sometimes that means they only have a balcony or a lot of 300 m2 or less.
The biggest obstacle our family has to be self-sustaining is money. Like many others, we have bills to pay and land payment to make. Even when we are debt free, there will still be property taxes and general payments to keep. Although the whole point of self-sufficiency has to do with reducing consumption, the reality is that we will always need some type of income.
So how do you make money living a self-sufficient life outside the system?
Starts immediately with:
- Reduce maintenance costs.
- Consume fewer commercially prepared products.
- Minimize possessions.
- Reduce your living space.
This can be accomplished through a variety of means. Perhaps by turning off the TV, rethinking those objects that you now consider “necessities”, selling everything that has not been used in a year or more, and / or by reducing your living space. By doing these few things, you will save a ton of money in multiple areas (e.g., utility costs, heating, cleaning, cooling).
Then start generating income through:
- Follow your interests and do what you love– Before doing anything else, do what you love and the provisions will follow. Steve Jobs said that he would look in the mirror every morning and ask himself: “If today was the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am going to do today? And every time the answer is ‘NO’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”
- Eat from your garden and sell the rest –Use every square inch of your property for production. Focus on planting perennials that come back year after year and require little care (e.g., nuts, fruits, berries, etc.) Gather supplies for your family and sell the rest for profit. Consider joining a local farming community as a grower or selling at a farmer’s market.
- Sell your free-range hens’ eggs– A very easy way to get a big bang for your buck. There are farmers who are making a good profit raising and selling pasture eggs.
- Start a farm school– You can do it on a plot or even in an urban / suburban setting. Open your house to teach people the old ways of doing things. There has been a huge gap in knowledge. The wisdom that was once passed down from generation to generation has been lost in many respects. People are eager for a revival of traditional knowledge.
- Turn your crafty skills into a profitable business– Make candles, soaps, lotions, homemade / repurposed clothes. This list is endless and has everything to do with number 1: doing what you love. Etsy is a great way to promote your stuff to a wide range of people.
- Write– Begin by chronicling your interests. Use social media to your advantage. Create a blog (Blogger, Word Press, Tumblr, etc.) Start a hub page. Become a member of Stumble Upon. I promise you; someone will find your thoughts valuable.
- Farm as a Vacation Destination– If you are one of the lucky ones to own a small or large farm, consider opening a part of it as a vacation destination, perhaps ecotourism?
Creating ways to decrease our consumption and increase production is the only useful method to move towards a self-sufficient life and your own independence. Self-sustaining living has to do with reducing our dependence on another person to meet our needs.
Consider what makes you feel alive. Stop limiting yourself. Go for it! Share with us where you are on your journey towards self-sustainability
