Simoman 110 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 On 14/11/2011 at 18:49, Ideation said: It's a lot harder than folk think, especially in winter, and especially in the first few years until systems are sorted. Also there is always a spanner in the works, such as getting ill, or needing to treat stock etc, which leads to a need for cold, hard, cash. I've tried it in various places, and some countries are easier than other. U.K is pretty tough. Quite fancied it in Oz, got books on self sufficiency over there, growing products that are almost impossible here, such as tobacco lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paulus 26 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 On 14/11/2011 at 18:51, Simoman said: On 14/11/2011 at 18:49, Ideation said: It's a lot harder than folk think, especially in winter, and especially in the first few years until systems are sorted. Also there is always a spanner in the works, such as getting ill, or needing to treat stock etc, which leads to a need for cold, hard, cash. I've tried it in various places, and some countries are easier than other. U.K is pretty tough. Quite fancied it in Oz, got books on self sufficiency over there, growing products that are almost impossible here, such as tobacco lol wasnt bulldog growing tobacco? sure i read something on here somewhere 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trappa 518 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 I dont think its possible to be honest, close but not completely self suffficient. Good luck though, I personally think an acre would be ample to make a feckin good try. Im going to try my best to as self sufficient as i can (which will be nowhere near completely). Ive got a large allotment that i can grow a lot of veg, ive got guns and permission for meat. Ive just got solar panels,getting a stove for free fuel (logs) now looking at air source heat pumps and a wind turbine in a couple years time hopefully. Keep us informed, im a sad git for this sort of thing! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 13,322 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 On 14/11/2011 at 18:50, Simoman said: On 14/11/2011 at 18:48, mushroom said: On 14/11/2011 at 18:42, mackem said: Quote the complete guide to self sufficency I will get it,thanks for the tip I have done the self-sufficiency bit abroad where it was relatively easy as I had a couple of quid tucked away for emergencies and a small boat and house,I prefer my comforts nowadays,we soften with age,but wouldnt mind a couple of acres somewhere just in case,always worth while preparing for emergencies 4 hectares plus house with stream on the land - 55,000 euros catalonia region Been looking for future reference :laugh: About 3 hours work? more like a good few years :laugh: Mate of mine has just bought 5.5 hectares with a huge but run down house on it, electricity and running water connected - 60,000 euros. If he spends the same again on the house, guaranteed it will sell on for 1/4 to 1/2 a million euros. house prices are fuucked up here in Spain. 2 bed flat in Barcelona will set ya back a min of 150,000 euros and that ain't even a nice one, land is cheap outside the cities but property isn't. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 28,024 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Quote 55,000 euros catalonia region Visited a few fincas in spain Mush,soil on the ones I went to wasnt worth a light,got mates who are making lots of cash on their farms but I discovered spain doesnt fit into my plans anymore,everywhere you go in rural spain its Se Vende......Se Vende......Se Vende,the place has no cash,its in dire straits. Quote wasnt bulldog growing tobacco? He was mate,wouldnt mind knowing how he got on?I have a couple of acres in asia,grown this,that and the other on them,always made a few quid. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Simoman 110 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 The thing is you can NEVER be truely self sufficient, you can grow produce, rear meat and perhaps barter for a few things but Gocompare aren't interested in swapping 5lb of sprouts and a leg of lamb for this years car insurance etc, so although you can supplement your lifestyle and save money, to be truly self sufficient would require you to live a VERY basic lifestyle....... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paulus 26 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 On 14/11/2011 at 19:12, Simoman said: The thing is you can NEVER be truely self sufficient, you can grow produce, rear meat and perhaps barter for a few things but Gocompare aren't interested in swapping 5lb of sprouts and a leg of lamb for this years car insurance etc, so although you can supplement your lifestyle and save money, to be truly self sufficient would require you to live a VERY basic lifestyle....... stabba manages it :laugh: 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 28,024 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Quote that are almost impossible here, such as tobacco Tobacco grows easily here Simo,as do lots of things most folks wouldnt realise Quote Ive just got solar panels Wouldnt have minded solar-panels,thats the one thing that fu*ked me,electricity,but I had over 300 days of total sunshine a year,just never utilised it.Other than that I never wasted a thing,even gleaned the waste corn-cobs for food for the chickens,BUT i had a few quid tucked away for real emergencies which thankfully never arose,and I was earning money from other things. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 28,024 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Program on TV at the moment,ITV 1 about brits who try self-sufficiency in france,looks good,just people who want an alternative to the rat-race (dont we all?). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Simoman 110 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Bugger, missed it out of curiosity what are you doing in that photo mackem? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 28,024 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Gleaning through waste corn-cobs for the chickens Simo,throw a load in with the chooks keeps them interested and they pick kernels of corn that have been missed.The corn itself is dried and we used to eat corn-grits or flog it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Simoman 110 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Cheers mackem Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 28,024 Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 Quote Bugger, missed it Fear not young Simon,the wonders of modern technology(and all that) worth a watch,the old couple who bought the nut-farm,and a young couple and their kids who sold-up in blighty,bought 10 acres in france and are turning it into a yurt-site for campers. http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=288324 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TOMO 27,008 Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 On 14/11/2011 at 01:23, BROCK DOG said: There was a man on grand designs the other day who was a woods man and built a house in the woods were he worked and he was seems the way to be these days if ya can do it yep good episode that one,,, its about 10 years old ,, he made the house out of copiced chestnut,, and straw bales,,, they went back a few years later,,, (grand designs revisited). he had added more to the house as he was married with kids. he was a charcoal burner Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KittleRox 2,147 Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 Right interesting lads, good stuff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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