Be Self Sufficient Where do I start?

The phrase Self Sufficient living encompasses a huge array of ideas and concepts one can get lost before getting started, but not to worry you have started already. Taking control of your own life is the concept of self sufficient living.  So what do we need most to survive?

1. Food
2. Water
3. Air
4. Power

Most people begin with number 1 or 2.  So we will tackle them first as well
The easy way for food is of course do your own gardening as much as possible and raise some chickens.  I highly recommend  www.greengardenchicken.com they have almost everything you can think of to live self sufficient from chicken coops to solar power.
Gardening is easy even if you don't have any "space". Here are the"how to’s” for small space gardening.  Depending on where you live and yourself will determine just how far you want to go as to supplying your own meat and milk or just some basic gardening and eggs.  Dont know anything about chickens? Start Here

Water is an important issue.  For most people that means you need to buy a home that has a well on it or have a well put on the property you own already.  For many of us this is already taken care of, but you must also remember that to power the well pump that power is coming from an outside source so you must take care of that by choosing a solar or wind or some alternative power source.  For me I put a small solar system (PV System) up to ensure that the well pump is always running.  This was not a huge expense and it was not difficult either.  Here is how I did it.

Water conservation is your friend as well.  Rain barrels are a great way to have water for the garden without the need of any power source what so ever.  If you live in a drought area I recommend you get at least three or four of these to ensure you always have some water on hand to water the garden.


Air.  This one is vital and probably the hardest one to ensure unless you lived in some kind of bubble.  I would recommend having lots of fresh plants around you in and out to combat the air pollution and keep the air clean.  You can also invest in an air purifier for inside your house, but indoor plants are the best air purifier.

Power is not something you need to live, but it is something we don't like to live without.  I love having my washing machine and my stove and would definitely be lost without it.  Alternative power sources are basically limited to wind, solar, or a gas generator. Lots of people have emergency systems for those days the power goes out.  These systems are of course smaller and can help you in those times you really need it.

 How to choose the right alternative power system for you?  This is the key question and there are many factors to consider for this venture. I hands down prefer and use Solar for my home and this is why.

So if you are just starting the self sufficient lifestyle please go through all the fun options above. 

Solar Power 101

What are Solar Panels?

Solar Panels are devices that collect sun light and turn it into electricity. They are also referred to as

photovoltaics, which means “LIGHT-ELECTRICITY” The panels are made of individual cells that work together to produce a useful amount of power.

How Does It Work?

The light hits the solar cells. Each cell has a positive and negative charge built in that absorbs the photons from the sunlight and turn it into electricity.

Solar panels come in a variety of different sizes for different applications. You can find on the market today solar panels that fit on the top of the lights for a pathway in the garden. They have sizes all the way up to the Huge panels attached to spacecraft.

Who Invented Solar Panels?

Solar panels were invented in 1941 by Russel Ohl. What came before him to help in his discovery was

Alexandre Edmond Becquere who in 1839 discovered the Photovaltaic Effect. This showed that you can get power from light, but how to harness and use it well was not discovered yet. In 1893 Charles Fritts made the first Solar cell. These remarkable discovery's and inventions paved the way for Russel Ohl to create the Solar Panel.

Solar For Your Home

There are several sizes to choose from for your home solar system as well. These panels are usually sized according to the wattage. 200 watt,300 watt, and 260 watt are common sizes you might find available. Which one is right for you and your home are determined by many factors such as the available space for installing solar panels.

How Long Do Solar Panels Last?

The Life span of a solar panel generally is about 20-25 years.

Whats The Benefit Of Having Solar Power?

Solar Power is clean renewable energy with no strain on the environment. It has zero pollution. It can also be applied in almost every setting. Solar is very useful for places that are hard to get regular power to such as remote cabins, islands, mountain areas, etc. There is no contamination or strain put on the environment with solar power. Once you have paid off the up front cost the power generated if free!

Where can I get a system that's right for me?

Browse our shophere and contact us today. We would be happy to help you.