Category: Self Reliant Living

The most important element of not just self reliant living but life in general is to have the ability to think clearly to be able to operate 100%. To do this we need to ensure that we are fully rested and give ourselves the time and space to rest and reset.

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There is a lot of talk around self care, how and when to put time aside for it. Self care isn’t an act of selfishness. I can attest to the fact as a mother and partner i need to remind myself of this regularly. Building a self reliant life whilst raising two young children is not easy, it takes a lot out of you. It isn’t possible nor healthy in any way to pour from an empty cup. Most definitely not sustainable! More often than not both myself and frank find ourselves just being on the go, one thing after the other because there is so much to do, all the time and forgetting to pause.

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Being stressed seems to be the norm in today’s fast-paced society that pressures us to devote our lives to work and “earning” a living. This way of thinking is hard to shake off even as a family that have made the conscious decision to live a sustainable life. Finding balance in ourselves and in turn helping pass it on not just our children but help others along the way.

Refreshing your mind and body will increase your efficiency when you come to rely on your mental and physical state. The more refreshed you are, the more effectively and efficiently you complete tasks. The more effectively and efficiently you complete tasks, the more time you have to rest and relax!

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While many of us have become “night-owls” in response to lengthy working hours and other pressing responsibilities, studies have shown that people are generally more productive when they start work early in the day and concentrate on their most challenging tasks while their body is fresh and their creative energy is peaking. Try going to bed an hour or two earlier so you can wake up earlier and really smash those challenges you have in front of you!

There are immense number of studies done on the subject but there is only so much theory you can indulge in. Try to set a routine and priorities rest, and then let me know how that changes your life.

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This is the end of the small series on self reliance. I did this write up because i wanted to give you an idea on different elements required in order for you to set yourself up for a self reliant living. Dreaming of a different life is a great start but there is a lot of preparation one needs in order to have the best set up to a self reliant life.

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The different aspects shared in the previous posts are all great starting point if you are in your planning stage. We offer in depth consultations Book a free first session where we go through and support you on taking the leap.

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I hope this mini series has been useful as a starting point to get you going with your dream.

Peace and blessings,

Asli

The word “tribe” in the western hemisphere is a word that has increased in circulation in the past few years. Certainly in the years coming up to 2020 and the need for it more so due to the isolations. More than ever before people have started to rethink their life and the way they want to live. The need to reconnect to a more natural way of life and with likeminded individuals. People need people. Isolation can have serious implications upon both our physical and mental health. A study performed by Karl Landis and Debra Umberson in 1988 which spanned over two decades, found that social isolation “is as significant to mortality rates as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and lack of exercise.” What is especially interesting about this article is that it also noted that this comes at a time when the norm towards social isolation is strengthening.

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As the world continues to appear as though it is spinning a little faster each day, everyone trying to make sense of the virus and how to best stay safe as well as healthy and the added layer of the increasingly detached manner of society due to an increase in the use of technology. When we live our lives in isolation we cannot benefit from the unique gifts others possess that we lack, and no one can benefit from our unique gifts in their lives.

Having likeminded humans around you offers you a support system, motivation and inspiration when times get tough or help you accelerate your work, thoughts and actions. Oftentimes they have the same fears, have made the same mistakes, and are generally fumbling through their lives in a way similar to the way you are fumbling through your own life. For us the biggest support system and motivation is our two little people, as we are working on building a bigger tribe of likeminded families here on the land with us.

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Finding your tribe can look very different for different people, but one thing remains the same regardless of your method- finding your tribe means being intentional about who you choose to surround yourself with, and then working to cultivate those relationships in a healthy way. What are your goals in life? What are your core values? How do you envision your life? What are your goals? Make a thorough plan of what it is you want from life and how you envision yourself and your surroundings.

I hope this finds you in peace and love,

Asli

This is one topic that is split into two and in all honesty cannot be covered only in one post but i will touch on briefly, because its a key component to living a self reliant life. My hope is that you walk away with more questions than when you started reading it.

The idea of living a completely self reliant and sustainable life truly begins with educating yourself. As i mentioned previously education doesn’t necessarily mean only schooling. In our previous post Is Schooling Education? we briefly touched on how we are educating our children and the concept of schooling being synonymous with education. Education and learning is a part of our very essence as human beings. How or where you learn is unique to you as an individual. What we absorb whether it be conscious or subconscious shows up in our lives one way or another. This is why it is important to always strive to know more, read more, listen to valuable podcasts etc. To be able to distinguish what nourishes you as a whole being instead of sapping your of your life force.

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It is said that we live in the information age, but in many ways it appears that enough people are not utilizing the wealth of information out there. This is doing yourself any incredible amount of disservice on so many levels. For many of us going back to our school days we were not taught anything about the importance of healthy eating, physical activity and/or financial management. Financial Literacy and Generational Wealth:

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Taking these seemingly easy parts of our lives for granted and neglecting them leads to us neglected all other parts of our lives. When you cant think clearly because you have overloaded your body with toxins on a regular basis for years on end and are stuck in the loop of a 9-5 or shift work that pays next to nothing, you are unable to live on your own terms. Its very easy to give away your power once you get to a place within yourself where you dont know that living like that is not healthy in any sense of the word. It will appear to be a struggle to go within and find the answers. This loop is habits created slowly over time, that you might not even notice. These very habits as time goes on become harder and harder to step out of. Making you feel over time that you have no choice, that some things are for others but not for someone that either grew up or is in the circumstances that you are in. Excuse after excuse, because you are fearful of what is on the other side of your comfort zone. Anxiety and fear are truly two of the hardest enemies of your evolution to shake off. Give yourself time & educate yourself and you will come to realise that they are nothing but reverse prayer. You are in actuality manifesting & creating situations/circumstances you do not want.

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We are all here on purpose, with a purpose. As children we are more connected to the earth and all that is around. Children are naturally more free than adults, more inquisitive and explore more freely to find what fits them. They are closer to the truth, as their minds havent been moulded by their surroundings yet. Thats why ignatius loyola said: Give me the child for the first seven years and I will give you the man. (I have never wanted to quote someone with the history this individual has but the quote fits.) This way of thinking was crucial to certain establishments in order for them to indoctrinate groups of people for their own gain. History has proven that physical strength alone hasn’t won wars.

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Going on crusades to wipes out a group of peoples language & spiritual belief has has altered the world as we know it today. There are numerous books and studies on this topic. We just need to start searching.

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Why is the world the way it is? What role does history play in the way society treats its people? How and why is the schooling system set up in the way it is? How do you fit into this narrative? How has modern medicine come to be? For millennia indigenous people all over the world have worked with the natural world to cure everything under the sun. So what has changed? Why is the wealth gap the way it is?

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There is so much to learn, education doesnt end once you graduate. I hope that these few points in these paragraphs have served as a starting point in you asking questions about your own life & your place in the world.

“All you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation.”

∼Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

I have included only a few books in the pictures, as there are numerous topics flowing through these paragraphs and i cannot put our whole library on here but i am happy to share more books, just let me know which topic you would like to know more about.

Until next time,

Asli

Movement and exercise are a very important part of living a holistic life.

We have evolved from nomadic ancestors who spent their time moving around in search of food and shelter, travelling large distances on a daily basis. Our bodies are designed and have evolved to be regularly active. Taking away what is a part of your natural design will in the long run lead to a series of different difficulties and complications, because sitting at a desk or infront of a television isnt natural for your body. Exercising increases your overall energy level as well as helping create mental clarity.

Active people tend to sleep better
Physical activity makes you more tired so you’re more ready to sleep. Good quality sleep helps improve overall wellness and can reduce stress.

Exercise improves your mood and gives you an improved sense of well-being
Physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins which make you feel better and more relaxed. These in turn improve your mood and lower your stress levels.

Exercise can help prevent and treat mental illnesses like depression
Physical activity can help you meet people, reduce stress levels, cope with frustration, give you a sense of achievement, and provide some important “me time”, all of which help with depression and other stress related mental health problems.

Exercise however isnt limited to the gym. You can do anything from brisk walking, any form of martial arts, any sport of your choice to yoga.

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Gardening and growing your own food is one of the best ways to incorporate exercise into your daily life. Two birds one stone and all that jazz. No matter how you slice it, our bodies need consistent motion to function optimally. Gardening is just one way to promote activity when you otherwise might be sitting. After all, if the weeds are infiltrating your yard, you have built-in motivation to get in the dirt and work. Time passes quickly, and before you know it, you’ve wracked up 60 minutes of exercise. Since starting to work on our land both myself and frank have lost a lot of weight. Which wasn’t even intentional, nor did i notice it until our neighbour pointed it out one day.

The most important thing is to be aware and find creative ways to incorporate exercise and movement into your daily life. In order to achieve a sustainable life, we must remember to take care of this vessel.

Meditation/Prayer as an aide to physical exercise

First, it saves time by combining two activities that are beneficial for body, mind and soul. Secondly, the melding of mediation/prayer and exercise is synergistic – workouts feel less stressful and the time seems to fly when you’re engaging in meditation/prayer. The mind clearing effect of exercise helps open the mind for reflection and meditation, enhancing your time. Finally, you are reinforcing two habits. If you already regularly meditate/pray or work out, it’s fairly easy to add the other activity to an established routine. In the spirit of keeping it simple because life in general keeps us busy. If you don’t do either, you really only have to establish one new habit instead of two.

Yoga

Yoga, in its many forms, is considered to be some of the oldest recorded forms of exercise. Its main focuses are strength, flexibility and breathing. There’s a big difference between a restorative yoga class with very little movement and a fast-paced vinyasa class where you’re quickly moving from one challenging pose to the next. So depending on where you are at there is always a form of yoga that will suit you. There is evidence that yoga does improve strength when practiced regularly. Many poses in yoga are a form of body weight training that uses your body weight for resistance, for example the handstand or the plank. Certain positions and poses, just by leveraging your body weight, will challenge a muscle and make it stronger.

Above a very brief different ways to move your body and take care of it, to be stronger in order for us to lead more well rounded lives. We are WHOLE beings and to be fulfilled we need to see even a simple task such as exercise an extension of our spiritual selves.

In good health,

Asli

There is nothing more satisfying than eating food you have grown yourself. To be able to share food that you have cared for and know everything that has gone into it, is second to none. Growing your own food allows you to enjoy healthy, delicious, inexpensive and convenient produce that is good for the environment.

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Its easy to assume growing your own food is either for people that have farming background and or have a farm. Or people that are retired. Growing your own food is much easier and a lot more fulfilling than you think. Its easy to think growing your own food you need large space, which is not accessible to many. This shouldn’t however stop you from eating food rich in nutrients, no added chemicals that wont cost you an arm and a leg. So without further ado let us get into a small list to get you started.

The list below is great for new gardeners without much space. We have touched on the possibility on using an allotment in the previous post Growing your own food which is a great option once you get going. But for now let us get into growing indoors and start simple.

1. Herbs

Herbs make food so much richer and are a powerhouse of nutrients.

You can either grab some seeds from a garden centre or buy a potted herb plant from the supermarket you can often find slightly peaky-looking ones in the reduced section – take them home and replant in your window box and you can keep them alive or bring them to life. Basil, chives, parsley and sage will grow happily in a sunny window box or in a plant pot by the window, and oregano, thyme, mint and rosemary will all do well both indoors and outside in a garden.

2. Onions and Garlic

To grow onions and garlic at home, look out for those green shoots and plant them as whole onion bulbs or single garlic cloves in well-drained soil in a growing bag.

You need to make sure they’re in soil by around spring or autumn and leave them to do their thing, ensuring they have adequate water.

3. Potatoes

To start fill an old bin half full with compost. Then, plant one or two whole potatoes in there that have “eyes”. The trick is not to plant too many, as they need a lot of space for the roots to sprout and grow so make sure the space is adequate and they are spread.

Once you start to see the green shoots emerge above the soil, cover with a bit more compost, wait until they emerge again and then repeat.

Continue this process until the bag/bin is full, should be around 10–20 weeks later, your potatoes will be ready for eating when the foliage starts to wither, they’re ready to be dug out. Make sure you always remember to keep them watered.

Keep your bin/bag propped up on something to allow water to drain out, and if you’re growing them inside, cover the bottom of the bin with stones before you add your soil so excess water will drain to the bottom.

4. Tomatoes

You can either buy tomato seeds and plant them, or opt for a young plant that already has a vine if you want to start producing sooner.

Once they’re of a decent size, you can transfer them to your grow bag, or you can buy special varieties for hanging baskets too and they will do great.

You might have to use a wooden stake and tie the vine to it with garden or balcony wire so the plants stay upright.

Once they’ve started to turn red, pick them. Don’t put tomatoes in the fridge until they’re ripe, otherwise they’ll lose a load of their taste!

5. Celery

All you have to do is put the root in a shallow bowl or cup of water by a window sill, making sure it’s not totally submerged (but spraying the top with water occasionally so it doesn’t dry out).

A good idea is to stick some cocktail sticks in the sides and rest them on the bowl edges so the top doesn’t go underwater.

Amazingly, after about a week, a new little celery head will pop up, and at this point you can transfer it into some soil in a pot or grow bag. You’ll have a whole new edible celery within a few weeks!

To grow healthier food, you need to remember there are loads of other foods you can regrow from scraps, such as avocados, spring onions and ginger. This list can go on and on, but i hope you get the general idea. The key thing is to start small, it doesnt have to be the list above but the point is to help you see that it does not need to be complicated nor a laborious task. The more amazing by product of growing your own as a parent is that its a wonderful activity for kids to get involved in. They learn the process of growth and will have a healthier mental connection to food and its source and origin. Its helping cultivate respect for food, responsibility about waste and to create a healthier eating habits.

On that note, happy growing.

Asli

Are you in a place in life where you are able to not to merely survive but also thrive if your modern comforts were taken away?

This topic of self reliance & sustainability is an immense topic but i will try to break it down into a series of posts. The reason for this is because of the people that have contacted us after reading our posts Living in a city may not be as safe as many assume and Health is not only what we eat or how much we exercise with questions on how they can best set themselves up. These posts, like this whole blog journey, is to empower you to take your life into your own hands. 2020 has been a year of re evaluation for many. Whether it is to find ways to strengthen their immune system or educating their children. How safe is living in a city? How can we ensure we are our healthiest? There are many things you can do, small things, when done everyday amount to big changes. Consistency is key, forming healthy habits. We will discuss them in the below order:

1. Food purchasing.
2. Growing & storing foods.
3. Exercise in different forms.
4. Acquiring knowledge, prayer/meditation and the power of habits.
5. Connecting to and finding your tribe & making a difference in the world.
6. Rest & Reset

So that’s where we start.

1. What is health?

The WHOs definition of health is

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

world health organisation 1946

By this standpoint being healthy is a lot more complex concept than we normally pay attention to. To be truly healthy is know how to take care of ourselves as whole beings, like a domino effect everything else will then fall into place. The best place is to start where you are right now.

What is the nutritional value of the food you are consuming? for optimal health we need to be consuming food that is free from chemicals and any additives. To make sure that the food consists of a mixture of vitamins and minerals. One of two ways of achieving this is to get organic produce from your local farmers market or supermarket near you. The other is grow it yourself.

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There will be a follow up post on basic vegetables, herbs etc to start growing in whatever space you have. some examples were posted on Growing your own food the next post will be a follow up on that one. The key take away here is finding what works for you and do just that. As we will be covering growing in the next post. Since this post is on purchasing foods let us get into some examples on ways to save money whilst shopping for healthy foods. Here are something to keep in mind when going shopping:

1. Find a baseline of items that have high nutrient content and cook with them in rotation. This way your making sure you are covering all your basis before you even leave your house. This will also not feel overwhelming when planning your meals.
2. Ideally shop at your local farmers market, the produce is healthier than mass produced items you find at your local supermarket and they are seasonal. Seasonal produce are always more economical.
3. Take a clear list with you and stick to what you have on that list.
4. Meal prep for the week, this will not only help you budget better but will also save you a lot of time.
5. Never waste any food, invest in good recipe books or google different ways to cook certain foods. This will make sure you get more out of your produce.
6. Buy large quantities of certain pantry staples, whilst saving fresh produce for the weekly shop.
7. Always read the ingredients list on items bought at the supermarket. its important to know the nutritional value of what you are buying.
8. Do your due diligence on researching what the food you consume and get into your home. Read independent researchers & holistic doctors as you are more likely to come across more traditional ways to foods and nutrition.
9. Make sure to compare different priced items because more often than not, store brand baked beans for example have the same ingredients and/or the same nutritional value but they cost a lot less than other name brand ones.
10. Don’t waste money on everyday items like pasta, bread and other baked goods. Make your own from scratch at home. Making these are a lot easier and less time consuming than you would think. By tailoring these baked goods and using enriched flour you are more than likely adding more iron and B-complex vitamins than ready-to-eat products.

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The three above pyramids are to be used as a guideline but you don’t have to get the right balance at every meal. It’s fine if you balance it out over the whole day or even a week. This is just to give you an idea of what to go on, a brief touch on approaching healthier living by turning your attention to what you eat and purchasing.

One of the main requirements of the food we eat is for us to enjoy it, no matter how healthy it is if you have to force it down gagging you will find a way to discount it from your mealtimes. What we eat should satisfy our four basic tastes- sweet, sour, bitter and salt. To avoid chemicals and false foods that play on these add sea salt to foods instead of foods drenched with MSG. Introduce fermented foods into your diet to satisfy the sour that provide the enzymatic by-products of the culturing process, and the list goes on. Eating food should be a celebration each meal time with loved ones. To be healthy our food does need to taste good, to be prepared and eaten with love. When we’re happy and healthy we are then in a better place to share with those around us and the world.

Until next time, in good health.

Asli