Self-sufficient life: From the ‘goat wool socks trend’ to the acute need

Refueling, heating, shopping and paying rent: This is almost impossible for many income earners. Sky-high prices for gas and grain, among other things, are affecting consumers. So Martin and Nina are arguing for a more self-sufficient economy and society.

Martin Versigton, 46, owns a small farm in the middle of a residential area in Crookies, along with an urban farmer and his sister Ada. He grows more than 50 varieties of vegetables on an urban farm. Going to the supermarket is rare. “We can eat from our garden from May to February. I always have what I need. It motivates us to eat according to the season, which means we get the right nutrition right away. We also have eggs and meat. Chickens and meat from our pigs.”

Back to that

Martin and his sister sell groceries to the townspeople, who like to see where their food comes from, without going to the shops. According to him, there are more small-scale farms that sell directly to the customer. “I think it’s increasingly clear that scaling is cost effective and lowering costs, but it’s at the expense of other factors, such as the relationship between manufacturer and consumer, the engagement of both parties and the quality of the product.

It is also important for Martin to know where his food is coming from. “The best way is to produce it yourself. One drawback is that you are dependent on nature and you bear the risk of failed cultivation, but by doing so on a large scale, I get in touch with people who think that is important too. In addition, it is difficult for you to live self-sufficiently on your own, because you have little. Need. Then a whole pig is exaggerated. Sharing with others creates opportunities for exchange. In this way we can help each other. “

“People are doing this everywhere in North Holland. I expect more people to do this anyway. Industrial complex Tired of it, we do more for each other and for each other. “

‘Feel the Earth’

“Look for places where it’s already happening and connect with each other. Feel the earth. Of course a good plan is important, but it’s a big start. It takes a lot of time and attention to grow vegetables or fruits.”

Nina Alaris (43) and her husband from Wijdenes exchanged their busy lives in the Netherlands to live closer to nature. “We have already tried to live as self-sufficiently as possible with solar panels and a vegetable garden in the Netherlands. But due to daily obligations we have not been able to further expand our self-sufficiency. In Sweden we are moving one step further.”

When she visited her father in her native New Zealand, she dreamed of living independently at the age of eighteen. “He had a big vegetable garden and we always ate from there. Then he would say: ‘Let’s go get food in the garden.’ It’s such an expression, I thought: I want it too.”

Be a little creative

By selling their house they have created a substantial buffer so that they can buy a house in Sweden and live without a mortgage. “We have now rented a house for three months to settle down. From here we will find a place we can fall in love with.”

Nina especially wants peace and quiet in Sweden. “We want to find a place far away from civilization, you do not have to drive up and down every little thing, you just have to be a little creative. This summer I will start to take in the woods and you can get a lot out of nature. We are five minutes walk from the forest, build another windmill for the garden. My husband dreams that our new home should be near a stream, and running water will stimulate energy. “

According to Nina, self-sufficient life goes beyond a vegetable garden. “This is the attitude I do myself as much as possible. My husband is very humble and maintains the car and the house. I bake my bread and clean my clothes, balm, shampoo and face.”

Comrade YouTube

But what if you have two left hands? “YouTube is our mate. Of course we can not do everything ourselves, but there are very simple exercises in it. Learn it yourself. Start with some sprouts or vegetable garden. Do not throw away broken clothes, but take the needle and thread with it or try to make a dress yourself. “

However, Nina certainly does not ban all modern technologies. “The new house will have a washing machine. You should not live like some kind of Amish people. It’s a matter of making choices. What’s important to you? Try to do something yourself, you can always hire people, but you can figure out how to do it yourself.”