How to start a Self Sustainable Community?

Starting a self-sustaining community is compelling for those who want to break free from government influences and global supply chains. The Trade Shack is an online community that provides the tools to make this vision a reality. In this article, we will explore what a self-sustainable community is, how you can live self-sufficiently in Australia, and how much land you need to achieve this goal.

As a bloke who’s seen more than my fair share of struggles and hardships, I can tell you there’s nothing quite like the freedom and independence that comes from starting a self-sustaining community. It’s a statement of defiance against a world ruled by big corporations and government interference. That’s why I’m proud to be a part of the Trade Shack, a community that’s all about helping Aussies grow their own food, generate their own energy, and build their support systems.

What is a self-sustainable community?

In the context of the Trade Shack, a Self-Sustainable community (Postcode Community) is a group of people in the same postcode who rely on their own resources to sustain themselves, to a point. I understand that we cannot be without other things like fuel, cars and roads. That is something that needs to come from somewhere else. LOL. We do not want to jump back into the 1700’s right? We all like our gadgets and luxury. We can grow food locally, provide services locally, and reduce reliance on external supply chains. 

The Trade Shack empowers backyard growers and local community members to create self-sufficient postcode communities which can coexist independently with the current government, economic, and trade systems. So basically, a postcode community is a group of people who come together to create their own food and grow vegetables and animals reducing their reliance on external supply chains.

Living self-sufficiently in Australia is not a pipe dream. You can create a sustainable and fulfilling life by growing your own food, collecting rainwater, generating renewable energy, and reducing waste. The Trade Shack provides a secure environment where members can share knowledge, sell products, and exchange ideas on developing a parallel system that operates independently of the mainstream system.

How much land do you need to be self-sufficient in Australia?

This depends on many factors, including the size of your family, the types of crops you want to grow, and the water availability. Generally, a family of four needs around two to four acres of land to be self-sufficient in Australia. However, this can vary depending on your location and your available resources. For example, in SEQ Queensland, you can grow food all year round, as in other states, you can be impacted by cold, drought or floods. 

I realise that is not really “available” to everybody in Australia, so we have started planning how to address that problem, and I think we have found a solution. It is a Backyard Growers Network, turning as many backyards as possible into producing and thriving “nature’s supermarkets”.

You don’t need a big backyard to do it – even a few pots on your balcony will do the trick. And with the help of the Trade Shack, you can connect with other backyard growers in your area, share tips and tricks, and even sell your surplus produce to your neighbours.

But food is just the beginning. 

To be truly self-sufficient, you must also think about water and energy. You can harvest rainwater, install solar panels, and even build your wind turbine. And again, the Trade Shack is there to help – with tools to communicate with other community members. You can share your experiences and learn from others who are further along in the self-sustainability journey. We might even write a short course on how to do certain things. They say the sky is the limit. We do not see that as a limit.

There is such a variety of options you choose from to become self-sufficient. Just remember you do not have to do them ALL by yourself. Setting up a trading/bartering system allows you to share the load with multiple members in your Postcode Community. Build upon the strengths of each Postcode Community member. Some are better at growing food, and others are better at building stuff. 

Pros and Cons of Building a Self-Sustaining Lifestyle

You can do it on your own, yet with the Trade Shack. It can become much easier by utilising what you already have.

Joining the Trade Shack means that you become part of a community of like-minded individuals who share a common goal: to build a sustainable future. By becoming a member, you gain access to a wealth of resources and knowledge, which will help you to achieve self-sufficiency. You can share ideas and learn from others, buy and sell products, and connect with people who share your values. Joining the Trade Shack is the first step towards building a self-sustaining community that can withstand the challenges of the future.