Category:Self-Sufficiency

Self-sufficiency encompasses a wide variety of skills that form the basis of living independently. This includes skills such as constructing and/or repairing buildings, maintaining a garden and orchard, preparing and preserving food, and caring for any animals that may be present on your property. Some skills, such as fishing, may be included in this, depending on the area of residence. These skills are also beneficial when traveling, as adaptability is a key component.

Skills for living in nature
 * Canoeing and kayaking (water safety and swimming)
 * Biking long distances
 * Wilderness camping
 * Cooking in camp - campfires and camping stoves
 * Rope and twine (knots and splices)
 * Outdoors in winter
 * Fishing
 * Living with nature - understanding, observing, and caring for nature
 * Hiking and backpacking
 * Finding your way in the wild

Buying and building on land
 * Purchasing property
 * Planning your home
 * Preparing the site
 * Building with the available materials (stone, adobe, wood, etc.)
 * Raising a barn
 * Developing a water supply
 * Adding a sauna or hot tub
 * Sanitation and waste elimination or recycling
 * Building a fireplace
 * Making fences, walls, and walkways

Energy from wood, water, wind, and sun
 * Building (or renovating) for energy efficiency
 * Wood as a source of heat and fuel
 * Water and wind power
 * Solar energy
 * Utilizing other energy sources

Raising your own fruits and vegetables
 * The kitchen garden
 * Efficient use of gardening land
 * Growing herbs
 * Fruits and nuts
 * Pest control
 * Grains and grasses
 * Wild food sources
 * Seaweed

Raising animals
 * Efficient livestock for small parcels of land
 * Beekeeping
 * Fish farming
 * Horses
 * Beef cattle
 * Dairy cattle
 * Swine
 * Sheep
 * Goats
 * Poultry
 * Rabbits
 * Pigeons

Cooking and preserving
 * Preserving produce, including storing vegetables
 * Preserving meat and fish
 * Making dairy products
 * Making maple sugar
 * Homemade beverages
 * Making bread
 * Regional cooking
 * Cooking with wood
 * Solar cooking
 * Smokehouse construction and use
 * Freeze-drying

Skills and crafts
 * Natural dyes
 * Spinning
 * Weaving
 * Hooked rugs
 * Braided rugs
 * Patchwork quilting
 * Tanning and leather work
 * Woodworking (making and using wood tools)
 * Broom making
 * Scrimshaw
 * Metalworking
 * Household recipes (including cleaning solutions)
 * Metalworking
 * Stenciling
 * Flower drying and pressed flowers
 * Gourd crafting
 * Soap making
 * Candle making
 * Basketry

Self`-suf*fi"cien*cy, n.

Defn: the quality or state of being self-sufficient.