When we lived in the middle of nowhere in Vermont surrounded by acres and acres of woods it was easy to think of being self-reliant. We had a large garden where we grew a lot of our food, we had a well-stocked pantry and we heated with wood from our own property. After making a cross-country move and finding ourselves living in the city I wonder if self reliance in the city is possible?
We are currently renting a small one-bedroom apartment while we begin to search for our next home. Instead of being surrounded by woods we are surrounded by other homes. I truly believe it is possible to be self reliant even when living in the city.
The key to self-reliance in the city is having a heart for homesteading, start cutting your costs and save money for the day when you will own your acreage in the country. Our goal may not be to move back to the rural life but we do plan to have some acreage to once again garden and plan to be keeping chickens.
In the meantime we continue to live the self-reliant lifestyle.
If we can’t have raised beds I plan to raise some food in containers. I have previously grown lettuce in pots with a lot of success. I have access to my daughter’s raised beds and I can also look into community gardens. When we were first married and lived in an apartment we had a community garden close to where I worked. The community gardens were in an old pasture and the soil was some of the richest garden soil we’ve ever had.
We will continue to live simply. We’ve already made many steps to de-clutter before we moved and it is so much easier to make do with what you have rather than running out to purchase things you don’t have. For years we lived a simple life, it was a good 45-minute drive to the shopping area and you had to plan carefully before making the trip.
Buy in Bulk. When we lived in Vermont we were part of a local co-op and were able to purchase things like flour, wheat berries and sugar in bulk. While we don’t have much room in our small apartment to do much stocking up I plan to have another well stocked pantry when we find our new home.
Figure out what you can make yourself. It is so easy to make your own laundry soap whether you live in the city or the country. Making your own household cleaners not only will you save money but it is better for the environment. Make your meals from scratch instead of buying processed food. Again you will save money and eat healthier!
Self-reliance in the city is possible; it’s more a frame of mind that whether or not you have a country farm or a suburban lot. Live a simple life without spending a lot of extra money and you can be self-reliant as well.
Join us as we challenge ourselves to live a more self-reliant lifestyle for the entire month of January.
Follow our Pinterest Board for Self Reliance Challenge posts.
Stop By & Visit The Self Reliance Challenge Bloggers…
Kathi – Oak Hill Homestead
Nancy – Nancy On The Homefront
AnnMarie – 15 Acre Homestead
Farmgal – Just another Day on the Farm
Candy – Candy’s Farm House Pantry
Kristi – Stone Family Farmstead
Marla – Organic 4 Greenlivings
Heidi – Healing Harvest Homestead
Victoria – Modern Homestead Mama
Shawna – Homegrown Self Reliance
Stephanie – Happily Homegrown
Bethany – Family Growing Pains
Dianne – Hidden Springs Homestead
Julie – The Farm Wife
Lacey – Home & Harrow
Robin – A Life in the Wild
Sheri Ann – Experimental Homesteader
Lisa Lynn – The Self Sufficient HomeAcre
Nancy on the Home Front 
I live in a town but do have a garden. Ever since we got our first garden 40 years ago we have grown some of our own food. Gradually I have cut back due to health issues and hope to downsize further to a place with only a patio but will still grow herbs and salad. I make my own bread and most meals from scratch and look for bargains. I feel you are right that it is a mindset and is possible at some level wherever you live. There is a lovely community farm nearby which I may use when I have no garden.
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Being self-reliant is a goal that my husband and I work at. Great post. Thanks for partying with us at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty 29
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I felt the same way when I lived in Iqaluit, Nunavut, while I was in the high artic and growing food was really not possible in many ways we think, I did work a 18 month food plan, as we shipped in food once a year by sea lift, and you learned how to plan ahead in a big way.
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Formal,
That must have been quite an adventure living in the high arctic!
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I agree with your comment that the key to self reliance anywhere is to have the heart for it. I strongly advocate to anyone who will listen the need to grow at least a portion of one’s own food. And if your container is large enough, you can even companion plant and reap more!
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HI Nancy,
I totally agree with you. You can be self reliant in the city. Making your own cleaners which I never buy any commercial cleaner anymore, cooking from scratch which I always do and so many other things that can be done whether you live in the city or are a full time homesteader. Saving money in every way you can and living as green as you can. Very good article.
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Thank you Maria!
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I had some form of garden everywhere I’ve lived…even apartments! It is possible to grow some food and be more self reliant even in the city. I bet you are getting anxious to find a place and put down ‘roots’…lol!
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Great information for a city/rural girl!
I live in a damn 300+ River
Town with 2 Lots and rethinking my gardening due to the poor soil! So this spring it’s raised boxes and real black dirt for this Ol girl( save my back too) and more herbs and I want to try foraging; we live close to a state forest and a wooded park area on the Mississippi River so hoping to find some goodies! Thank you for all your great education!! Oh and getting chickens! So excited!
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Pamela,
I just can’t wait to have chickens again!
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Where there is a will there is a way. I followed my husband around the world while he was in the Air Force. I grew what food I could and preserved it. We fished when we could and hunted when we could. Always learning for when we had our our homestead.
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I’m in love with your pantry image. Loved the post, thanks for sharing
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Diane,
I loved my pantry!!
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Great points made, Nancy! That homesteading spirit of yours is what is going to keep you ready for when you do find that awesome new homestead!
Also, your pantry photo makes me swoon…. 🙂
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I shared on facebook because I know so many who live n the city and they want to try growing food and learning skills but do not know where to start. My husband and I live in a rental in a very small rural town and we can only garden right now but we keep learning and saving because we will purchase our own land in the near future. Thanks for a wonderful article!
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What a wonderful post! Homesteading happens anywhere, not always on a farm! Kuddos to you for continuing on your journey of being self reliant!
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Thank you for sharing this with the Homestead Blog Hop!
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