If you had to, could you be self-sufficient?

I guess if I had no choice I would be able to, although I cant see myself slaughtering any animal. I would probably have to be a vegetarian if it came to that. I could raise a garden and ride a horse and buggy, heck the Amish still do pretty much all of that (not sure about the slaughtering but they garden and do the whole horse and buggy thing).I could live without tv and computer and all that but I wouldnt like it. I'm spoiled now!

Although it would be unnatural and illogical to turn the natural development cycle (which dictates to move forward) and revert back to stone age yet, you know, i have dreamt of living in tranquility of isolation with my family. I have imagined such scenario many a time and shared it with my family. We have always enjoyed our virtual journey to such a situation, where we are living nearby a river with fertile land and not so far green mountains topped with layers of snow, giving it an awe-inspiring glary look. I would make a hut by cutting tree trunks to make walls, door, windows and ceiling structure and palmate leaves to cover the roof and to carpet the floor. I'll cultivate vegetables and fruits and will use river water for irrigation by making a little water way. I'll fish from the river by a spear made by myself from wood and dressed by sharp stones. My wife will cook it on firewood ignited by firestone while i enjoy talking to her and my son and then we will enjoy it together. She will also sew clothes for the family made by leaves. I'll make a boat out of log to take my family on vacation to other side of the river to enjoy the beauty of nature. At night we will chat while seeing and enjoying the vastness of skies filled with twinkling stars and a gorgeous moon. We will thank the bounties of GOD and will go to sleep, to start yet another new day. I know that this is too imaginative to realize but who knows! i, with my family, end up doing exactly the same :-)

Both my partner and I are very keen on self-sufficiency and green living. While it would be a struggle to manage without some things, I certainly wouldn't miss things like beauty salons and car dealers.

I think that human beings have a survival instinct in them. Of course it has been dulled by generations of privilege and convenience, but I still think that we can summon that power if we needed to. Remember, human beings existed long before technology. We found out way somehow, and if we were forced to, I think that we could do it again. Granted, it would be difficult for most to adjust, but humans have done it before. There are still tribes in this world who do live off of the land, so it can be done in modern times.

I think i would be able to adapt and do it. Im not very squeemish so kiling animals wouldn't be a problems once i did it a few times. Gardening would be fairly easy for me too. I have actually always wanted to learn to become self sufficiant as the way the world is going these days its not a bad thing to know.

Are you kidding me? My hubby always tells me that I would have never made it back in the old days. I'm such a clean freak as far as clothes and my body that if I get the slightest bit dirty I'm taking a shower. I'll admit that I take 2-3 showers a day. I don't do camping cause I don't have the luxury of jumping in the shower anytime I feel like it. I guess if I ABSOLUTLY had to I MIGHT be able to do it. Might being the key word here.

I think one day I might have to as Christians will not accept the mark they will have to live in society without any money. I hope I am not around in those days, but if I am I think we will all help each other out and work for one another. We will have to go into hiding and keep away from others who are trying to destroy us. You probably think I am mad now, but this is what I believe and one day we will have to live off nature alone.

There was a time when I could have been pretty much self-sufficient, but not now that I live in a city, in an apartment building. I've grown food, baked my own bread, raised and slaughtered chickens, done my own wiring and plumbing. I also know some woodcraft and survival skills. A lot of the things that most people consider necessary these days aren't even a part of my life, so I wouldn't suffer if they disappeared. But I would certainly miss my computer and my DVDs.

Yes i could. It would be hard, but i could do it. between the age of 18 to 21, i was with a group of seventeen people that decided to try an experiment the army did, and live only by what we did. we had our own garden, in which we grow in vegetables and watermelons. we had trees that we planned that brought us fruit, we had greenhouse with cucumbers and tomatoes in which we grew and sold to other suppliers. we had our animals place, that we took care of chickens and pigs, two horses, two donkeys and four dog's guess we had more stuff. but we did it all by ourselves. and we learned it by reading about it. we had a lot of mistakes, and a lot of failures, but eventually we did it. So if i were at that position again, i would know how to act, and i would know who to pick for my special group, so things will go a bit more easier then the last time.

My boyfriend have discussed this numerous times, and we've decided that we wouldn't survive. Neither of us have a knack for gardening nor do we have the heart to slaughter an animal, as we're both vegans. If we HAD to learn to survive, we would figure out a way. We could always go try to buy vegetables from neighbors and farmers who raise their gardens. As for water, we could find a creek and get water, then boil it to get rid of the impurities... Indeed, it would be terribly hard to learn to survive without all of the things we have today, such as electricity. Everybody takes electricity for granted. We should all stop for a moment and be thankful for the things that we have today, because we could lose them in an instant.

I personally think that the way things have been going it is more than just a question to wonder about. There is a ring of necessity to it to some degree. There are a lot of people here in America that would not have a clue what to do if there was no power, no available gasoline, etc. Take those two things and everything comes to a standstill (not what America knows). My husband and I have discussed this topic many times and we could definately survive without it all. We have a very large garden that we try to use as our main food source all year (year round gardening). I have been learning a lot about starting from seed, eating with the season (what is available in the garden during that season as opposed to buying vegies from say...mexico or chile), canning, freezing. If everything I am accustomed to were gone... I would have even more to learn like...root cellar storage instead of freezing. We are well on our way to being self sufficient to an extent so it wouldn't be as difficult to make the final leap if necessary. I also think that if it were to come to this there would be a reuniting of people again also. What I mean by this is, for example, I have the resources and capability to grow a large garden with a lot of food, my grandparents, mother-in-law, and others physically cannot. They would become an extension of my home and probably live on our property. This is the way a lot of societies are. They would help where they could..perhaps with the children, cooking, or cleaning while the younger adults did more of the physically demanding work. It would work out. Family helping family, neighbors helping neighbors. Although, I agree with an earlier post that there would also be terrible fighting over the last of the resources. It's unfortunate but true. I would try to stay clear of that mess myself.

I would definitely give it my best shot. My favorite books as a kid were the Little House series.

Personally I couldn't survive but humanity as a whole could. We've done it in the past and its possible. If there was no modern world I just can't imagine myself being sufficient enough to survive in the game of survival of the fittest. If there was none of these things, then we would resort to using the barter system which is very inefficient. I'll trade you 5 cows for your 250 chicken eggs

it is like living in 4th or 5th century!!!!!!!! yaa it will be a good experience. but it not easy to live without these things nowadays.doing work on your on way there will be no lighi no late night partes or o disco night,oing to market without any car or bike.no computer no source of listining music and all things.it will not possible for me to live in this condition. it willtake some time to adjust in that kind of condition .this condition can help to becomemore selfdependent and give a break from this materialistic world

Yeah..I probably wouldn't do that well settled in one spot. I'd probably be able to live as I've always wanted to try to..wandering from place to place. People used to do it alot. I could do on a salad and whatever else I could scavenge or catch for dinner sure. It'd probably take me a little while to learn to fish and hunt, but I'd get it sooner or later..and there'd be plenty of other goodies just lying around. I'm sure I'd be fine. I never had what I wanted, whenever I wanted anyway. My family was never that well off lol.

"When the going gets tough, the tough gets going". I certainly believe I can survive. I have survived before and I am sure I can make it if I need to be self-sufficient. What I have survived may not be as drastic as what was listed above, but it proves a great experience for me. I have to work part-time (even when I was schooling) to help support the family when I was just a teenager. It was tough, surviving through pains, hunger and thirst just for a mere few dollars and yet still need to do homework through the night and getting up early to prepare for school.

I think with 3 good hos and a lick her store I could eak out some sort of subsistance living.

There is no doubt that if It were necessary I could be self sufficient.. I live in the mid west where we have yards and Gardens. In my life I have learned to Spin Yarn knit weave sew quilt I can farm if I had to. Have raised a great number of animals can milk a cow and a goat. Can make soap from scratch. Light a fire dowse for water and other things. I know herbs and berries and nuts. I know people who do live the way you say... Since I eat mostly veggies any way the killing is no an issue ....I have gentle broken two horses but I don't know that I want to do it again..... Could I survive Yes.... But I love to know how to do things I also love TV and MOvies and books and music and electricity. Sooo I think I would be fine but I pray I never have to find out