Sustainable is not only about food. It is also about lifestyle.
Our house is heated by a wood stove. (We only use trees that have fallen in storms or been culled by farmers.) This means that only one area of the house is heated, the rest is just .. well .. cold.
I lay in the bath every night and you would not know there was a pale tired little body in there, the room is ALL steam. Our bed is a mound of blankets. Cats tucked into the corners. Dogs waiting for our feet.
We eat pretty much the same thing with small variations each night. The proteins are free range chicken or their eggs, lean grass fed beef, lavender lamb, or pasture raised pork. The frozen vegetables are almost all gone. The tomatoes and fruit in jars are still holding out. I also eat nuts and seeds, rice and cereals that I cannot grow out here. (Bought at the supermarket once a month – not at all sustainable.) Flour for bread, pizza bases and pasta is bought. I have used all the home grown potatoes, onions, and beans and pumpkins long ago so if it were not for frozen peas (bought from the supermarket) and my enormous stash of tomatoes in jars and my wine (there are vitamins in wine?) we would have scurvy.
The fact is that if I were a sustainably managed vegan or vegetarian (as in growing all my own food) and living out here on the prairie I would be dead. Or at the very least unwell and very thin. We eat plenty of vegetable and egg based meals. But we need to buy most of the vegetable ingredients now. Not sustainable or self sufficient at all. We have a 6 month period when the ground will grow nothing at all. A cold frame will extend the lettuce for a while. But there is very little nutrition in a lettuce. All the greens must be grown in the summer and stored. And a cabbage only lasts so long, same for the onions and the potatoes and pumpkins. So by now I am looking to the supermarket to buy my vitamins, absolutely none of which are grown within hundreds and hundreds of miles of here. Certainly not without the help of a lot of artificial heating. So thank goodness I have a freezer full of protein. Even the milk is bought from another farm until I start milking again. Not self sufficient. Flour, chick peas, legumes, split peas, kidney beans, etc, all bought from the supermarket. Not self sufficient. Flax seeds, buckwheat, rye.. all bought. 
And sustainable does not only apply to food and fires.
My hair is either ‘Just got out of bed’ Debbie Harry or ‘way out of control’ Phyllis Diller. It depends what kind of mad hair products I am making that week.
My animals are not in a heated barn.. horrors! ( gas is certainly not a renewable resource). My friend Misfit told me last night that they saw a doco about a pig farmer who was whining about the cost of propane going sky high so poor fellow had to keep his house at 64 and his pig barn at 69 (because a cold pig is a skinny pig he says) and Sheila who sleeps perfectly calmly in an unheated barn (and you know how cold it gets here) has just been told by the vet that she is indeed a Big (fat) Girl.
I am very lucky if the big room gets above 62. We will not discuss the chill of the bedrooms. But we dress for the winter. I wear winter clothes inside in the winter. Weird!
By the way – The propane shortage is attributed to the corn and soy bean farmers who had a late start in the planting season and so had to artificially dry millions of tons of GM corn/beans (that is in-edible by the way) so there was no propane left for the pig farmers who then ran into a deeply cold winter and then there was even less propane for their Houses. Poor wifey – last on the list. Shock and bloody horror.
There is a rumour around these parts that the gas companies are buying unused propane back from the farmers so they can fill the tanks of the families in the country who rely on gas for their heating. Not us thank goodness. We wear hatties inside and sit close to the fire.
Dawn is coming I must hurry. We can talk about this again another time.
But that is sustainable living. Still want to try it? I do.
Good morning. The vet told me yesterday that Sheila’s wound is deep, messy and stinky but seems to be repairing ok. She has some antibiotics that I can mix into her food anyway. But he did say very kindly that she may be too fat and too old and possibly too lonely (no boar to smell for her to cycle) to get pregnant. Now. Is that a challenge or WHAT!
I hope you have a lovely day. I tried taking her to a boar but that did not work so I am off out looking for a smelly old boar to borrow who she can parade past every day to awaken her hormones so we can proceed with the AI.
Never tell me never.
Love your friend on the farmy
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
175 responses to “Do you really want to live sustainably – self sufficiently?”
I can easily do without air-conditioning (actually, I would rather do without it) but heating is another matter. 62 is pretty cool inside.
I am sitting writing at 63 as of this minute, it is fine.. but i do go to bed early!!.. c
Hi Celi,
have you explored the web site here?
http://www.cat.org.uk/index.html
We have visited the place often as we used to holiday near there regularly… CAT, The Centre for Alternative Technology, based in Wales. There may be ideas you can use and adapt to your environment that you hadn’t considered…. esp I would think photovoltaic panels, which give energy from sunlight even when its not warm.
and there’s a facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/centreforalternativetechnology
Thank you Pseu, good tip for possible visit in holiday’s. I am always fascinated by alternative energy sources/efficient design. Off to blanket street, curled around a hot water bottle. Celi, do you have enough space to plant fast growing wood (macrocarpa, pinus radiata) perhaps for next generation. It could spoil your big sky views.
I plant a lot of trees but why did i never think of macrocarpa, we used to have piles of those on the farms at home.. good thought .. thank you.. c
Eh! Blah blah blah is mostly all I hear vets say… When Rudy was 8 vets said he was “too old” to eat real food, “too old” to recover a wonky hip, “too old” to run with me, “too old” to carry a backpack when we go backpacking… blah blah blah. Well, he’s about 4 weeks shy of 16 yo now and he still eats real food, his hips are beautiful, he still runs, and still carries a pack. Sometimes I think med/vet school interferes with gut intuition and common sense.
Your dogs carries a back pack? Wow, do you think Boo is too old to learn how to do that, where does one find a dog backpack, that would be so useful.. my dogs eat meat, many people are horrified! Well done Rudy. c
Wolves eat meat; why not dogs? Of course they eat meat. Our cats eat only meat as they are true carnivours. No more hairballs or upchucks since we switched. Just google ‘dog packs’ and I don’t think he is too old. He Is not even a year old, is he?
you are right emily, about 11 months old i think.. I am going to look into it!
I don’t know why people are horrified at dogs eating meat; it’s their natural food and keeps them healthier. You might be interested in two books by Juliette de Bairacli-Levy: “The Herbal Handbook for the Dog” and “Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable”. I have used several of her remedies, always with excellent results. I’m not in the country just now, but will be using these again once I’m back there. By the way, she was the first person to cure distemper in dogs with only natural treatments. She studied all over the world. Google her name and you will learn more. If your dog is a larger one, it can also be trained to pull a cart, which can be very handy, too. ~ Linne
Quoting from the course I’m studying (Understanding Oceans) “Life on Earth is usually solar-powered: plants use sunlight to grow, herbivores eat the plants then carnivores eat the herbivores and each other. In the deepest parts of the ocean there is a 60,000 kilometre chain of undersea volvanoes, with vents that spew out mineral-laden water heated to more than 300 degrees C. which produce bacteria which grow just like plants using sunlight. The bacteria then provide food for the animals (worms, fish, crustaceans,
fantastic.. c
These days being self sufficient is hard. One needs land to raise animals and veggies and find wood to burn, We raise our beef and chickens, but not many veggies because of the climate. We live in the high desert of Oregon where it snows (but not this year). Only a 60 day growing season if we are lucky. Here they say we have winter and July. The biggest investment we made is more insulation for the house and double paned windows. Before that we had ice on the inside of windows. When I was a kid we had storm windows that my dad hated to put up each year. We have two heavy down comforters and two cats in bed with us and keep the window open a little.
We grow a variety of sprouts that keeps us in greens winter and summer. Only organic veggies from the store in winter, too. It is not easy, but we are determined, like you. What price health? Sheila might surprise us all…..too old; too fat; too lonely? Nonsense! Just get her a nice boar on her terms, not yours. Just like all us gals.
I just started some chickpea sprouts, I also sprout any seed i can find but chickpeas? what else do you sprout.. c
I sprout red clover, alfalfa, mustard, arugula, radish, fenugreek, curly cress, dill, garlic….well you get the idea. A regular salad and more interesting than just alfalfa. I also sprout wheat before grinding into flour. I buy organic sprouting seeds plain and in tasty mixes online. Never sprouted chickpeas, though. Sprouts are loaded with vitamins and enzymes. I learned that commercial sprouts that one gets in the supermarket are rinsed in chlorine bleach. That’s when I decided to make my own.
I am in love with my fenugreek sprouts at the moment, never thought to sprout red clover though.. there are always sprouts of one kind or another on my counter. c
Red clover is a pytho estrogen. In moderation is best. Red clover pasture keeps sheep from coming into heat.
oops! I love red clover and have it in my fields, not good for hay though.. too long to dry evidently.. mint is good for helping them to dry up too.. and lavender makes them tasty!! c
I get an aching thumb trying to get to the comments box……
well I reckon you can only be self sustaining as nature will allow..some things will not freeze snd do not keep but you seem to be doing pretty well…….
don, t you let any nasty old boar near to our Sheila..she won, t like it!
That other boar must have hurt her badly so I am not surprised that she was glad to be taken ..home , I do hope that it will not get any worse….
take care Mrs, keep warm, keep dry and stay happy
no worries darling. it is all AI from here on in, we just need to to come into heat! c
Even I would have trouble doing that !
Even I could not nor would want to do that, especially with an old boar
Re your hair, invest in an aloe vera plant for adding to your shampoo/ conditioner. Also, grow some rosemary, lavender, chamomile and marigold when in season, then dry the flowers and steep them, when required, to use as a rinse for your hair. You need to rinse it through fifteen times and then leave on for half-an-hour. A real shine tonic. Also, a thin smear of olive oil with lavender essense on your hair after you’ve washed it will keep it under control.
What a stunning set of tips, I hope everyone reads them.. Thank you sarah..
I recently began using the “no-‘poo” hair care system. I put a couple tablespoons of baking soda in a cup or so of warm water to wash (I have long hair to my waist; if yours is shorter, you can use less soda). It does not foam up like the commercial stuff. Just rub it in well. Then rinse with warm water with a few tablespoons of vinegar in it. the smell isn’t strong and goes away very quickly. Leaves the hair squeaky clean and light. I agree that a bit of olive oil or other oil with a drop or two of an essential oil for scent will help with fly-away hair. I usually just pin mine up or wear it in a braid, so I rarely bother with oil. Again, if you google ‘no-poo’ hair care, you will find lots of info. Sarah’s ideas are great ones, too. ~ Linne
Hope they’re of help to you. They’ve certainly made a difference to my temperamental hair, and covered up some of the grey blighters, too!
It’s good to have a reality check, and the views of the Commenters Lounge, to put a little perspective on modern life where we are fortunate to have choices, but realize only to a certain extent, depending on our circumstances, and the responsibility of making them well.
I love the Farmy company we keep here, where mindfulness is uppermost, and ideas are exchanged and welcome.
The G.O. and I too work towards living at the greater end of sustainability and while we’ll never manage it completely, what we can’t manage ourselves we make the most positive-least damaging choices for the community – local and greater.
You do work very hard on being sensible and mindful of using your resources and your environment.. and i do so agree, the Fellowship, this group you and i belong to have a wonderful confidence and knowledge.. Today has been brilliant.. c
On another note, I have been reading the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series, and in the later books Claire, Jamie et al are living in the relative wilderness of North Carolina in pre-revolution America – and you get a good idea of what sustainable-by-necessity entails vs lifestyle-choice-sustainable 🙂
They must be a good read!.. c
Yes, good, and very distracting. The first, Cross Stitch (UK name) was, I think, suggested in your first book list 🙂
Oh yes, that is why it rang a bell, I have read a few of those.. years ago.. must see if I can find them again and read the ones i have missed.. c
You must have to wear a lot of layer Celi, I’ve seen how thin you are! I take my hat off to you, I do not live a sustainable life, but city living seldom is. I’m not quite ready to give up my luxuries but I do thank you for doing so for the rest of us.
Good for you trying to prove that vet wrong. That Sheila deserves to have some adorable piglets!
let me count, Six layers on top, Two on the bottoms, and that is inside when i go outside there is more. All thin layers though.. and i was warm as toast.. c
you are pretty skinny yourself missy, i hope you have your layers on!!
How old is our lovely Sheila? And a bore….to come visit…I guess you have to do what you have to do, but I know from neighbors with pigs, bores are a real pain to keep around.
Sheila is almost two, not too old, just never been bred, so having a late start.. thats what i think! I really do not want a boar either.. we will see.. c
Oh dear, our ‘big room’ with the fireplace has been down to 14.5, so 58f! Yep, winter requires several shirts and comfy thick slippers with socks indoors. Especially when €40 of kerosene doesn’t cover the intake for the boiler and causes a vapour lock, and there is no heat at all!
nothing wrong with a big pair of warm slippers and a hattie! That is what we do in NZ too, we never heated a whole house .. c
You could probably be totally self-sustaining here in Central California. It costs a lot to live here, though, just in taxes and insurance. My 80 acres is totally paid for, but it still costs me $13,000 a year just to keep it. So, you could feed yourself quite handily, and stay warm with trimmings from your own trees (if you live in an area where wood fires are permitted), but you’d need an outside income just to keep your property. If developers are sniffing around, and they usually are, and your neighbors sell out to them, then you’re stuck. It’s always something.
That does sound much more sensible.. i keep asking John, which one of your ancestors decided to live here!?.. c
You really are an inspiration! A lot of people think they are living a sustainable life because they re-use their plastic bags at the supermarket.
We live in a town and while we grow vegetables and fruit and swap with others in the town, we live a luxurious life by comparison with you. Our growing season is really, really short – rather like this – so being ablt to grow enough to feed us year round is impossible and expensive. I think I spent $20 on tomato plants and got ten tomatoes, brcause the spring was delayeed by six weeks, the permafrost didn’t thaw and the fuit could not ripen before the snows came again.
But we do try and live as frugally and environmentally friendly as we can. We use downhole heat exchanger for geothermal heating, backed up with solar panels and a wind generator to heat our humble home (heat is otherwise a huge cost here). We are vegetarians, only because we don’t trust the meat suppliers. We have weekly scandals here with salmonella outbreaks, BSE and foot and mouth disease (that they try and hide) meat recalled, food labelled as “Swedish beef” that turns out to be Rumanian horse or Polish pork dyed red. There is so much politics and red tape (and bribery) in the EU that you just can’t trust anybody to be telling the truth.
So I buy local as much as I can – farmer’s markets, local fisherman etc. We eat seasonal things (a lot of root vegetables and cabbage at the moment) and I try and replace rice with things like wheatberries, farro, groats which are grown here. We also forrage in the forests for berries and mushrooms and preserve them for the winter. I’m still using raspberries, potatoes, beetroot, leeks and kale from my garden. It’s small scale, but we try. And honey is next on my list – I’m going to a beekeeper’s course and see if it will be possible in our area.
And Sheila, don’t ever change! We love you just the way you are.
Truly shocking that you cannot trust your meat. how awful. I would be the same .. One of the reasons why i got a cow out here was because the milk was so thin and pale and the cheese was dyed bright orange. So I avoided dairy completely until I got to milk my cow.. poor you.. that must be a nightmare.. I feel terrible that you cannot trust the food chain out there.. c
Can’t trust the food chain anymore in the USA, either
Lovely, thoughtful post – living more sustainably is something I care about too (and don’t do half as well as you!) Just wondering if you have come across the idea of making low-tech but specially shaped green-houses to hold snow on one side of the roof and back wall – to act as insulation. I saw an amazing vid on youtube about someone growing veggies and salads in the depths of winter in a very cold and snowy part of the US. If it’s of any interest, I’ll dig out a link for you! Best wishes from the UK.
very interesting.. look forward to reading more about that, we certainly have snow this year!
Ahhhh, now I feel better: I’ve just finished reading all your blogs that I missed while away visiting my sister. Good thing for Wifi on the train!
Oh reading blogs o a train.. how wonderful .. i do that when i go to chicago.. welcome back, i hope you sister is well.. c
I just saw this online…..
CHINA, Maine (AP) — Police responding to reports of screaming coming from a home in Maine didn’t find a victim of domestic violence as they feared. Instead, they found an amorous pig.
State police say a woman called last week after hearing what she believed to be a fight coming from a neighbor’s home in the town of China. The caller said she heard screaming and thought there was a domestic assault.
The Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1jafexV ) reports that four state troopers responded and talked to the neighbor.
The neighbor explained that she raises pigs and the screaming was coming from an overjoyed male pig that had been placed in a pen with five sows in heat.
Police say there was no assault and no disturbance “other than the screaming male pig.”
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Information from: Morning Sentinel, http://www.onlinesentinel.com/
fantastic.. now that was worth the laugh!! c