I remember when we used to live in NYC in a tiny basement apartment that had no sunlight and I was not able to grow anything but longed for something that I can do that involved my skills as an herbalist. The thing that most people say is to do what you can with what you have, even if that space is limited.
While there are many books on subject like working with your own space, there are many other ways that you can increase your self sufficiency that does not include starting seeds and pulling weeds. This is where I would like to discuss some of those options with you in hopes to inspire you to work with what you can with what you got.
DIY Tinctures
Most of the time we can buy tinctures in our health food store or buy one online that is very effective. But there are times when dealing with illnesses a certain tincture is not available for me right away. This is why making your own tinctures with plants that you can harvest yourself in the wild, or even buying plants that you know that you can use in your natural medicine cabinet will increase your self sufficiency.
Making tinctures is fairly easy.
Check out this article all on how to make, store and preserve herbs.
The issue that I see most often with people that are trying to make their own tinctures is what they can be used for and which plant is used in which case. It is a valid question. What will help you answer that question is what your (and your families) needs are in a particular season and which plants will help you the most in that season.
There is usually a plant that you will see work really well with certain issues that works for your body and your family.
For example, my own family uses homeopathic remedies during the cold and flu season and with those remedies any plant that has camphor in it (peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary) will cancel those remedies out. So when looking at making my own tinctures or even buying certain plants for the cold and flu season, I stay away from those plants even though they work really well for coughs and sniffles.
There are many other substitutes that you can use for certain plants, that is the beauty of where you live and what is available to you in your area.
Most of the farmers grow local plants and you can buy them directly from the farm that is organic or locally grown. From that plant you can make tinctures that can last for a really long time in your cabinet if infused with alcohol.
DIY Herbal Salves
Herbal salves are pretty easy to make and do not require any access to fresh plant material. Most of the time the salve is made with a dried herb. The reason why one would use a salve is for any type of skin issues that are common in your family or the people that you take care of.
The other day I was looking for bigger size bandaids and my eyes caught on to all the products out there for skin healing. It made me think about how if one wants to increase self sufficiency then making salve would be one great way to start.
We deal with many skin issues with kids. From poison ivy rashes, mysterious rashes that itch, insect bites, bruises, cuts, scrapes just to name a few things that can come up regularly.
The upside to making your own salves is that you know which plants you are using and how potent you want to make them for specific ailments your family mainly deals with. Some husbands need sore muscle salves more than others. Some kids need calendula salves more than others. Definitely knowing how to make your own will increase your self sufficiency.
Here is an article on how to make a sleep time salve but the same principle applies to regular salves.
Identify and Forage Wild Plants
We live on a homestead that is surrounded by local plants growing wildly around. I was a real skeptic about foraging plants around here in the beginning in fear that I would not know which plant is which. Yes true, some plants look a like and some are poisonous. But when you grow familiar with identifying and foraging plants which are native to your area, the opportunities for using those plants are endless.
Around here we have many Turkey Tail mushrooms and Nettles that are right outside our back door.
My friend has Yarrow that she has around her home and found Rose Hips on a hike one day.
Those are just a few examples of plants that can be used in tonics for health benefits or cooked in stews after drying them.
When you learn to forage and identify plants you do not have to rely much on the commercial market. It is an empowering skill to have especially in times of illnesses or times in the economy where there is a shortage or delay in products.
Trade
Trading products or services reminds me of the old days when people used to trade services or goods all the times. It is a great way to increase your self sufficiency especially if you are making your own products.
Local farmers sometimes are willing to trade in some organically grown herbs in exchange for you making some products for them that they can easily sell in their farmer stands.
Be fair when trading services and always take into consideration the amount of time a farmer need to grow and harvest certain plants. If you have a friend that makes products and you offer teaching seminars on product making then it is a win win trade.
This also develops great relationships with people that have the same mindset as you in terms of self reliance or working with herbs. Partnerships can be established for the better of your community as well as friendships.
Commercially Available Herbs
You can increase your self sufficiency when you learn to process commercially available herbs and know how to use them with clients or supporting your family members. Culinary herbs can be purchased and dried in your home if you do not have the space to grow them.
Places like health food stores or CSA growers will often sell organic and locally grown herbs in their produce section which can include: garlic, burdock, turmeric, ginger, horseradish all of these and other herbs have many medicinal qualities that can be used by you.
If you learn to work with these and know how to dry and preserve them then you will be less likely to rely on distributors who might be behind in shipping or are lacking a certain product.
Local Farms
Many of the farms in your area probably grow herbs. If they do not, there is a way that you can have them grow herbs for you in a space if you have enough people to go in on it or if you are willing to trade a service for a part of their land. If you know what you will be needing ahead of time, some farms can be contracted to grow those herbs for you if your order is of course large enough.
This is a great option if you own your own apothecary and need bulk items or have a community that you can share a certain herb with.
A great resource to find a local organic farm in your area is the website Local Harvest.
Create or Join a Community Garden
When we were living in the city in NY our last year there someone decided to set up a community garden and it was the first time I have ever heard of this concept. Joining a community garden is a great way to create self sufficiency especially when you do not have a lot of space to grow things yourself. A lot of the community gardens are set up in either schools, churches, parks or empty lots that members of the community can keep a garden area.
The great thing about joining an already established community garden is that they come with a specific number of raised beds already that are pre-built.
Some gardens have in ground beds or plots available for low annual rental fees to the local residents.
To find one in your own area you can try searching for a community garden nearby in an online search.
If you have enough land or have a church that is willing to share in the plot, you can start your own community garden in your area. It might take a little leadership on your own part to get the soil and raised beds or plot ready for herbs or plants, but well worth it to have a community of people that you can share in the abundance of the harvest.
Grow anything
There are many plants that you can grow indoors that will help you increase your self sufficiency, your apothecary and sustain the wellness of your family. Grow what you can in the space that you have means that you can start with plants that are grown in pots like thyme, basil, calendula, mint or rosemary.
Those are just tiny examples of plants that are beneficial medicinally and can be grow indoors with very little space.
Think about mint plants for colds and heartaches as salves or compresses.
Rosemary as tinctures or a tea for respiratory issues.
Basil as a tea or tincture for its calming effects.
If you have knowledge of using things you can mix alongside those herbs that you can get in your local grocery store like ginger, garlic, onions or turmeric, then you will be able to provide for your families most basic needs without much relying on the big suppliers. A lot of the plants that can be grow in pots need very little sunshine and thrive indoors as well.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking to increase your self sufficiency and have not space or are in a place of transition that might not give you the opportunities that I have talked about in this article, you can still focus on things that you would like to learn and take the steps to reach those goals.
You can look at what you would like to be supplying for your family and see how you can get those things ahead of time or support local farmers in your area.
You can look at skills that you would like to learn and make plans to learn them.
For example if you would really like to be able to make soap one day or make create your own herbal products, there are steps that you can take today to learn the skills to get there in the future.
If you want to grow in your knowledge in natural health with herbs or oils, there are classes that you can take and formulations that you can try to learn about today to help you grow in that area.
Do not get stuck in limiting beliefs of “I can’t do it because…” instead ask yourself “what’s the next step here?”
