Self-Sufficiency Skills

How many of the following skills do you have? I think these are necessary for those who wish to be more self-sufficient.

1. Food - can you grow your own food, including maintaining strong soils and seed saving? can you preserve foods in root cellars, freezers, pickling and canning? can you cook good foods? do you know about nutrition to create a diet that sustains your body? can you raise and process animals for meat, if you are a meat-eater?


2. Shelter - can you do repairs - to your home's plumbing, electric, roof, and structure? can you paint and maintain the surfaces to keep your home structurely sound? can you use and maintain tools for building and farming?


3. Energy - can you use a chain saw, split and dry wood, build a fire and maintain a wood stove? can you use passive and active systems to generate energy for your home and farm?


4. Clothing - can you make repairs? Can you sew, knit, quilt, weave, or crochet to make clothing, re-cover furniture or create your own bedding?

What else am I forgetting? Relationships? Aren't caring for your soul and for your heart important too? Do we all pay enough attention to that area of self-reliance - the part where we care for others and allow them to care for us too? We can't be self sufficient alone, please remember.