Creating Food Security
Food security was a major driving force behind our decision to move to a farm. We grew tired of not knowing where our food came from, the excessive plastic packaging, and the lack of connection to the source of our nourishment. Since relocating, growing our own food has become one of our top priorities. In the early days, we experimented a lot to figure out which vegetables thrived in our climate. Now we have refined our approach and focus our time and energy on crops that we know will perform well. We’ve identified 12 staple crops that we focus on, but ultimately we grow over 30 different vegetables, along with fruits, nuts, and berries. We use crop rotation, succession planting, no dig gardening and follow organic principles, avoiding pesticides altogether. In addition to this, we raise our own chickens and ducks for both eggs and meat, and we forage for wild plants.
We preserve as much as we can—through drying, fermenting, and canning—to ensure that our harvest lasts well beyond the summer months. Living in Norway, we embrace the challenge of the seasons: while summer provides abundance, the long winter brings the “hungry gap,” a time when stored food and careful planning are essential. By learning to extend the growing season and make the most of every harvest, we reduce reliance on packaged foods, waste less, and deepen our connection to the land, all while cultivating resilience and health for ourselves and our community.
While self-sufficiency often emphasizes independence, we’ve learned that a strong support network is vital to making the lifestyle sustainable. Building relationships with like-minded individuals, who can share resources, knowledge, or tools, has become a cornerstone of our self-sufficiency journey. We often trade and buy vegetables and homemade farm products for meat, resources, or skills from other farmers. It’s a common myth that self-sufficiency means doing everything alone. In reality, it’s not possible, and it can take away some of the rewarding and fun aspects of the lifestyle. Collaborative relationships with other self-sufficient individuals make the journey not only more feasible but also more fulfilling.