If you want to start living a more self sufficient life, you need to be ready to rethink what it actually means to be self sufficient.
For context, we asked 7 people living their self-sufficient dream what being self sufficient meant to them and the answers will surprise you.
I'm not going to throw down here the boring and tired verse about the dictionary definition of what it means to be self sufficient because really, when people say they “want to be self sufficient“, they don't actually want to be literally self sufficient in all things; at least not from the research we carried out.
And if you do, then I'm hoping this will be your inspirational action plan to reframe that thinking into something more achievable. Self sufficiency; the bournebright way.
In this guide, I'm going to give you 10 simple, introductory steps you can complete today that will give you a taste of the self sufficient life and the kinds of things you should be thinking about when starting to live more self sufficiently.
This guide serves as a precursor to the other courses and information on the website and acts as a gentle introduction to the Bournebright Method of Self Sufficiency.
Introducing The Bournebright Method of Self Sufficiency
When I talk about self sufficiency here; I'm talking about withdrawing your life energy from parasitic institutions and being as free from state intervention as possible to allow you to regain control over your own life.
This idea extends complimentary outwards into food self sufficiency, health self sufficiency, energy self sufficiency and income self sufficiency. It also nourishes your spirit.
It never once assumes that you can ever be 100% self-sufficient in all things; that would be crazy; you need to trade with other self-sufficient beings living a similar lifestyle to yours for the things you need that they create.
You always need to leverage and lean on the expertise of your network to exchange goods and services that you can't provide for yourself; you just don't need any 3rd party interlopers (the state, licensing bodies, institutions or any other parasites) muscling into the middle of that arrangement.
In a nutshell then, the philosophical underpinning of the bournebright method of self sufficiency is that you are, by your very nature, pre-ordained to self-determine. You have a right, given to you by the virtue of your birth, to go about your life in your own way.
Yet somehow, somewhere along your journey of life, you've had that idea washed from your brain and you're here because your innermost conscious self is telling you that it's time to remember. It's time to wake up. It's time to take back that which has been stolen from you.
Getting Started With Self Sufficiency
In the bournebright method, the concept of self-sufficiency and leading a more self sufficient life is viewed in the context of seven elements:
Food, Shelter, Income, Energy, Health, Wealth, People
The goal is to become as self sufficient in each of these elements as possible, thus reducing the amount of life energy you lose to the state – and whatever dark force lies behind the state.
Energy is finite. If you are constantly expending yours on pursuits that do not bring meaning and purpose to your life that fully align with your intuitive self, you will forever feel unaccomplished, downtrodden and likely depressed.
That's because what this ‘system' has done better than anything else is squeeze your self-esteem into a set of pre-approved characteristics, most of which are emasculating, and made you value and compare yourself to others relative to how many meaningless things you collect throughout your life.
The bournebright method seeks to break down those pre-approved characteristics by empowering you with true self-worth; that is to say, the knowledge that you can and are able to take care of yourself and your family without as much reliance (dependence) on poisonous institutions as they'd like you to think.
It does that by teaching you how to withdraw your energy from the ‘system'; and gives you actionable steps you can take to redirect that energy back into the pursuit of self-development and self-determination.
This introductory guide offers 10 tips to start building your self sufficient life today that are designed to empower you with knowledge, habits and confidence that will really make you want to start embracing this new way of living.
10 Tips To Start Building Your Self Sufficient Life Today
The journey towards your self sufficient life starts the moment you take an action that moves you closer to that goal. Every single step you take, however small, moves you one step closer to where you want to be.
These 10 tips are designed to be quick, actionable and accessible starting points that you can implement today that will put you on the path of self sufficiency.
They may not seem like it at first, but each tip has a lesson hidden beneath the surface that will re-ignite a primal force within you.
I challenge you to complete them all and record your progress in the accompanying free downloadable worksheet below.
The worksheet forms the basic starting point of the Bournebright Method of Self Sufficiency and can be used in conjunction with any of the self sufficiency courses and guides you'll find throughout the website.
1. Plant Something You Enjoy Eating
It doesn't matter where you are or how much land you've got, you can find space to plant one thing you enjoy eating.
Beans, peas, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, strawberries and lettuce are all easy to grow and can be planted in a pot that will sit on your window ledge.
Any Pot Is A Good Pot
It doesn't even need to be a pot! You could use a Tupperware plastic container, half cut milk bottle, shopping bag or anything else that you can put some soil into. As long as it can hold some soil and has holes in the bottom to let excess water drain out, it will work.
Soil Is Free Too
The soil component is also simple. You can either take it from your own garden, buy some compost from your local supplier or go full wildling and get out into the nearest patch of disused or untended public land and fill a carrier bag up with soil to bring home.
Make sure it's nice and crumbly with no rocks in it before you put it in your pot.
Seeds
Ok, this is the one component you may have to buy. Your local supermarket will have some pre-packed seeds you can pick up for next to nothing so get out there and do it.
I promise you it will change your life.
Even if your efforts only save you the cost of buying one bag of potatoes or a bunch of carrots, you've taken an action that keeps money in your pocket and saved you from putting money into theirs. This is an empowering thing to do.
2. Choose One Thing To Give Up For 30 Days
It can be a big thing or a little thing but it must be something that costs you money or time.
If you're struggling to choose something; here are a few ideas:
- Chocolate bars
- Coffee
- Social media in the evenings/mornings
- McDonalds / other fast food
- Sugar (if you take two sugars, start taking one – or none!)
- Netflix
It's only for 30 days; so push yourself. Let me know what you choose in the comments below.
3. Walk On Grass Barefoot
Yes; take 15 minutes today to find some grass to stand on and do nothing for 15 whole minutes.
Be alone with your thoughts. No interruptions.
You can keep your eyes open or closed but you have to stand there, in silence, for the entire 15 minutes.
4. Turn Off All Appliances In Your Home For 1 Hour
Get the whole family involved in an hour-long switch-off. Every single appliance has to be switched off (refrigerators and freezers are the only exception).
Lights, TVs, chargers, routers, modems, laptops, washing machines, microwaves and anything else other than your refrigerator or freezer must be turned off at the mains and not used.
During the entire hour; no mobiles should be used at all.
Let me know how you do in the forum or the comments section below.
5. Settle A ‘Debt'
This doesn't need to be ‘settled in full', but you need to take charge of the ‘debt'.
Call up your most expensive credit card company or utility company (the one that costs you the most each month) or a company that are chasing you for payment but you haven't yet paid and tell them you have recently had a change in your employment circumstances and you'd like to offer a temporarily reduced amount for 3 months.
Make an offer that is 50% of your current payment or, if you've not yet paid anything, an offer that is below what they are asking for but comfortable for you to pay (£1, £10, £50).
The main objective in doing this is to reclaim your power over these energy vampires. There are other was to handle such things that I'll go over in other posts but for now, take that power back.
6. Sell Something You No Longer Need
Using nothing more than your phone and your local classified section (Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Craigslist or even a Car Boot Sale / Yard Sale), list something you no longer need for sale.
You can only accept payment in cash.
When your buyer comes to collect your item, try and persuade them you have something else that would match the item they just bought and you're getting rid of that too and see if you can sell that in person.
Let me know how you do in the comments below!
7. Prepare A Meal From Scratch Using Only Natural Foods
Using only whole, natural foods (fruit, vegetables, meat/fish or herbs), prepare and cook a meal from start to finish.
You can't microwave any element of it.
8. Make A List Of 5 Things You're Good At
These could be any things.
You should try to identify skills you use currently in your job, in your home, or in your life in general that you are good at; better than most, even.
They could be things like:
- Drawing
- Writing
- Cooking
- Engineering
- DIY
- Music
- Dancing
- Running
- Being A Good Parent
- Being A Good Husband
- Communicating Your Thoughts
They don't need to be what you'd consider 'employable' skills. Anything goes. What are you good at?
This is the first step to narrowing down skills that you can use to earn your own living and become more income self sufficient.
9. Find Your Nearest Natural Mineral Spring
Search Find A Spring .com and identify your closest natural water spring.
If there are none close enough to you; make it a mission to find your closest spring.
You can use old ordnance survey maps of your area but it might require a bit of investigation.
10. Connect With A Local, Self-sufficiency Minded Group
There are a few ways you can do this now, with various networks emerging over the last 2 years.
You should contact your nearest group in your local area and commit to attend at least one meeting.
If you can't find any in your local area; you should start one!
If you're in the UK
If you're in the US
If you're in Europe
Want To Start Becoming Even More Self Sufficient?
If you complete all 10 of these challenges and you still want to become more self sufficient and lead a more meaningful self sufficient life, then consider joining the online community or signing up to one of the more in-depth self sufficiency courses available.
Stay free out there!
My partner found you online and sent me your link.
I love it!
I am already started on becoming self sufficient and growing a few things for now, but plan to plant more. We live in the algarve Portugal, but are both originally from UK.
I have already learned how to can things from you tube videos and love doing it.
I am at a difficult stage now where I’m working for myself cleaning and gardening for others, but I need to reduce that time spent on others to spend more time on my own land to accomplish my dream. But it will also reduce my income. So I feel I will have to work very hard to combine the two for a while until my crops grow. But I’m looking forward to a brighter more free future.
Hello, Rhona,
Oh I am pleased to hear you enjoyed reading the guides. I hope to continue building them up over time and even sharing the things that others learn to to make it a really useful resource for people looking to do the same.
Canning is brilliant. It’s just good practice to actually learn how to grow, preserve and store your food. It’s a skill we should never have let slip by the wayside.
I love how you’re cleaning/gardening for others too. That is real self sufficiency there – doing something with your own time that leads to you living a more fulfilled, purposeful life. That’s the secret to it all.
I hope you’re getting paid in cash only…
Hi, Seb. Thank you for this very sensible and helpful article. Like everyone else, I am struggling. For 3 yrs I have been growing a vegetable garden through the Summer and noticed this year the yield was down big time. Living in Canada, I can’t grow in the Winter and can’t afford indoor growing stuff (ex: growing lights). I’m trying to think of ways to supplement my income (I’m retired) and stay independent but it’s all very taxing. I’m sure your article will be very helpful to others and will pass it on. Thank you for taking the time to help others.
Hello Ana,
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
It’s good to hear about your growing adventures and even if the yield was down, you are still way ahead of most people. So don’t beat yourself up there.
Supplementing income is always tricky to get started.
I am planning to do a full series on income self sufficiency and how you can start doing this but it’s not scheduled until later in the year. (Yes, I have a ‘schedule of what I plan to write about and when because I’m still just one man).
In the meantime, here’s a couple of ideas:
1. Could you grow mushrooms? Or learn to forage them. Now is the time for that. I’ve thought about having a ‘mushroom farm’ in a garden shed many times, and is something I will do eventually. I would grow ‘expensive’ varieties that all these posh restaurants and would like to have.
2. Being retired; you will have a lot of skills that others want to learn. Could you try your hand at teaching online? Here’s a link to an article about earning a living teaching what you love via outschool.
Hope that helps give you a bit of inspiration.
Make sure you check here regularly or sign up to the mailing list for when I start writing more about this later on.
🙏