our journey into self sufficiency 30 years on

[George245]

Hi All

Kingston on Thames 30 odd years ago WH Smiths; looking at coffee table books on cars when I came across the very newly published Complete Self Sufficiency by JS. I was completely hooked from that very moment. Couldn't get it out of my mind all week; much to the amazement of my wife suggested we went shopping the next Saturday. Dragged her round to WHS and bought the book there and then. Convinced her this was for us she agreed almost instantly. Slowly we traded houses; built bits on; both of us worked all the hours under the sun and saved like mad. However many years later we bought our place in Wales. We have never been anything like close to self sufficient but in our time here (over 20 years) have kept calves, pigs, turkeys, chickens a commercial flock of sheep and goats for milk. grown veggies and fruit raised a fine family. To many stories to tell except interestingly I found out only a few years ago my dad served with JS all though in Burma in the KAR.

Won't bore you all with any more except to say those starting out on the trail of finding a place with land "best wishes" it is worth all the effort and I don't regret a minute of it. We have had and continue to have great fun and a "Good Life"

[GingerKatieSparkles]

Thanks - we have just bought the "place with land" in Wales too and are starting out with a young family in tow... we have the JS book too, it is early days yet but I hope in 20 years time we've packed as much in as you have!

[red]

hi Gearge - welcome - sounds like you will have lots of experience to share with us

[Jack]

Gidday

Good onya mate. What I have done is to just try to get back to how things were with our family when I was a boy but with all the mod cons.

Yep mate, sure is worth trying, but ya gotta keep a good attiduded about it because things done always go right and where there is livestock there can also be dead stock.

And hats off to your father too because that would have been a living hell.

[Millymollymandy]

Hello George and welcome. That's an inspiring story - hope you will have lots to share with us!

[ina]

Hiya George, welcome to Ish! You seem to have a perfect SSish history...

[contadina]

Did you do a Tom and Barbara? Kingston's so very close to Surbiton.

[tim&fatima]

Hello George, and Welcome.
There are a lot of people on this site that are just starting out on their own selfsuff life. So it is very inspiring and uplifting to here from someone who has "lived the dream" however hard it may have been at times.
And trust me we won't get bored of your stories.. so type away.
nice to have you part of ish.

[witch way?]

Hello George, Just as we all seem to be fairly new to SS its good to hear from somebody who's been at it as long as you have and that its worthwhile. Nice to hear that it truly is sustainable. W.

[eccentric_emma]

hello! it is nice to hear that this lifestyle obviously doesnt get boring! im sure u will have a wealth of info to share!

[George245]

Gidday

Good onya mate. What I have done is to just try to get back to how things were with our family when I was a boy but with all the mod cons.

Yep mate, sure is worth trying, but ya gotta keep a good attiduded about it because things done always go right and where there is livestock there can also be dead stock.

And hats off to your father too because that would have been a living hell.

Hi Jack

I don't have a problem with mod cons either except I struggle a bit with electronic stuff (PC's included). Getting back to how things were when we were young rings a cord with us as well, We are lucky to have land but it isn't the most important thing abvout SS. I once meet a chap who was a solicitor in New York USA ( I think they call thenselves Attorneys) he lived in a high rise flat and long story but he made himself a ladder back rocking chair out of green wood. Why beacuse he wanted to prove that he could still light a fire without matches and not have to sit on the ground; so he wasn't completely dependant on other to manufacture what he needed. Ditto those who grow some of their food etc When we were kids my Dad kept chickens, grew veg repaired our shoes. Mum fixed the holes in my socks etc. Claire asked if we did a Tom and Barbara,nothing so romantic I am afraid but we had 2 allotments; a wood burning stove and that was radical. When my boss said I could have a company car I asked if I could have a pickup; we compromised and I had a VW bus. Our first pigs (kept by a friend who had land before us) travelled in style in the back. I am still as learning and as enthusiastic as I ever was and am about to make a wood fired bread oven; Jamie Oliver seems to have got there first so I feel as if I am now a follower of fashion. My wife used to knit me socks (no heel just a sort of long tube) I was really proud of them . Last ramble keep smiling; your right about live stock dead stock; last year my leeks were a disaster but when we saw the price of baby leeks I was really quite pleased mine were so small. Hey Ho as they say. Thus ends my second ever posting I hope I have not bored you all and if I ever seem trite or condescending feel free to give me a verbal kick up the backside

[old tree man]

welcome

Russ

[Thurston Garden]

Ahoy George!