Even a few years ago, the thought of self-sustained living might have invoked images of fringe activism. But advances in biofuels and solar technology have made it easier than ever to move off the grid without losing some of the amenities of modern life. But why would you?
We can lead self-sustaining lives without sacrificing our standard of living. The only thing we need is the knowledge needed to create autarchic communities, and a mechanism to pass it along. The Open Source Ecology movement aims to provide that toolkit.
Our current system of trade is based on the availability of cheap fossil fuels. Yet the time nears when prices will rise and oil will become increasingly scarce. If we want to avoid this vulnerability, we must now begin to think about ways to reduce our dependency and promote the idea of self-sustaining towns and communities.
The Amish people in Pennsylvania have long maintained independence from the rest of society. But even they have begun to embrace modern technology. Solar panels have made life easier while protecting the self-sufficiency that many Amish guard so fiercely.
