Dreaming

I have been thinking a lot about the value of being more self-sufficient. Recently I have been trying to teach myself how to crochet.  I started last year around Christmas, and taught myself how to make hats.  Since then I have been trying to learn more stitches, but have yet to complete any other project...but I'm working on it.  As I crochet away, I think to myself  "how cool would it be if I could make my own yarn and I could make something from start to finish.  I would need a little bit of land and a couple of sheep, some sheep shears, and a spinning wheel.  I would probably also want dye of some kind.  I could make my own dye if I grew things that produced vibrant colors.. maybe beets.  I could research what other things dye could be made of.  Then I would have to sheer, wash spin, dye de-tangle, and wind the yarn into skeins.  It sounds like a log of work, but completely do-able.  But would it save money?  I have to buy the land, feed the sheep, invest in a spinning wheel, and put lots of man-hours into the labor.  I don't know if it would be cheaper, but what a sense of accomplishment.  On that tangent, I thought I could raise a few chickens also.  I heard on the news that there is an urban chickens movement where people are raising their own chickens in big cities and in small spaces.  We could totally raise a few chickens and have fresh eggs every day.  And if we already had some land, we might as well grow our own vegetables.  We have already talked about canning and preserving our own vegetables and have that equipment readily accessible.  How much electricity could we create for ourselves if we had a windmill?  Could we power our own house?  Maybe we could get some solar panels to help out.  Could we go off the grid completely?  Probably not. But, if we got a group of people together with different skills, could we start a little self-sufficient off-the-grid village?"  Now I am starting to sound Amish. But there is a lot to be said for simplicity and knowing how to do things for yourself.  And, in today's economy there are added benefits.  If you can't afford your own food, you have chickens and vegetables.  If you can't afford your electric bill, you have a windmill.  If you can't afford clothes, you have your sheep and your spinning wheel and can make a few things for yourself.  Not that it's easier, but it does seem somehow better.  When you can't rely on your government or your economy, you can rely on yourself and your friends.. and practice your religion... (more on that later) Who's with me?