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THE
BASICS
water
That all life
depends on water for survival; that clean fresh
water is in limited supply; that water is sacred
seems like it ought to go without saying - yet,
we all take it so for granted. Stepping outside
the convenience of water that flows from a tap
brings a whole lot of perspective to this
life-giving nectar. Effective planning is
critical to self reliance. Next to air, water is
the second most important nutrient for human
survival.
heat
If you have the
opportunity to pitch a tent on one of the
beaches of the world and build your life in
year-round sunshine, staying warm is not an
issue. On the other hand if you're any kind of
familiar with damp cold whistling through your
home during a January snowstorm, the NEED for
heat is obvious. A heating system that supports
a self-reliant lifestyle takes planning, but it
can still be simple. Low technology example: is
a wood stove; high technology example: is an
ambient heat gathering system that keeps your
home warm with no effort on your part and
'burns' no fuel.
energy
Our personal
comforts are largely tied to our capability to
produce electricity. Self reliance means that
you become your own mini-power company. There
are now many 'off-the-shelf' options so that you
never need to be in the dark again. In today's
world, decentralization is becoming the norm. A
power grid made of independent power producers
is far more flexible than depending on one
centralized power source.
food
Food can easily
be stored against times of lack, but the habits
of storing and rotating the stored food must be
in place before the need arises. It is also good
to know how to grow your own food. Start with
simple basics: have a mini-garden on a
windowsill and to store non-hybrid
seeds.
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