How far would you go?

[Milims]

I was watching a spot of car crash TV this morning and Wife Swap USA came on. The swap was between a very plastic, very showy, money orientated Yummy Mummy and an Eco, Selfsufficient, not shaved her armpits for 6 years, mummy. The self sufficient family lived in a wooden house in the middle of nowhere, grew their own, kept chickens, made candles, shopped at the thrift store - the stuff familiar to us all - but they also lived, completely, without electricity. In the evenings they donned head torches in order to have enough light to function. It made me think about how far I would take my family into selfsufficiency. Although we manage well enough during a power cut and we are as careful as we can be about not wasting electricity - but I don't think I could manage to life totally electricity free.

[Millymollymandy]

I'd move straight in with Yummy Mummy! Sorry but way too cold here to not have electricity (it powers our paraffin heaters and during cold snaps, central heating (just caved in and put it on because 10C in my bedroom is just not on) and electric blankets to make said cold bedroom bearable!!

Also if I can't plug my hair dryer in then I would have to live with a permanent paper bag over my head.

[Flo]

I've been pretty close to the eco mummy situation as a child and nearly as close on occasions as an adult. I'd not be too worried if I had to change back to that sort of life style. Whether I would really get off my backside and go do it, now there's a question.

[Zech]

At the moment, not very far. A friend gave me John Seymour's self sufficiency book, and I was very taken with his advice not to try to do everything at once. To start with, I'm focusing on gardening and cooking - in time I hope to go further.

I do try to use less electricity but I don't think I could go without entirely. I did see some information about a pedal-powered generator that I'd love to try, though!

[greenorelse]

It would challenge just about anyone these days to do wIthout electricity but wouldn't surprise me if we see rota power cuts in these islands before the end of the decade. Things are easier if you know when cuts will occur.

We've managed quite happily for hours on many occasions without electricity - we have a lot of lights that use solar power and very few gadgets. I'd have to do something about the computer though...

As for the OP's post, yummy mummy, dummy mummy.

[Milims]

As for the OP's post, yummy mummy, dummy mummy.

She was horrific!

So apart from the electricity issue - how far in other ways would you go in selfsufficiency?

[StripyPixieSocks]

Off grid is my dream but only if there are other ways to get power such as solar / wind etc... I need my 'puter to keep me sane ;o)

My dream is to buy this cottage and the one to each side and then the field out back and really get down to nature except to say I would still want mains water.

I would breed my own meat and grow my own veg :)

[Susie]

Did she not have a fridge? I couldn't manage without a fridge. I'm tending strongly towards MMM's position apart from the hairdryer, because I've managed to convince myself that Cousin It actually has a really good look.

[greenorelse]

So apart from the electricity issue - how far in other ways would you go in selfsufficiency?

We have our own well but it does rely on electricity. Still, solar panels, a few batteries and an inverter would run it whenever we needed fresh water. We have plenty stored too.

We compost everything, including our own excreta.

We don't consume animal products and grow a good proportion of our own food, with a greater proportion planned this year.

We chop our own wood if we can get trees for free or chop pallets.

We tend to bike everywhere if possible.

So here, it's not would so much as do. Not far enough yet but getting there.

[MuddyWitch]

Watch this space...

Oh & the last time we used the hair dryer (hubby's from his bachelor days and it's our 20th wedding anniversary on Wed ) was when we needed to warm some flashing in -2C to repair the roof!

MW

[happyhippy]

Well once we considered living in a bender permanantly but ditched the plans because our two (the teenage)daughters were against it! Can't think why?lol I'm alot more eco friendly than my husband.I could quite easily live without the fridge/freezer,tv,and our elecric radio's(we have a wind up.solar powered one)but I don't think my OH could?I also think if I was'nt working fulltime I could actually do without the washing machine as well?As far as lights go,we use bare minimum now,usually a very small table lamp and the rest are candles.I'd love to give it a trial though?It would be interesting would'nt it?

[gregorach]

... but they also lived, completely, without electricity. In the evenings they donned head torches in order to have enough light to function.

How are they powering their head torches? If they're buying single-use batteries for them, that's about the worst possible way of going about it (well, unless you start getting into seriously inefficient lighting like candles or oil lamps...)

I could live without electricity, but it's certainly not something I'd choose to do. For many applications, lighting in particular, it can be vastly more efficient that any of the alternatives.

[niknik]

I could live without electricity, but it's certainly not something I'd choose to do.

Same here..... the main thing I´d really miss....the computer.

We did live without for about 3 months, when we first moved into the house.. but the neighbours, did all our washing ( 2 of them even had a fight overit once!)
cooking on gas, couple gas camping lights, a few candles. we had cool boxes, and swapped the ice packs, twice daily , the ocl shop kept them in his freezer!
and we were lenta generator for the power tools!

Notquite the same. but we survived no problem ( 3 young kids at time)

I´d love to go off grid, get solar, wid, or better a pedal power ( really want one of those, sure would get fit and stay fit). Grow all my own fruit / veg, raise meat........ basically as self sufficient as possible.

I would still have a car ( diesel) and try bio diesels etc.. and would have to buy some stuff.clothes ( can´t sew), flour, fish, some alcohol. ( rarely drink so not worth brewing my own). but it´s a dream. unless I can sell and find the right property!

[Keaniebean]

As long as I had hot water I wouldn't mind getting rid of the rest, but I'd be grumpy without the internet I have to be honest.

[KathyLauren]

I'm not sure I would want to be totally off-grid.

I have neighbours who are, though, and they seem to get by just fine. They have solar panels to power their 'puter and recharge their cell phones. For longer computer sessions than they have battery capacity for, they go to the community school or a local bistro that has electricity and Wifi.