3 Reasons Why Self-Sufficiency Is Overrated

Last week, I posted three reasons why I think self-sufficiency has never been more important.  But today, we’re going to switch gears and talk about why self-sufficiency, especially as it’s discussed in the prepper or homesteading community, is seriously overrated.  More than that, we’re going to cover three ways to build community instead of self-isolating.

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Here’s the thing: humans are social creatures.  We aren’t meant to lone-ranger our way through our conflicts; rather, we’re meant to live in community.  As much as we’re conditioned to celebrate the Swiss-army-knife types, the do-it-all-yourself heroes of history… that’s not how people actually lived in previous decades or centuries. 

With that in mind, here are three reasons why I believe the idea of self-sufficiency is overrated:

1. True self-sufficiency is impossible

As the saying goes, “No man is an island.”  And it’s true.  My family and I are taking small steps toward financial, food, and energy independence… but that doesn’t mean we can produce everything we need to survive.

Reducing your dependency on the grid is a good thing.  As I mentioned last week, most of us are too dependent on unreliable supply chains.  For example, instead of relying entirely on supermarkets, maybe we should learn to cultivate some of our own food.  But that doesn’t mean we can grow everything we need.  The idea of being totally self-sufficient is a myth.

2. True self-sufficiency is impractical

I don’t know about you, but as a busy suburbanite on a budget, I can’t just drop everything and start planting next year’s dinner.  I don’t have the time, energy, or money to keep sheep for wool so I can spin my own yarn and knit my own clothes.  While such a lifestyle was conceivable a few centuries ago, today, it’s just not practical. 

3. True self-sufficiency is isolating.

This point is probably the most important of the entire post.  Once again, as humans, we’re designed to live in community, not to self-isolate and depend only on ourselves.  Trying to produce everything your family needs is not only unattainable; it’s exhausting. 

Doing it all yourself may sound like a noble goal.  But trying to achieve that goal is a quick way to burn yourself out.  As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, taking on too much at once can be expensive and discouraging. 

Now that we’ve covered the three reasons why self-sufficiency is overrated, let’s take a look at the alternative: three ways to build community wherever you’re at.

1. Learn to provide what you can for your family and barter for the rest.

A lot of suburban homesteaders find that they’re great at cultivating some things… but not others.  A neighbor or friend, however, may be great at cultivating something different, but not what the first person is growing.  This works well for both parties, as they can trade produce to meet each other’s needs. 

2. Learn skills from others who have more experience or different interests than you

Are you new to gardening?  Find a master gardener and learn from him or her.  Do you want to learn how to sew or quilt?  Find a quilting group and learn from them.  Have you ever wanted to go hunting but never had the chance?  Find a friend who’d be willing to take you (but make sure you get the proper licenses first!). 

Some of these skills might be outside of your comfort zone, and that’s alright.  The point is that you can find others who have these skills (or more) and learn from them.  Not only will you gain knowledge, but you’ll gain new friendships.  And who knows?  Maybe you have a skill that your new friends would be interested in learning, too.

3. Learn to be a good neighbor and a contributing member of your local community

Being a good neighbor doesn’t have to cost anything.  Just waving hello or offering a friendly greeting can go a long way.  Going a step further—bringing small gifts or homemade goodies—can further build your relationships. 

Returning to the first point of this list, see which of your neighbors have a garden and/or are willing to barter.  Maybe the neighbor three houses down doesn’t garden, but he grills fantastic briskets.  Maybe the lady across the street doesn’t bake, but she can mend anything made of fabric.  Find out what the people around you can do, and—more than that—what they need and how you can meet those needs. 

If the worst-case-scenario occurs—whether it’s another pandemic, a natural disaster, or even the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it (TEOTWAWKI)—you’ll have people around you and your family that you know and trust. 

As I mentioned last week, the novel Lights Out by David Crawford deals with a TEOTWAWKI scenario, but instead of shooting his way through every conflict, the protagonist works with his neighbors to build a community with everyone working together to survive (and more than that, to thrive). 

So there you have it!  Three reasons why self-sufficiency is overrated and three ways to build community wherever you’re at. 

Have something else to add to either list?  Let me know in the comments!