Becoming fully self-sufficient in terms of your own food supply is one of the most important elements for homesteads and preparedness. In fact it is the main focus of almost every homestead. Without food, we simply can’t survive. And who would want to. Food is necessary not only for our bodies to function but it is also a major contributor to fellowship. That is why it is listed as one of the Five Pillars of Homesteading Success.
Having the knowledge and practical skills to grow your own fruits, vegetables, or care for livestock is necessary. However, it isn’t just about the production of food, preservation is necessary to ensure its availability year round.
This comprehensive guide covers all the essential knowledge you need to establish complete food independence for your homestead. From harvesting it, foraging, cooking and preparing it, not to mention storing it, and protecting it.
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Essential Nutrition and Diet Considerations
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| Copyright © 2008. For more information about The Healthy Eating Pyramid, please see The Nutrition Source, Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, www.thenutritionsource.org, and Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy, by Walter C. Willett, M.D., and Patrick J. Skerrett (2005), Free Press/Simon & Schuster Inc. |
Every individual has their own dietary preferences, restrictions, and dislikes. Where you start on this journey should be taking a good look at exactly what you and your family eats, and needs.
Creating a well-balanced meal plan isn’t just about eating your veggies; it’s about balancing the colors on your plate. Remember the food pyramid from grade-school? Food self-sufficiency isn’t just about eating more vegetables.
The nutritional benefits of homegrown produce are huge! Fresher, more nutrients, and the satisfaction of knowing exactly where your food comes from. No artificial preservatives and whatever sodium benzoate is. Plus, you can’t beat the taste of a tomato straight from the vine.
When it comes to understanding food self-sufficiency it is important to remember if my family won’t eat it, why am I growing it, storing it, or stocking up on it? Remember that as you continue on your journey.
Gardening and Crop Production
I don’t know about you but my happy place is a toss up between a beach or being barefoot in the garden on a beautiful summer sunny day. Most of my days include both. The mornings filled with watching the children laugh and play through the endless sea of colors that we helped to create; and cooling off in the water in the evenings is about as close to a perfect day as I can get.
A friend of mine told me how she struggles with gardening and one year she simply threw the seeds in the dirt and figured something would grow. While sure, that method will work; but if your aim is to be dependent on what your patch of dirt provides. You would likely starve. Several things need to be factored into growing a successful garden.
Planning Your Garden:
Before getting your hands dirty it is best to think about what it is you’re going to plant. There is no sense in planting squash if your family never eats it. I know ours don’t - which is why you will likely never see any information about it on this blog. Feel free to learn about squash on Simple Living Country Gal site.
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Buy on EtsyOnce you know what your going to plant the next logical step is to think about where your going to plant it. It can become an over-whelming task if you think about it too much. So stick with in these guidelines and you will be just fine.
- Companions: Friend or Foe. Every plant has a set of plants that get along with it well, and those that hinder its growth. It is best to plant things next to those that either help it or, in some cases deter known pests.
- Sunlight: Some require lots of sunlight, while others prefer to hang out in the shade.
- Water: Depending on your soil you may need to water certain plants. Especially in the summer months when the heat and sun can quickly dry out the soil. Make sure you have determined how you will water the garden. Ruth Strout’s method is great at almost eliminating this task all together.
- Wind Blocks: In areas where wind is a constant issue you might think about installing some type of wind break to protect plants from potential damage.
- Protection from Wildlife: Fences are a great way to protect your plants from would be garden thieves.
- Soil: Ph levels in the soil is important, without proper attention to the health of the soil not much is going to grow there. Beyond that the structure of the soil is also important. Not much can grow in dense clay or rocky soil.
When to plant:
When to plant your garden veggies again depends on the needs of the plant itself. Much like raising children each one has specific needs. Lettuce prefers to grow in the cooler months, and bolts (goes to seed) in the summer heat; while tomatoes love to bask in the warm summer sun. Some plants like kale will even do fine dealing with a little bit of frost.
Companion Planting Strategies:
If you haven’t noticed the similarities between plants and people at this point, they aren’t any different when it comes to neighbors. They have their preferences too. Some veggies are like BFF’s while others are frenemies. Companion planting enhances the growth of the plant while repealing unwanted pests. It is like a high school lunch room sometimes. Each click has it’s own area.
Organic Pest Control Methods:
Yes, sometimes there are bugs in a garden (eww!) Natural, organic methods can work wonders on keeping them at bay. Neem oil, ladybugs, companion plants (yes, again!) and my personal favorite cheyanne pepper should all be in your garden even if your family doesn’t eat them. Harsh scientific chemicals are not necessary. Oh, don’t forget the Diatematious Earth! Your plants will thank you.
Seasonal Crop Rotation Plans:
Rotating your crops seasonally gives the plants not only a change of scenery, but also helps to prevent pest build up. Rotating them in such a way that high nitrogen producing plants like peas or beans are planted before the nitrogen loving plants like broccoli and cabbage.
Garden Planner:
Every gardener has a garden planner, or what some call a garden journal. There is a lot of information to remember when it comes to gardening, especially a first time gardener. Having a quick reference to jot down notes, or things you learn along the way is essential. I have created one that we use at Traum Homestead and is available on our Etsy store - Traum Creations. A lot of the information discussed here is already documented in the multiple pages of the planner.
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Raising Livestock and Poultry
"Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds; For riches are not forever"
If you want to be truly food self-sufficient, livestock and poultry are an essential part of the equation. From eggs and dairy to meat and fiber, integrating animal husbandry delivers an invaluable supplemental food source. So round out that vegetable garden with some clucking hens, grasping ruminants, or oinking pigs - your self-reliant journey depends on it!
If you want to be truly food self-sufficient, livestock and poultry are an essential part of the equation. From eggs and dairy to meat and fiber, integrating animal husbandry delivers an invaluable supplemental food source. So round out that vegetable garden with some clucking hens, grasping ruminants, or oinking pigs - your self-reliant journey depends on it!
Backyard Chicken Flock:
Everyone knows that the gateway to a full blown homestead is chickens! Keeping a small backyard flock is an absolute game-changer for beginning homesteaders. These feathery ladies will supply you with a constant stream of fresh, nutrient-dense eggs. Plus, you can’t beat the entertainment value of watching those quirky chickens strut around your yard.
Choosing the Right Breed:
When it comes to picking chicken breeds, you’ve got options galore. Egg-laying machines like Rhodesia Island Reds and Australorps will keep your egg basket overflowing. Or, go for dual purpose breeds like Plymouth Rocks that are decent egg layers and provide decent meat when you need to cull the flock.
Coop and Run Essentials:
Of course, your chickens need a comfy coop and secure run area to call home. Be sure to provide ample nest boxes, roosting bars, and square footage per bird. Oh, and let’s not forget a sturdy pen to keep those feathered friends safe from predators.
Ruminant Livestock:
Fencing and Housing Livestock:
Rotational Grazing:
Don’t Forget About Pigs and Rabbits!
Humane Dispatching
Hunting, Fishing, and Foraging
Let’s be real - store bought meat gets pricey and you never really know what you’re getting. Why not fill your freezer with some fresh, ethically-harvested wild game instead? There are some tricks to learn, and rules to follow based on where your at and what your hunting for, but in all honesty, it is far easier and cheaper to tag a deer than it is to build a barn, install fences, and raise livestock. Besides who doesn’t love the taste of deer jerky?
Butchering and Preserving:
Fishing for a Never-Ending Protein Source
"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime"
Mastering Fishing Equipment
Freshwater vs. Saltwater
The goal isn’t just to relax and enjoy the day while fishing. Especially if you are on a mission to obtain food self-sufficiency. We all know the feeling of going home with an empty bucket. Mastering these skills can ensure a full freezer by the end of spawning season.
- Conservation Practices: Not only is important to understand local fishing regulations, it is important to respect them to ensure that it remains sustainable. Don’t get greedy.
- Understand Species Behavior: While fish in general do follow basic principles each species does have their own specific behaviors. Knowing these will help with where and when to cast.
- Identify Productive Fishing Spots: Pay special attention to where the fish are likely to feed and rest, such as underwater structures and confluences. Investing in a fish finder is a great tool to help with this. Especially for a beginner. Did you know they make ones that don’t require a boat or kayak?
- Read Water and Weather: Learn to read the water currents, surface activity and weather patterns to predict fish behaviors.
- Fish Cleaning and Filleting: Not only it is important to have a good fillet knife or de-scaling tool, but know how to use them. Especially if you are planning to store up your favorite fillets.
Foraging for Nature’s Wild Edibles:
Dr. Nicole Apelian’s book The Forager’s Guide to Wild Edibles is a book that I highly recommend! Not only does it come with clear pictures, but it also gives you warning signs about mistaken plants, and even how to cook with most of the herbs you will find in the wild. If you’re going to get this one you may as well pick up her other book The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies.
While you’re at it; check out my post on 21 Books Every Off-grid Homesteader Should Own.
Food Preservation and Storage
Preservation Methods:
- Canning: There are two types of home canning food. Which method you use will be determined by what you are canning. High acidic foods are typically water bathed, while meats and other low acid foods are pressure canned for the higher temperatures.
- Dehydrating: Herbs and even flowers are commonly dehydrated and stored for cooking in this state, however other things like onions, peppers, and even garlic just to name a few can also be dehydrated to make storage simpler, and longer lasting.
- Fermenting and Pickling: While this is common practice to do you won’t find much information on this blog about it. Our family has a distain for the taste of vinegar. Unless I can find a guest writer to write about it. You likely won’t find much information here, just like growing squash.
- Freezing: A common phrase you will hear when it comes to freezing your food is blanching. I find freezing to be the easiest method of all food storage techniques. However, if you are in a situation like we were the first few years of life off-grid freezing might not be an option.
- Root Cellar: These simple structures were an amazing benefit to the world of self-sufficiency! Utilizing the passive temperatures from the earth to keep food fresh long into the winter months used to be a necessity. Now they are rare. I think we should definitely bring them back to every homestead.
Cooking from Scratch with Whole Foods
Learning how to prepare a healthy, balanced and satisfying meal with the raw ingredients is an essential skill to refine. It is vastly different to make a rue from the remnants of a cast iron seared steak than it is to take a box from the freezer and put it in the oven.
Emergency Food Stockpiling and Planning
Operational Security for Long-Term Food Resilience
- Community Networks: In times of need, a well-connected community can provide mutual aid, share resources, and exchange valuable information. A collective approach enhances resilience.
- Bartering and Trading: allows you to diversify your food resources, and obtain goods or services without relying on traditional currency. This requires you to understand the value of your resources, and negotiation skills.
- Self-Defense: Not only is self-defense a good skill to have for personal protection it is a good idea to have the confidence and training to protect you and yours regardless of the scenario you are faced with.
"It is better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it."
FAQ’s
What is the difference between food security, and food self-sufficiency?
In the context of this article if you obtain food self-sufficiency you will have food security. Food security means you don’t have to concern yourself too much with where your next meal will come from, and may even have an abundance of choice in the decision. Where self-sufficiency means you don’t rely on anyone else to provide that food.
How much land do I need to obtain food self-sufficiency?
There is no way to definitively answer this question, because the answer depends on too many variables. There have been families that can get nearly there on a 1/4 of an acre and others who require 10+ to obtain it. The factors really depend on your plan of action. Do you plan to hunt for most of your meat? How much garden do you intend to maintain vs foraging for your food? How many people are you feeding?
Can I obtain food self-sufficiency in an urban setting?
Absolutely! With a mix of modern technology, and vertical growing a lot can be accomplished in a very small amount of space. Walk around and think about how much space you have in your home that you aren’t using. For instance, how tall are you? How tall are your walls? There is a good chance you have a 2 foot space around the perimeter of every room that could hold a shelf of food. What about under your bed?
Summary
Additional Resources
The Self-Sufficient Life, and How to Live It: One of the first books I read when embarking on this journey. Very thoughtfully planned, and inclusive with just about every skill, resource, and plan you will likely need.
The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible: A valuable resource that will likely find a home in the garden rather than the book shelf! One of my favorite garden books. Just about every bit of information you would need to know about growing almost any kind of vegetable is in this book.
Meals In A Jar: Food self-sufficiency wouldn’t be complete without this practical guide on how to prepare meals in a jar instead of just canning ingredients. Think MRE’s but in a jar instead, and you know what is inside. Heat and serve!
