Five Years to Self-Sufficiency

Planning
Plan Your Next Five Years

First Year: Getting Started........................................................................................... 2

Second Year: Expanding............................................................................................. 3
Third Year: Growing.................................................................................................... 5
Fourth Year: Growing Further...................................................................................... 7
Fifth Year: Going Strong.............................................................................................. 9
Sixth Year and Beyond.............................................................................................. 11
First Year: Getting Started

Starting Points:

Financial planning

Eliminate debt
Reduce spending
Budget

Gardening

Choosing and starting seeds

Location and beds
Vegetables
Care
Pest control

Your Plans:

Financial
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Gardening
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Other
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Second Year: Expanding

Things to Consider:

Gardening

New vegetables (supply half familys needs)

Soil amendment
Natural weed control
Composting

Orchards

Trees Hazelnuts
Apples Bushes and vines
Cherries Blueberries
Pears Raspberries
Asian pears Strawberries
Chestnuts Grapes
 Pest control
Disease control
Pruning

Poultry

Chickens
Housing
Predators

Livestock

Rabbits
Housing

Water

Source (ground, rain, surface)

Storing
Purifying

Energy

Generator
Cut energy consumption

Your Plans:

Gardening

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Orchards

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Poultry

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Livestock

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Water

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Energy

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 Third Year: Growing

Things to Consider:

Gardening

New vegetables
Extend growing season
Soil amendment
Raised beds, hoop houses

Poultry

Chicken for meat

Ducks
Quail
Housing

Livestock

Goats
Housing

Food Storage

Canning
Dehydrating
Freezing
Root cellar

Hunting and Fishing

Learn laws, get permits

Safety

Your Plans:

Gardening

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Poultry

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Livestock

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Food Storage

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Hunting and Fishing

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 Fourth Year: Growing Further

Things to Consider:

Gardening

New vegetables (supply almost all familys needs)

Expand skills
Collect seeds
Expand winter crops

Energy

Insulate house
Close off rooms
Adjust heat, wear warmer clothing
Space heaters
Solar heating

Livestock

Sheep
Pigs
Bees
Fish

Supplies

Candles
Cleaning
Clothing
Lotions
Quilting
Soap

 Your Plans:

Gardening

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Energy

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Livestock

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Supplies

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 Fifth Year: Going Strong

Things to Consider:

Gardening

Grains

Energy

Solar system
Wind power

Livestock

Breeding
Growing feed
Pasture rotation
Basic veterinary care

Making a living

Making an income
Fruits of the farm
Home-based business

Your Plans:

Gardening

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Energy
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Livestock

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Making a Living

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 Sixth Year and Beyond

Keep moving forward!

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