Self-Sufficient in the City: 5 Tips to get you started

City life might be convenient on one hand, but if you are looking to adopt a more self-sufficient lifestyle it might put up a few barriers. It doesn’t have to be that way though. With a little creativity and a lot of determination, you can find ways to be more self-reliant even when you live in the heart of a major city like Manhattan or Seattle.

Here’s where you start.

Grow a Garden

There’s no denying that fruits and veggies fresh from the garden beat produce from the grocery store. The good news is, you don’t need a huge plot of land and a big garden to grow your own food. Urban gardening is becoming increasingly popular and you can do it in a space as small as an apartment balcony. Whether you choose to grow a container garden, square foot garden, or a tower garden – or grow edibles n your window boxes, you can definitely enjoy food fresh from your very own mini garden.

Delve into Food Preservation

Of course, when you are getting fresh food from your garden you will probably want to find ways to preserve your produce so you can enjoy it all year long. Freezing and canning are time-tested food preservation methods that go back hundreds of years. But did you know that you can also preserve meats and sauces as well? Purchase meat from local farmers and preserve that along with your garden fare and you will not only live a more sustainable lifestyle, you’ll save a ton of money to boot.

Choose Composting

Cooking all of those fresh fruits and vegetables that you grow in your garden can generate a lot of waste. Add to that egg shells and other parts of your food that you discard and you have a great foundation for composting, breaking down that waste into soil that is nutrient rich and great for your garden. You don’t need a huge composting bin for this either. Get a small rotating bin and toss your waste in there. They don’t take up much room and can usually fit easily on your balcony or patio if you live in an apartment.

Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies and Toiletries

This has become extremely popular over the last few years as people become more aware of the chemicals and toxins that are in most of the cleaning products and toiletries that line store shelves. You don’t need any fancy ingredients for most products; they can usually be found at your local grocery store or health food market. The beauty of this is that you can select your own ingredients and even the scents you love. There are tons of recipes on the internet so starting up is a breeze.

Mind Your Space

Many people think that being self-sufficient means living on a huge chunk of land way out in the boonies. That isn’t necessarily true though. You really don’t need a bunch of space if you can manage the smaller space that you are in. When you live in the city, space tends to be limited, but if you mind your space and utilize it wisely, you can create an urban self-reliant lifestyle right where you are.

A little creativity can go a long way when you are embarking on a self-sufficient lifestyle adventure. Do your research, make your plans, then make it happen. You can live the self-reliant lifestyle that you want and you don’t need 50 acres to do it.