What is self-sufficiency?
It's about self-sufficiency to be independent, from supermarkets, large manufacturing companies and consortiums and to be able to supply themselves in material terms – from food to clothing to housing. Not just being a consumer, but being a producer.
Self-sufficiency today does not have to mean doing everything yourself from A to Z. For many, the food supply is an important point in self-sufficiency, even if electricity is not self-produced or the house itself was built.
Now not everyone owns a house outside the city or a plot of land that is large enough to keep farm animals. You don't have to! Self-sufficiency is also possible in smaller and especially in everyday life. We present 8 ways.
Self-sufficiency: 8 tips for everyday life
1. Grow vegetables
Even grown vegetables don't have to be a dream just because you live in an apartment as an urban plant. A (small) balcony or terrace is very helpful, but you can also plant herbs on the windowsill! You can use these vegetables e.g. B. move on the balcony:
2. Make products yourself
You don't need your own grain fields or a dairy cow to be a bit more independent. Many foods can be made from a few basic ingredients without any questionable additives from industry:
How to make yeast yourself:
3. Preserve
Too much food bought or grown on the farm cannot always be consumed immediately. Instead of leaving them to their fate, there are ways to preserve them and use them when needed. 4 methods to preserve food:
4. DIY cosmetics
If you make your own cosmetics, you are no longer dependent on which shop has your favorite lotion in stock – you simply do it yourself! And many basic ingredients can be used for various DIY cosmetics and care products, here you can find inspiration:
5. Make household items yourself
What applies to cosmetics and food can also be used for everyday items:
6. Repair instead of buying new
Also a kind of self-sufficiency: repairing things instead of buying something new. Conserves resources and saves money! Those who are not adept at craftsmanship can be found in many larger cities Repair cafes or neighborhood help. Alternatively, tutorials on video platforms can help with some craft problems.
With Upcycling you give old things a new life by misusing them and simply using them for something else! Sometimes it is enough if it looks good and gives us a nice feeling of living, like an old tea kettle as a flower pot.
7. Sew / knit clothes
Not only is it worth repairing clothing, knitting or sewing yourself also has advantages. You knit or sew your own pieces according to your taste, regardless of current fashion trends and adapt everything to your figure, so that it fits like a glove! Tips:
8. Share instead of own
We don't really need to own some things. How many people have a car in the garage or in the (paid) parking lot and use it for weekly shopping at most? You not only pay for the purchase of the car, but also for taxes, maintenance and repairs. Car sharing, city bikes or barter shops are ways to share things with others – and possibly save money (and space) yourself.
Self-sufficiency for advanced students
If that's not enough for you or if you're already doing all of this, you can of course increase the level of self-sufficiency:
Worm box
Composting in the apartment, yes, you can! With a worm box you only have a small amount of money and time at the beginning, but after that you can easily get rid of your kitchen waste and get free fertilizer!
Self-catering garden
If you have a garden, growing fruit and vegetables there is a good way to provide yourself with food on a larger scale. The advantages: You know where it comes from, what the plants are treated with – and above all, homemade things always taste better! However, before you grow your favorite fruit like wild, you should create a plan or planting plan in advance. Pay attention to the following aspects:
- How many square meters do you have available?
- How much of which vegetables / fruit do you or her consume?
- Which of these would be worth growing yourself?
- Take into account the natural conditions, such as the existing climate or the soil
- Pay attention to the crop rotation
Keep chickens
Always fresh eggs in the house? With your own chickens in the garden, that's no problem! It is important to have enough space, preferably a separate area only for the animals, and a chicken coop (check local building law beforehand …). Chickens are considered small animals, so they are allowed to a reasonable extent in residential areas – of course, a species-appropriate keeping is mandatory. And the neighbors must not be bothered by it, which could end up in court.
Avoid these mistakes as self-catering
- Don't underestimate the initial effort, e.g. B. when keeping chickens or planning and creating the garden.
- Hardly anyone falls from the sky as a master, don't put yourself under so much pressure, much of the knowledge comes with time!
- Calculate beforehand how much vegetables you can / really want to consume.
- Don't plant too many different types of vegetables and fruits, focus on just a few varieties initially.
Already knew? In our BRIGITTE community you can exchange ideas with like-minded people about the flora.