Читать книгу The Self-Sufficiency Specialist - Alan Bridgewater - Страница 10

Once you have decided in broad terms that you want to be in the town or the countryside, you must start looking at the fine details of what is possible. The following will point you in the right direction.

Town

 In the UK, allotments are low-cost, sometimes even free for people who are on a small income.

 Lots of allotment associations traditionally allow chickens, rabbits, goats and other stock.

 A large garden could be turned over to food production – you could have one or more greenhouses.

 You could rent ground – from neighbours, private individuals and local councils.

 Keeping livestock in town can be a problem – people will complain about smells and noise.

 Town-based self-sufficiency has to be tightly controlled because space is at a premium.

 There will be local restrictions – how many chickens, how much noise, and so on.

 You might not be allowed to have a wind turbine, but you could insulate your house and fit solar collectors.

 You will be able to draw inspiration from cultural activities such as visiting museums, art galleries and theatres and attending lectures.

 You could bring public transport into the overall equation.

 You will easily be able to do part-time paid work to support your go-green activities.

 You could sell produce like goat’s milk, cheese and fresh vegetables at the garden gate.

 There are a growing number of inner-city community farms; perhaps you could join such a set-up.

 Your children will easily be able to get to school.

A large number of allotment holders are already completely self-sufficient in organic fruit and vegetables.

For some people the off-grid option complete with a wind turbine is at the heart of the dream.

Countryside

 The feeling of space can be spiritually uplifting – you will be very aware of the changing seasons.

 In the context of self-sufficiency, living in the country equates with more space, which in turn equates with more choice.

 If you have a large garden – 0.2 hectare (half an acre) or more – you will be able to keep livestock – anything from chickens through to a cow.

 Living in the country will give you greater access to tools and materials – all the things that you need to set your self-sufficiency dreams in motion.

 Noise pollution is low, which is very important. You will be able to hear yourself think, the birds singing, your animals calling, the wind in the trees, and so on.

 Light pollution is low. You will be able to see the stars at night – perfect if communing with nature is important to you.

 Land costs, meaning those of agricultural land, are low. You can rent whole fields, spreads or woods.

 Rural activities are good fun and relatively low-cost, but more importantly many of them will relate to your go-green endeavours. For example, not only will the various county shows feature old tractors, crafts and eco-products, but perhaps more importantly they might offer you an outlet for your goods or produce.

 Not only will you have room to take up horse riding, watch nature, build eccentric garden structures, run around the garden singing or whatever takes your fancy, but the space will allow you to experiment and build some of the off-grid options – such items as a wind turbine or a water turbine, in fact all sorts of large structures that you could not build in town.

 There are fewer people in the countryside. You will have more personal space, which can be very important for some people.