Hot Trend: Self-Sustained Living
More homeowners are shifting their perspectives and priorities to try providing for their needs on their own land.
With more attention on climate demands, shaky supply chain ethics, and the overall fragility of our lifestyles, it’s become increasingly popular to adopt practices that help us become more self-reliant. These practices have a huge impact on the way we organize and use the indoor and outdoor spaces our homes provide.
Growing Food
There’s nothing like a store full of empty shelves to prompt people to begin growing their own food. Gardening made a huge comeback in 2020, and as people vacate crowded cities and buy more land, the hobby only continues to gain traction. Many people are updating their backyards by incorporating greenhouses, raised garden beds, and self-run irrigation systems. Knowledge of climate zones, weather patterns, and seasonal crops has grown more top-of-mind.
On top of learning how to grow their own food, homeowners are also taking in knowledge about canning, pickling, and other long-term food preservation techniques. More food storage needs mean it’s not only our yards that are changing to adjust to this lifestyle, but also our indoor spaces. Expansive pantries and spare freezers help ensure self-reliance by allowing residents to keep plenty of food on hand.
Reducing Energy Use
Solar panels, solar-powered lights and outdoor accessories, and energy-efficient appliances all cut down on the need for outside energy. Especially in kitchen design, there’s been a large push toward conserving energy by utilizing smart technology in ovens, refrigerators, and more.
Raising Livestock
Many neighborhoods now have at least a few resident hens or even goats! Keeping chickens allows for a self-sustained means of providing protein from eggs, and might even turn into a small revenue stream depending on how many chickens and how productive. In many areas, residents are allowed to keep chickens as long as they have a secure structure - though some neighborhoods prohibit roosters in an effort to keep noise levels reasonable.
For those with a bit more land, a couple of goats can serve as great entertainment, consistent help keeping grass and weed growth under control, and a source of milk. Many homeowners even go a step further and learn how to make their own goat cheese!
Reusing and Reducing Waste
Keeping a designated compost pile in the yard and a container in the kitchen for compostable scraps can mean tons of food diverted from landfills annually, and huge savings on soil. Allowing food scraps like coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable cuttings, and egg shells to decompose together will eventually yield highly nutritious soil when done correctly. Non-food items like egg cartons and plain paper bags can be added to the compost pile as well!
Plus, the process of producing your own food or shopping locally at farmers markets and the like also give the added bonus of reducing the plastic and packaging waste that often comes with purchasing food otherwise.
Get started on building your dream home and yard with Atmos, where we’ll guide you through every step of the way. Homebuilding has never been easier!
