Using Homemaking Challenges to Increase Self-Sufficiency

Did you know that participating in homemaking challenges can increase your self-sufficiency? Sure can! The right challenge can be the fast track you need to get that extra boost. Here’s how we built a small #cantry in 1 month with the #EveryBitCountsChallenge.

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Using homemaking challenges to increase self-sufficiency
Explanation of the #EveryBitCountsChallenge
How I prepared for this challenge:
the Village Reservoir

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Increasing self-sufficiency via homemaking challenges can be easy and fun!

Homemaking challenges are an easy way to increase your self-sufficiency. For one, they draw on a community of participants which means accountability is built-in. And they are usually extremely targeted for a specific goal/outcome. But aside from that, they can also be incredibly fun!

Whether you’re looking to grow a garden, deepen your relationship with God or learn to sew or quilt. There’s a challenge tailor-made for you. Most challenges only run a few weeks to a month. So, they’re also easy to commit to. They put you on the fast-track to learning, conquering and becoming more self-sufficient. Another benefit is that they usually save you time and/or money too!

So if you find one you like, join it!

The #EveryBitCountsChallenge is a homemaking challenge all about preserving food. The objective is to preserve a summer/garden harvest in small batches to avoid burnout and stress. Doing so before food goes bad or things get too busy in fall/winter.

Side note: This particular challenge is about food preservation. So, it may be helpful to read about some ways you can craft a traditional, self-sufficient kitchen.

I discovered a wonderful YouTube channel called Three Rivers Homestead about a year ago. It’s run by Jessica – a homemaker and mom of 7 (then). I was fascinated to discover someone cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner for her family – EVERY DAY.

Meanwhile, I was struggling to be consistent with meals for my husband and no kid.

So, I started following Jessica on her IG social media to learn more. She started the #EveryBitCountsChallenge that runs each August. Its purpose is to avoid extreme burnout or stress during preservation season. By squirrling away a little at a time, the thought is we’re able to systematically and easily build our pantries.

Living in an apartment in the city and not growing anything currently did not stop me from participating though! It just required a little creative thinking. Can you see why I like using homemaking challenges to increase our self-sufficiency?

I wouldn’t be going through a providing garden every day to preserve home-grown food. So, I planned to make use of local farmer’s markets. I also planned to preserve things already in my cabinets and freezer.

growing food is often one way to increase self-sufficiency — This homemaking challenge is about food preservation – whether home grown, locally sourced or store-bought.

Your journey towards self-sufficiency doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. In fact, using a homemaking challenge can help increase your self-sufficiency easily.

So, I planned to complete the challenge in three ways. I wanted to preserve food, preserve my family’s health and heritage and prepare for emergencies.

My Food Preservation Plan

I knew preserving food meant mostly fermenting, freezing, freeze drying, canning and potentially storing some foods into Mylar bags.

I had some #foodpreservation goals entering the challenge. But the biggest was to not spend money solely for the sake of the challenge. Using a homemaking challenge to increase self-sufficiency is ideal because they usually don’t require spending money. So, instead I found ways to work with things we already had at home. And use the grocery budget for the month wisely.

I was planning on buying quality tomatoes for several recipes we wanted to try. Corn, potatoes and onions as well to add to our food #cantry. But additionally, I planned to put away convenience meals too. In keeping with the theme of the challenge, that would mean some days were spent making the items. And some days I preserved them.

My Plan to Preserve my Family’s Health

Being diligent, intentional and creative was key. And that’s another reason I love participating in homemaking challenges. They give me a new perspective. I wanted to focus on tending to my immediate family in the same way other homesteading women were tending to their gardens.

Preserving my family’s health is incredibly important. Plus, healthy bodies can work more efficiently towards becoming self-sufficient.

To accomplish this, I planned to add a few items to our herbal remedy cabinet. Having remedies on-hand allows us to not be dependent on the healthcare and insurance systems of today. Fire cider, golden milk powder and an herbal salve using rendered suet were at the top of my list. Those tonics and such would directly benefit my family’s health in the coming months.

My Plan to Preserve my Family’s Heritage

Preserving my family heritage was equally important to me. I want what I do to matter on a deeper level than just what we can put in a pantry or closet. So, I determined to intentionally be present at home with my husband and son. I wanted to plan at least 2 dates with Mr. Traditional. This would strengthen our marriage and continue fanning our flame.

Since I predominantly take care of my son during the day, I planned to continue teaching and playing with him. But more than that, I wanted to give him undivided attention more frequently. I also planned to spend more time on the floor or outside with him.

reminiscing on family memories by looking at photos was part of my homemaking challenge — Making memories as a family is part of any homemaking challenge.

These things allow conversations to happen naturally and bonds are strengthened. Physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s also during this time that wonderful memories are created. Memories that we will have to reflect on weeks and years down the line.

Joining this homemaking challenge would increase our self-sufficiency. But my son would also benefit. Everything he would see us do now (and in the future) would instill in him the way of being traditional and self-sufficient.

My Plan to Prepare for Emergencies

To prepare for emergencies, I wanted to try canning soap nuts for our laundry and dishes. Making tallow candles for our emergency storage was another thought. And revisiting our 72-hour grab bags was on the list too – that’s always a good idea.

I chose these things because I already had them on hand. So, I planned to use the challenge to preserve what was already in my cabinets. Learning how to make (or use) alternatives is a great skill. For example, learning to work with soap nuts allows me to have a cleaner, more sustainable option in the house for washing. Soap nuts can also be used for many other things too according to Jessica @ThreeRiversHomestead.

homemaking challenges often include self-sufficient activities like making things from scratch — Adding homemade salves to your herbal remedy cabinet is another way to increase self-reliance.

Another beauty of homemaking challenges. They really get you thinking outside the box! And if there ever was a time to be self-sufficient, it’s in an emergency.

And as long as I’m stocking things for cold/flu season, why not learn to use natural ingredients like beef tallow?

Eventually, I’ll be able to replace most of our conventional ways with natural ones. That makes me happy.

But knowing what to do to be self-reliant can be daunting. Homemaking challenges can make increasing self-sufficiency easier though!

I expected the challenge to accelerate my growth as a woman. And I figured it would be easy to manage. I knew some things may not go smoothly. But that was only a valuable lesson for next time. This was simply another stepping stone towards increased self-sufficiency. Should we not have something or be able to make it, I knew we could do without for a month.

Even though August has past, the #EveryBitCountsChallenge is a mentality that can be lived out any time. No matter what stage of life or how your home is setup. It was designed to prove how one small thing every day adds up. Adopting a new mindset is just one more example of how this homemaking challenge helped increase our self-sufficiency.

Stay tuned for the #EveryBitCountsChallenge Recap post!

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