Whats the best way to be more self suffiecent?
I only have a back yard and a rented house, but I have a small baby and no job.
Answer:
Hi. There's LOTS you can do in a small space without income, and that's the best thing about going green for people in our position, cos you don't need lots of money to be green, it started out as a grassroots thing before big business got involved.
The library is the best place to start. There are MANY useful books on self-sufficiency, and you can actually grow produce in containers in a yard and indoors too, plus there's lots you can do to reuse what you might throw away to make trendy clothes, home furnishings, rag rugs, etc, from s/h clothes in jumble sales, and jewellery from junk - sounds a bit crap but please check out the groups on Flickr from 'Go Green Today' (name search GGT) for stunning ideas. There are also lots of other inspirational groups on Flickr for Greens.
Find groups online for ideas. Go Green Today is a new grassroots charity for people like you - its not properly started yet, but you can contact them via their website. There are other groups and maybe there's a local one you can join for ideas and support. Plus try Freecycle, which is a very successful thing for lots of people, thru which you join to pass on and collect FREE s/h goods in your area. I got a free PC via Freecycle, it's old but works!
www.GoGreenToday.org.uk
Get a job!
Write down every possible way to make money with available resources. Then think patiently on each option n then take final decision.Take risks if needed
If you are unable to go out and work then you sound like you still need to earn your own money. what about child minding? Or doing something in which you can work from home?
You having more money will enable you to be more self-sufficient. Also you have a roof over your head and garden. Learn a new skill and better your job prospects? There are many courses you can do and study from home. learn direct should be able to give you some pointers too.
given that you are in rented accommodation, you are unlikely to be allowed to convert your back yard into a veg patch. get a job or join a commune.
The small baby cannot be self sufficient, and is therefore dependent on you. It seems like you are asking the question after the horse has bolted so to speak! This often puts a person in a position of weakness. (easily exploited)
Take up fishing!
1. Realize your talents, if u dont know them then meditate
2. After realization, create a business plan
3. Put your plan in motion. Take baby steps so u dont get overwhelmed.
4. Dont forget to have pray and have faith. If u believe it, u can achieve it!
Peace
Ask yourself in everything you do if there isn't a better way and do it.
People create all their own problems and people need to find the solutions, heck, it's even fun!
We have all been given the tools, now it's up to you to choose to use them, there is nothing you can't do if you set your mind to it.
the back yard should do if it is soil and not paved 2 or 3 years ago i was looking at a packet of tomato seeds in a supermarket when the woman standing next to me said you dont want to pay those prices if you,ve got tomatoes at home cut one open collect the seeds and let them dry then plant them in compost and watch them grow its a bit messy to do but since then i,ve grown peppers aubergines marrows pumpkins courgettes and butternut squash i,ve even grown melons infact anything with seeds in can be grown i still have to buy some seeds i don,t know how to get seeds out of a cabbage or cauliflower but runner beans work and so do broad beans, i buy very cheap polystyrene cups and put a hole in the bottom for the water to run out fill it with asda compost it doesn,t have to be expensive then put a couple of seeds in give it a good watering then cover the whole thing with a plastic bag (clear) and you have an instant propergater bithen put them in my greenhouse you can line them up on the window ledge in fourteen days you will have shoots you can take the bags off then keep an eye on them and when they get to about 2/3 inches plant the strongest looking ones into bigger pots then after a few weeks plant them in the garden you will like me only buy seeded veg in the winter
I think you have the right attitude. Grow your own (and you probably can even though you rent) Re-use, get second hand wherever possible, join free-cycle, bring your child up not to demand new stuff and cut down on your energy demands and you'll be able to afford to spend your time with your child rather than compensating for your absence by buying stuff neither of you need.
And like someone else has said, don't demand too much of yourself - keep your attitude and take your time.
Good luck.
More Questions and Answers:
Are there other ways prevent globa warming?
Our earth. Its cause. Global warming...?
ETHANOL is it good?
"SYRIANA" or "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH"?
Are Oriental beetle's Good or Bad?
Are the electric / gas hybrids a really good solution or?
Where do you stand on global warming?
What do you think about buying a cave for conserving the environment or even for a home?
Global warming or just another money maker?
Answer:
Hi. There's LOTS you can do in a small space without income, and that's the best thing about going green for people in our position, cos you don't need lots of money to be green, it started out as a grassroots thing before big business got involved.
The library is the best place to start. There are MANY useful books on self-sufficiency, and you can actually grow produce in containers in a yard and indoors too, plus there's lots you can do to reuse what you might throw away to make trendy clothes, home furnishings, rag rugs, etc, from s/h clothes in jumble sales, and jewellery from junk - sounds a bit crap but please check out the groups on Flickr from 'Go Green Today' (name search GGT) for stunning ideas. There are also lots of other inspirational groups on Flickr for Greens.
Find groups online for ideas. Go Green Today is a new grassroots charity for people like you - its not properly started yet, but you can contact them via their website. There are other groups and maybe there's a local one you can join for ideas and support. Plus try Freecycle, which is a very successful thing for lots of people, thru which you join to pass on and collect FREE s/h goods in your area. I got a free PC via Freecycle, it's old but works!
www.GoGreenToday.org.uk
Get a job!
Write down every possible way to make money with available resources. Then think patiently on each option n then take final decision.Take risks if needed
If you are unable to go out and work then you sound like you still need to earn your own money. what about child minding? Or doing something in which you can work from home?
You having more money will enable you to be more self-sufficient. Also you have a roof over your head and garden. Learn a new skill and better your job prospects? There are many courses you can do and study from home. learn direct should be able to give you some pointers too.
given that you are in rented accommodation, you are unlikely to be allowed to convert your back yard into a veg patch. get a job or join a commune.
The small baby cannot be self sufficient, and is therefore dependent on you. It seems like you are asking the question after the horse has bolted so to speak! This often puts a person in a position of weakness. (easily exploited)
Take up fishing!
1. Realize your talents, if u dont know them then meditate
2. After realization, create a business plan
3. Put your plan in motion. Take baby steps so u dont get overwhelmed.
4. Dont forget to have pray and have faith. If u believe it, u can achieve it!
Peace
Ask yourself in everything you do if there isn't a better way and do it.
People create all their own problems and people need to find the solutions, heck, it's even fun!
We have all been given the tools, now it's up to you to choose to use them, there is nothing you can't do if you set your mind to it.
the back yard should do if it is soil and not paved 2 or 3 years ago i was looking at a packet of tomato seeds in a supermarket when the woman standing next to me said you dont want to pay those prices if you,ve got tomatoes at home cut one open collect the seeds and let them dry then plant them in compost and watch them grow its a bit messy to do but since then i,ve grown peppers aubergines marrows pumpkins courgettes and butternut squash i,ve even grown melons infact anything with seeds in can be grown i still have to buy some seeds i don,t know how to get seeds out of a cabbage or cauliflower but runner beans work and so do broad beans, i buy very cheap polystyrene cups and put a hole in the bottom for the water to run out fill it with asda compost it doesn,t have to be expensive then put a couple of seeds in give it a good watering then cover the whole thing with a plastic bag (clear) and you have an instant propergater bithen put them in my greenhouse you can line them up on the window ledge in fourteen days you will have shoots you can take the bags off then keep an eye on them and when they get to about 2/3 inches plant the strongest looking ones into bigger pots then after a few weeks plant them in the garden you will like me only buy seeded veg in the winter
I think you have the right attitude. Grow your own (and you probably can even though you rent) Re-use, get second hand wherever possible, join free-cycle, bring your child up not to demand new stuff and cut down on your energy demands and you'll be able to afford to spend your time with your child rather than compensating for your absence by buying stuff neither of you need.
And like someone else has said, don't demand too much of yourself - keep your attitude and take your time.
Good luck.
The answers post by the user, for information only, FunQA.com does not guarantee the right.
More Questions and Answers: