Self-Reliance Challenge: Looking Back

Well, the self-reliant challenge has come to an end. Almost 5 weeks of setting goals and working towards being more self-reliant have been quite a learning experience. The final result is much different than I thought it would be. Looking back at the last 5 weeks I realized many new things about myself and life in general.

This journey was fun and definitely one I would do again and again. I would like to thank Lisa from Self Sufficient Home Acre for inviting me to take this challenge with her and all the other bloggers that participated. With all that said…here is my final thoughts and goals from the challenge.

Self-Reliance Challenge: Looking Back

Our Original Goals

When we started this challenge I had high expectations. I planned everything out for the month. I set specific goals so we could accomplish so much during the month.

My monthly goals included:

• Gardening
• Home Skills
• Rain Barrels
• Sharing the Results

However, Things Change…

Regardless of what I planned, when the rains started 2 weeks into the challenge, everything changed. We tackled black mold, the death of two kittens, an electrical short on the well, and the loss of all the squash and zucchini in the garden. Needless to say, a challenge it was.

I did accomplish some of those goals I set in the beginning. I made some DIY Cleaners out of citrus peels, I refilled my fire starters. We froze over 10 pounds of yellow squash and over that in blackberries. I checked and refilled my “unpaper towels“.

What I Learned…

I learned that being self-reliant is hard work. It involves planning and setting goals. It requires perseverance and inner strength and it also means that things can change in a second. You have to be prepared. You need a plan B.

I learned you can’t control life. But you can control how you let the things that happen in life affect you.

What Would I Change?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing! Homesteading and self-reliance are all about doing it yourself. It is about figuring it out. It is about adapting. This last month, I had to figure it out, I had to adapt. I had to keep going even after all my plans changed. I am a homesteader and I am also more self-reliant than I thought! Although, I never realized how many things we tackle here ourselves. I didn’t realize how much we already do ourselves without the help and support of anyone else. I can proudly say that we are definitely more self-reliant than we were 4 weeks ago. Or maybe we aren’t and we just started realizing it now.

Have you visited all the bloggers taking part in the Self-Reliance Challenge? Stop by and say hello this week and see the other’s results.

Nancy – Nancy On The Homefront

Kathi – Oak Hill Homestead

Robin – A Life in the Wild

Candy – Candy’s Farm House Pantry

Farmgal – Just Another Day on the Farm

Ashley – Practical Self Reliance

ShawnaLee – Homegrown Self Reliance

Frank – My Green Terra

Maria – Maria Zannini

Lisa Lynn – The Self Sufficient HomeAcre