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    Home » Best Of

    29 Ways to Become More Self-Reliant When it Comes to Food

    Sarita Harbour.
    Modified: May 1, 2025 by Sarita Harbour · This post may contain affiliate links·
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    If you’re looking to become more self-reliant with food, these 29 ideas will help you make it happen. Learning to grow, preserve, and prepare your own food brings a sense of control and pride, especially when you realize how much you can make yourself. From basics to more advanced projects, these tips make it doable for any skill level. Plus, with grocery prices rising, it’s a practical way to save money and waste less. These are the steps to turn your kitchen into a hub of homemade essentials.

    How to Use a Fermenting Crock

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    How to Use a Fermenting Crock. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Fermenting is a great way to preserve vegetables while adding flavor and probiotics to your diet. Using a fermenting crock is one step to help you become more self reliant in food storage and preservation.
    Read the Article: How to Use a Fermenting Crock

    Dehydrating Foods: How to Get Started

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    Dehydrating Foods: How to Get Started. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Learning to dehydrate foods at home is a simple way to preserve seasonal produce for later. It’s a must if you want to become more self reliant and keep healthy snacks and ingredients available year-round.
    Read the Article: Dehydrating Foods: How to Get Started

    Stocking Up: What to Buy in Bulk Right Now

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    Stocking Up: What to Buy in Bulk Right Now. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Buying in bulk makes sense for anyone who wants to cut costs and avoid frequent trips to the store. This guide will help you choose the best items to buy now to become more self reliant.
    Read the Article: Stocking Up: What to Buy in Bulk Right Now

    How to Dehydrate Eggs for Long Term Home Storage

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    How to Dehydrate Eggs for Long Term Home Storage. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Dehydrating eggs is an easy way to have a reliable protein source on hand. This skill helps you become more self reliant by allowing you to store nutritious, shelf-stable eggs that work well in many recipes.
    Read the Article: How to Dehydrate Eggs for Long Term Home Storage

    Smoking & Dehydrating Game Meat

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    Smoking & Dehydrating Game Meat. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Smoking and dehydrating game meat helps preserve it for longer, giving you a dependable protein source. This technique is a practical way to become more self reliant, especially if you hunt or buy meat in bulk.
    Read the Article: Smoking & Dehydrating Game Meat

    15 Best Prepper Pantries and Tips on Stocking Your Own

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    15 Best Prepper Pantries and Tips on Stocking Your Own. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    A well-stocked pantry is essential for anyone wanting to become more self reliant. These pantry tips show you how to keep essential ingredients on hand and set up a food storage system that works long-term.
    Read the Article: 15 Best Prepper Pantries and Tips on Stocking Your Own

    Foraging for Medicinal Plants and Food: 7 Northern Greens

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    Foraging for Medicinal Plants and Food: 7 Northern Greens. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Foraging is an empowering way to find natural, nutrient-packed foods and remedies. Learning about these northern greens can help you become more self reliant by providing resources from the land.
    Read the Article: Foraging for Medicinal Plants and Food: 7 Northern Greens

    Backyard Gardening Basics: What You Should Know

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    Backyard Gardening Basics: What You Should Know. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Backyard gardening is a rewarding way to grow your own fresh produce and herbs. These basics are perfect for anyone aiming to become more self reliant and bring fresh food right to their backyard.
    Read the Article: Backyard Gardening Basics: What You Should Know

    10 Tips for Using Foods With a Long Shelf Life

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    10 Tips for Using Foods With a Long Shelf Life. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Knowing how to use long-lasting foods helps you keep meals interesting even with fewer grocery trips. These tips make it easier to become more self reliant with simple, shelf-stable ingredients.
    Read the Article: 10 Tips for Using Foods With a Long Shelf Life

    How to Save Seeds: A Beginner's Guide to Seed Saving

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    How to Save Seeds: A Beginner's Guide to Seed Saving. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Saving seeds from your harvests is a valuable way to ensure future planting without needing to buy seeds each season. This guide is essential for anyone wanting to become more self reliant in gardening.
    Read the Article: How to Save Seeds: A Beginner's Guide to Seed Saving

    How to Can Food: 50 Tips for Beginners

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    How to Can Food: 50 Tips for Beginners. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Canning food at home is a traditional way to preserve fruits, vegetables, and more. These tips help beginners become more self reliant by making it easy to store fresh food for months without refrigeration.
    Read the Article: How to Can Food: 50 Tips for Beginners

    How Much To Plant Per Person: Growing Your Own Food

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    How Much To Plant Per Person: Growing Your Own Food. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Knowing how much to plant ensures you grow enough without creating too much waste. This guide is a great resource for anyone aiming to become more self reliant by producing enough food to meet their needs.
    Read the Article: How Much To Plant Per Person: Growing Your Own Food

    Pickled Vegetables for Beginners

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    Pickled Vegetables for Beginners. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Pickling is a quick and easy way to extend the shelf life of vegetables while adding some tangy flavor. This beginner’s guide is perfect for anyone looking to become more self reliant with home-preserved produce.
    Read the Article: Pickled Vegetables for Beginners

    How to Grow Food from Scraps

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    How to Grow Food from Scraps. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Growing food from scraps is an eco-friendly way to save on grocery bills and get more from your produce. It’s a simple practice for anyone wanting to become more self reliant and make the most of what they already have.
    Read the Article: How to Grow Food from Scraps

    Foraging Rosehips for Oil, Tea, Syrup, and Jelly

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    Foraging Rosehips for Oil, Tea, Syrup, and Jelly. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Rosehips are packed with vitamin C and can be made into oils, teas, and more. Foraging for these wild ingredients is a great way to become more self reliant and add natural flavor to your pantry.
    Read the Article: Foraging Rosehips for Oil, Tea, Syrup, and Jelly

    How to Grow Black Beans Indoors

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    How to Grow Black Beans Indoors. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Black beans are versatile and nutritious, and growing them indoors is easier than you might think. This method is ideal if you’re looking to become more self reliant by producing protein-rich food at home.
    Read the Article: How to Grow Black Beans Indoors

    Grow Up: Vertical Gardening Tips for Foodies

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    Grow Up: Vertical Gardening Tips for Foodies. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Vertical gardening is a space-saving way to grow fresh vegetables and herbs, even in smaller areas. These tips are great for anyone wanting to become more self reliant with a productive, small-space garden.
    Read the Article: Grow Up: Vertical Gardening Tips for Foodies

    Raising Rabbits for Meat #1: How to Raise Rabbits For Meat

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    Raising Rabbits for Meat #1: How to Raise Rabbits For Meat. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Raising rabbits for meat is a sustainable way to have a steady protein source at home. This guide is a solid choice for those aiming to become more self reliant with home-raised meat.
    Read the Article: Raising Rabbits for Meat #1: How to Raise Rabbits For Meat

    How To Raise Turkeys

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    How To Raise Turkeys. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Turkeys are a larger, versatile poultry option, and raising them yourself gives you meat and, if desired, eggs. Learning how to raise turkeys is a practical way to become more self reliant with your own food sources.
    Read the Article: How To Raise Turkeys

    How To Smoke Fish

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    How To Smoke Fish. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Smoking fish preserves it while enhancing its flavor, making it last longer without refrigeration. This skill is ideal for those aiming to become more self reliant by preserving their catch or stock.
    Read the Article: How To Smoke Fish

    Raising Rabbits For Meat 2: Processing & Butchering

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    Raising Rabbits For Meat 2: Processing & Butchering. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Knowing how to process and butcher rabbits is essential for anyone raising them for meat. It’s a key step for those wanting to become more self reliant and make the most of their livestock.
    Read the Article: Raising Rabbits For Meat 2: Processing & Butchering

    Homestead Gardening

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    Homestead Gardening. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Homestead gardening combines vegetable growing with practical planning for a reliable food supply. This gardening style is essential for anyone aiming to become more self reliant with home-grown produce year-round.
    Read the Article: Homestead Gardening

    Raising Rabbits For Meat #3: Tips for How to Build a Rabbit Hutch

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    Raising Rabbits For Meat #3: Tips for How to Build a Rabbit Hutch. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    A well-built rabbit hutch keeps rabbits safe and comfortable, making raising them easier. It’s an important step for those wanting to become more self reliant by producing their own meat at home.
    Read the Article: Raising Rabbits For Meat #3: Tips for How to Build a Rabbit Hutch

    How to Grow Sprouts at Home

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    How to Grow Sprouts at Home. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Growing sprouts at home is quick, easy, and gives you nutrient-rich greens year-round. Sprouting is perfect for anyone wanting to become more self reliant by always having fresh greens within reach.
    Read the Article: How to Grow Sprouts at Home

    How to Ferment Vegetables

    Pin
    How to Ferment Vegetables. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Fermenting vegetables is a traditional way to preserve them while adding unique flavors and probiotics. This skill is a must for those wanting to become more self reliant by keeping their pantry stocked with healthy options.
    Read the Article: How to Ferment Vegetables

    How to Preserve Eggs

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    How to Preserve Eggs. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Preserving eggs is a valuable technique for keeping them fresh and usable for months. It’s an essential practice for anyone aiming to become more self reliant with a steady egg supply.
    Read the Article: How to Preserve Eggs

    How to Save Tomato Seeds to Plant for Next Year

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    How to Save Tomato Seeds to Plant for Next Year. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Saving tomato seeds from your harvest helps you grow your favorite varieties again without buying new seeds. It’s a great way to become more self reliant and keep your garden going year after year.
    Read the Article: How to Save Tomato Seeds to Plant for Next Year

    Raising Quail for Meat & Eggs: 5 Best Breeds

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    Raising Quail for Meat & Eggs: 5 Best Breeds. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Quail are compact birds that provide both meat and eggs, making them ideal for smaller homesteads. Raising them is an easy way to become more self reliant with a steady source of protein.
    Read the Article: Raising Quail for Meat & Eggs: 5 Best Breeds

    Securing Your Food Supply: 15 Ways to Start

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    Securing Your Food Supply: 15 Ways to Start. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Securing a reliable food supply helps protect against shortages and rising prices. These 15 strategies are perfect for anyone wanting to become more self reliant and prepared for the future.
    Read the Article: Securing Your Food Supply: 15 Ways to Start

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    Sarita Harbour.

    I'm Sarita. My family and I lived off the grid for 11 years in Canada's far north. If I did it, you can too.

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