Becoming Self Sufficient - Some Things to Consider

As you know, Don and I went to Baltimore for his surgery at Johns Hopkins in late July.  While in the area, we visited some sites in Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) and Washington D.C. (the Mall, Smithsonian, Lincoln Memorial).  My favorite was Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, sitting high above the Potomac.

Mount Vernon Was Getting a Face Lift When We Visited

                                          

We were struck with President Washington's self sufficiency.  I know you pretty much had to be self sufficent in the 1700's, but his dedication to survival was artful and magnificent!  He had an orchard, but he also grew pears, apples, plums, peaches and grapes in his garden by the espalier method in which the trees are pruned and trained to grow along a fence.  Many of these trees were loaded with fruit:

Plum Tree That Stood No More Than Three Feet High

                                                               

Grape Vines



Lower Garden

I think it's (passed) time to sit down with our families and map out how we can become as self sufficient as possible, as quickly as possible.  A garden might be out this year, but what else can we do?  My sister Shauna and I were talking about all of this a couple of weeks ago, when she said that one of her friends has a pressure cooker and over 1,000 canning jars! They have nothing in them, however that person has the ability to can anything-meat, veggies, fruits, fish caught from a stream.  That made me stop and think. How self sufficient are we?  We have a three months supply of food for two, we have flour, sugar, oil, some beans and rice (basics).  We have a 55 gallon container for water, but is it filled?  Nope.

My goal is to plant blueberry bushes in the front of the house - why not?  They are bushes just like what we have now, they just grow berries that can be canned or frozen or turned into jam.  The problem is most blueberries (probably most any food source) don't like it where we live very much!  We are planning on moving the grapes to the fence to use just like any other vine on a fence, with blackberries and raspberries in a corner and some fruit trees along the east side of the house, espalier-style.  We will also begin a garden in late February/early March.

Don is looking into solar and wind powered energy.  He is also looking at heating our water differently.  We have also looked into putting a wood stove in the family room fireplace.  Our problem is that we look into these things haphazardly instead of making a list and having those goals in front of our faces.  Interest wanes after awhile when finances don't allow for those things right now.  Could we get more creative? Yes.  First

things first.  We need to get out of debt.  I know I need to be more diligent in working towards that financial freedom.

What are your goals? Have you written them down and put them where you  see them every day?  We haven't.  What are your plans for caring for your family?  Do you know how to shoot a rifle?  That could help you put meat on your table and protect your family.  What about your finances?  Are you working to get out of debt?  How reliant are you on others, especially the government, credit cards/banks?  Do you have a savings account with enough $$$ to get you through a couple of months?  What about cash around the house in case it's needed and you can't get to a bank - or worse, the banks are closed?  Do you keep your gas tanks full all the time?

Here comes Debbie Downer- - - - -

I am not trying to preach.  If so, I'm preaching to myself, as Don and I have a long way to go - maybe further than some of you.  I just want all of us to be ready for anything that may come our way - job loss, bank closures, lawlessness ( think London or the flash mobs in this country).  Things look a little rocky right now - our nation could teeter in either direction.  The future doesn't look too positive right now.

Just some things to think about...