Strategies to be Self-Sufficient
Accept Responsibility
When you’re self-reliant, you own your choices and take action to ensure that you meet your responsibilities. For example, try to view your finances as being entirely under your control. Resist the urge to over-spend or to go to people that will likely offer you handouts.
In addition, be the one to fix things when life doesn’t go to plan. Do this instead of immediately running to others to clean up the mess. While embracing responsibility might not sound like much fun, it’s also incredibly empowering and can do wonders for your self-esteem.
Eat Seasonally
Buying out of season fruits and vegetables is very costly. If you plan your menus around what is fresh and in season your cost saving will be remarkable. I love to enjoy a strawberry shortcake dessert all summer long so in June when the strawberries are locally picked and at their freshest, I buy extra and freeze them to enjoy all year long.
It takes some planning, but I always buy extra of whatever is in season and can or freeze for use all year long.
Why is it important to eat food that’s in season?
Seasonal food is fresher, tastier and more nutritious than food consumed out of season. Even though we all like to eat strawberries year round, the best time to eat them is when they can be purchased directly from a local grower shortly after harvest. Seasonal fruits and vegetables produced on local farms are often fresher, as they do not require long distances for transport.
Also, unlike out of season produce which is harvested early in order to be shipped and distributed to your local retail store, crops picked at their peak of ripeness are also better tasting and full of flavor. What’s more, studies have shown that fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients when allowed to ripen naturally on their parent plant.
Start An Herb Garden
Herbs are very easy to grow with a little sunshine, soil that drains well, some watering, and a little fertilizer or compost. Herbs can be grown in pots; however, the plants always prefer to be in the ground where they can spread out. Some plants grow quite large (4-6 feet), and when placed in pots they can become stunted and can get stressed, which causes them to be very unhappy.
The main requirement for growing Herbs is growing them in the proper location. Most prefer full sun as long as regular summer temperatures don't rise above 90 degrees. If you have very warm summers, then consider planting in and area that gets morning sun and afternoon shade in the summertime, or a place that receives filtered light (such as under a tree that allows some light to pass through). Check the area several times during the day to make sure that there are at least four hours of sun. (e.g., 8 to 12, 12 to 4, or from 9 to 11 and 2 to 4)
Planting Herbs
For planting Herbs, you need approximately 1 to 4 feet in diameter for each plant, depending on the plant. Here are some general guidelines for plant sizes:
- 3-4 feet - Rosemary, Sage, Mints, Oregano, Marjoram
- 2 feet - Basils, Thyme, Tarragon, Savory
- 1 foot - Cilantro, Chives, Dill, Parsley