According to an article posted this week in the World Net Daily, interest is rapidly growing in self sufficient living. One seed company is reporting that sales increased 40 percent last year, which was twice the annual growth seen over the last five years.

The story goes on to report dramatic increases in sales of long storing food which began last September, right about the time the real economic crunch hit. Interestingly, Bruce Hopkins, spokesman for Best Prices Storable Foods, told World Net Daily that they were having trouble obtaining No. 10 cans partly because the United States Government was buying up such large quantities. He added that the feds bought most of the freeze dried canned stock from some companies.

The article points out that this “new” preparedness movement doesn’t have the trappings one might expect. Rather than your typical camouflage-loner-survivalist type, the suggestion is that many folks who are now moving toward self sufficient living are your average, everyday Americans that see what’s coming and are simply doing what makes sense.

While I would agree that it does make sense, I can’t help but think about the most important changes this kind of lifestyle has brought to my family. There’s something really enriching about the hard work, planning and preparation involved, as well as getting back to the basics. It’s drawn us closer to each other, and closer to our Maker – and that’s been the biggest blessing of all.

Technorati Tags: self sufficient living