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What if you could grow your own food, build your own house, and live largely off-grid? That’s a notion that seems to be taking over my mind these days. Some of it may be driven by the recession, but I think there are larger concerns at play.
I’d love to eat fresh, untainted food year-round. And I’ve found lots of satisfaction in assisting with building projects. Living off-grid would mean keeping more money in my pocket for the areas that I can’t manage sustainably (toilet paper, internet access, and doctor bills come to mind). Of course, good old-fashioned barter is also an honorable path to obtain goods and services you can’t produce yourself. And there's always the concept of a co-operative.
The big question, I guess, is exactly why would I want to take on more projects and work than I already have? It would be a lot easier to go out to eat, live in a dwelling with square rooms built by someone else, and just flip the light switch on.
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| Photo by Marianne McTighe Smith |
The last few years, my husband and I have grown some of our own food, and we’ve found it very rewarding. Between the gardening supplies and water bills, I can’t honestly say that it’s cheaper; but it’s fresher, healthier, and insanely gratifying. I marveled at the loofah I grew last summer, and I enjoy cooking with herbs and veggies picked right outside our door. Composting has surprised me by becoming a contemplative practice.
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We’re considering adding laying chickens, milk cows, and more goats to our small farm. But I haven’t quite been able to fully commit. Some days the lure of nearby Center Hill Lake and the need for a serious vacation dominate my thoughts. Milking twice daily and gathering eggs/caring for more critters is not always appealing. Yet I can’t quite picture myself on the lake without a garden or farm animals, either. In a perfect world, I’d find us a farm on the water. But I digress.
Many farmers are turning towards solar power to run their animal operations. It just makes sense. And designing your own dwelling to suit your unique needs and becoming more self-sufficient in the process? Well, that’s something I can get excited about.
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Have you ever considered what self-sufficiency would look like? You don’t have to go whole hog; baby steps can definitely be meaningful. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject.
Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com
That thought just runs thru my head without sticking.....age probably. Now camping for a time--I can still go for that.
ReplyDeleteStingray: I hear ya! If I weren't already tied down, I wouldn't be considering all this. But as long as I can't get away, I might as well eat and live better--at least that's my current thinking. Jury is definitely still out. And getting older does play a factor, as you pointed out. We think about that a lot.
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