Becoming Traditional

Using Food to Increase Self-Reliance Right Now

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Food increases self-reliance. So take control of your life by managing it well. But that takes shape in small ways. By making small steps, one after the other. And here are two you can take today to start (or escalate) your own journey.

Table Of Contents
  1. 1. Nourish yourself with sustainable eating habits
  2. 2. Growing your own food in small living spaces is more than possible!
  3. the Village Reservoir

I think we all know how critical food is to life. So when it comes to being self-reliant, it makes sense to start with food.

1. Nourish yourself with sustainable eating habits

Let’s face it. Besides money, food is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you start examining habits.

So, it makes sense that reevaluating eating habits is close to the top of the list when transitioning to a self-sufficient lifestyle. I’m talking embracing whole foods, cooking from scratch, and reducing reliance on processed foods. These are all traditional skills anyway. And here’s how you can do it.

Opt for locally sourced ingredients, support farmers’ through markets and consider joining a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program. Doing this promotes sustainable practices and encourages healthier living.

As does seasonal eating. Many cultures around the globe practices this already. But in the US, we encourage forced growth and imported foods to have something year-round. But if you look at nature, most foods have favorable seasons and climates. Ever wondered why?

The reality is, the closer to home you shop, the fresher, more nutritious & tastier your food will be. And before you know it, you’ll go from eating globally sourced foods to state-grown foods. Then from there to your town, on to your own backyard (or maybe your neighbors)! Eating with the seasons (produce, meat & seafood) helps us remain in step with the natural rhythm of Earth. And isn’t that lovely?!

picture of a pear cut cross lengthwise with a quote from Barbara Kingsolver on the condition of the food transportation in the USA. The quote persuades readers to pursue self-sufficiency with their eating habits.

The average food item on a U.S. grocery shelf has traveled farther than most families go on their annual vacations.

– Barbara Kingsolver, Author of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

But, I’ll say this again. Start small.

Self-sufficient living doesn’t happen overnight. It’s all about mindset before anything else.

A poor relationship between food and your body has a big impact on daily life. So be compassionate with yourself.

Don’t feel the need to jump in all at once. Doesn’t matter who around you is doing what. The best practices that stick are the ones that grow over time. Gaining momentum in your early stages will help you maintain them in the long run. We’re talking about self-reliance, but it’s not possible (or maybe desirable) to be 100% solo.

Schedule a farm tour – or two. Get familiar with how food is grown and where it comes from. Supporting local producers is part of a self-sufficient lifestyle! Do this by reading, researching, asking questions & finding answers. (By the way, this is my approach to most of life! I talk about building a library for greater self-sufficient living in this post.)

Then, try seasonal and local foods. Remember, food increases self-sufficiency. But be gentle – go slowly. What you’re going for here is to reprogram your taste buds. Here are some resources to get you started:

  • LocalHarvest: Find farmers’ markets, family farms, and CSAs near you. Be sure to search your county’s Agriculture Services website too!
  • SeasonalFoodGuide.org or searching “seasonal seafood guide + (your) Zip code” may help you. Don’t forget to speak with local gardeners, fishermen & hunters too!
  • Allrecipes: A popular website featuring a vast collection of recipes for all skill levels, helping you cook from scratch.

Now, speaking of food…

2. Growing your own food in small living spaces is more than possible!

Get a hands on connection with your food by growing something. Even in a small space, you can cultivate your own fresh produce or herbs. From seed, starts or transplants – there’s something for every stage!

Explore different gardening strategies. And there’s lots of those too. Like, container, vertical, square-foot or indoor gardening. Each of these will make the most of your available space. So, make use of food for self-reliance at home. Here’s a great read I recommend on square foot gardening. *Hint, hint* I’m going to try my hand at it soon!

It’s possible to grow herbs, salad greens, and compact vegetables like cherry tomatoes or peppers. And you not only get access to pesticide-free, nutritious food. You’ll also enjoy the therapeutic benefits of gardening. And it’s the perfect activity for little hands that want to help.

But, let me share some of my first year gardening experience. It was….something.

I knew food impacts self-reliance so I started there. Surprisingly, I successfully started seeds on our balcony using the winter-sowing method. The concept is simple really. Using empty opaque plastic containers (what a great way to repurpose right?!) like empty milk gallons or juice containers, you create mini greenhouses. The container should be cut with a hinge closure and the base filled with moistened potting soil/your favorite planting matrix.

Once you’ve planted your seeds in the soil, close the container (with heavy duty tape if you had to cut a hinge around the midline) and set it outside in the elements uncapped. Since sunlight will be trapped inside, the seeds/seedlings have all they need to grow.

So although the containers are directly exposed to frost/ice, there is little risk to the plants inside. And once outdoor temperatures rise, the seeds will germinate. Afterwards, those seedlings are transplanted into larger containers or directly into the ground/raised beds.

There are several ways to get started

There’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on gardening tools and accessories to get started. There are even ways to grow food in small spaces without dirt. Aquaponics, anybody? This method of growing food requires a little more than just a milk jug and soil, but it’s nonetheless a great way to produce a lot of food in a little space. Check out these resources:

hand outstretched with palm up holding a plant sprout and some dirt encouraging readers to grow food as a way to be more self-sufficient

So, if you’re on the fence about being more independent, then start with your food. It’s one of the most basic necessities. Relying 100% on someone else for that is simply unwise. Don’t put off being resilient.

You don’t have to start making bread or raising quail – though those are small space & beginner friendly skills.

Start by reading your labels. Cutting down on processed foods. Eliminating natural flavors & food colorings. Trading one snack for another (or a cleaner version). Then go from there. You’ve got this, Lovely.

image of a signature saying "xo, Claire", the Creative behind the Becoming Traditional blog

🌱 Start Small. Start Now. Start where you are with what you have. The rest will follow. 🌱

Is being more self-sufficient something you’re interested in but don’t know where to start?

The Self-Sufficient Roadmap is for you!

Designed it to eliminate some of the overwhelm, find out exactly where you are & what to look forward to next.

This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through links on this post at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure.

the Village Reservoir

Your one stop shop for all the great resources recommended in this post.

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