10 Simple Steps Toward Self-SufficiencyGaye Levy, Contributor Alas, everywhere you look there are roadblocks to achieving this state. Not the least of these roadblocks is our dependency on transportation systems and the power infrastructure to deliver goods and energy products to our homes and homesteads. And then there are the entitlements such as social security and Medicare for the older members of our population and disability and Medicaid for the disabled and the sick. Over the years, these systems have been set up for better or for worse to create dependencies rather than self-sufficiencys. (And by the way, the names may be different but these dependencies exist in all Western countries, not just the United States.) Luckily, though, self-sufficiency is not an all or nothing proposition. At one end of the spectrum is a total, off grid, agrarian lifestyle and at the other is a moderately self-sufficient lifestyle where steps are taken to move toward 10% or 20% self sufficiency. Not a lot. But something. Today I will share some easy steps you can take to to start moving toward that 10 or 20 percent mark. These are steps that do not require a farm, do not require acreage and do not require a lot of money to begin with. They are practical steps that you can start with and that you can select from and embrace as your needs and desire for independence change and grow over time. 10 Baby Steps Toward a Self Sufficient Lifestyle 1. Grow a vegetable garden Growing a vegetable garden is also fun. 2. Build a compost pile 3. Grow fruit trees and berries 4. Learn to preserve your bounty 5. Start an emergency fund And by the way, beans and rice, well prepared, is delicious! 6. Learn to barter 7. Make your own cleaning supplies 8. Bake your own bread 9. Be your own handyman and fix-it yourself 10. Become self-entertaining The Final Word My own experience tells me that there is a special inner peace that comes from being self-sufficient. I experienced that myself last year when our power went out for an extended period. Others that I talk to also tell me that they too find great joy in the simple things in life that do not rely on excessive consumerism. Taking baby steps toward self sufficiency while doing things that you enjoy will help you get closer to and independent lifestyle more quickly than you can imagine. Read other articles by Gaye Levy here. Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation! Gaye Levy, theSurvivalWoman, grew up and attended school in the Greater Seattle area. After spending many years as an executive in the software industry, she started a specialized accounting practice offering contract CFO work to emerging high tech and service industries. She has now abandoned city life and moved to a serenely beautiful rural area on an island in NW Washington State. She lives and teaches the principles of a sustainable, self-reliant and stylish lifestyle through emergency preparation and disaster planning through her website at BackdoorSurvival.com. SurvivalWoman speaks her mind and delivers her message with optimism and grace, regardless of mayhem swirling around us. 