The Self-Sufficient Backyard is the ultimate online guide to becoming more (or completely) self-reliant. Research confirms that most people desire some level of self-sufficiency and reliability, without losing access to external resources and connections. So, whether you’re dreaming of growing your own food, collecting rainwater, generating electricity, or just taking steps toward a more independent lifestyle, this program has it all.
The Self-Sufficient Backyard is a comprehensive system that provides you with all the expert advice, knowledge and tutorials needed to live a little (or a lot!) more sustainably, no matter where you’re starting from. From food and shelter to medicine and layouts, this one system has you covered with everything you could ever want to know.
Contents
What is The Self-Sufficient Backyard?
The Self-Sufficient Backyard is an online program that shows you how to provide for all your basic needs right from your own property. It’s a comprehensive system that’s packed with everything you need to know to achieve self-sustainability. From growing food and generating energy to creating shelter and even managing medical care, you’ll find expert advice, tips, steps, instructions, tutorials and much more.
But I don’t have any experience.
No problem.
With The Self-Sufficient Backyard, you receive over 100 DIY projects covering energy, food, shelter, medicine, water, and composting. Each project comes with easy-to-follow steps, charts, tables, diagrams, and photos to guide you through the process from start to finish. Whether it’s gardening, canning, beekeeping, or setting up off-grid power, you’ll find a detailed section on it within these pages. It’s got floor plans and growing zones, real world examples, layout options and so much more.
The Self-Sufficient Backyard also comes with expert tips and professional advice well throughout. This ensure that you not only have the steps, but also professional guidance and knowledge that comes from real, hands-on experiences. This immediately eliminates many of the common obstacles and issues people face when trying to create a self-sustainable living.
Since The Self-Sufficient Backyard is so detailed, it can be used by anyone – whether you’re a total beginner or an expert survivalist looking to enhance your self-sustainability. Plus, it comes with a 60-day money back guarantee so you can check out the entire system and see if it’s something you’d like to continue with. You just download the contents onto your smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer, and it’s all there for you.
Who Created The Program?
The authors of The Self Sufficient Backyard are Ron and Johanna Melchiore. Together, they bring over 40 years of off-grid living experience to the program, helping others learn the self-sufficient lifestyle and implement it themselves. Ron and Johanna also shared their expertise on other platforms, writing for sites like Mother Earth News and getting published in magazines like Backhome Magazine, Small Farmer’s Journal, and Countryside and Small Stock Journal. They were even featured in the documentary Life Off Grid!
Overview of The Program
The Self-Sufficient Backyard is a must-have program for anyone interested in self-sufficiency and homesteading. This program comes as one digital guide, packed with over 40 years of self-sustainability expertise, compiling decades of experience into one comprehensive program. It covers everything you need – from food and water to shelter, energy, medicine, and so much more.
With 265 pages divided into 17 specific chapters, the program offers a plethora of step-by-step projects, tips, and tutorials to guide you through a variety of tasks that will help you become more self-reliant. Each chapter addresses each topic in detail, like Chapter 5, which covers everything about homestead water, including disinfection, filtration, and even hot water systems.
Did I mention that the program is customizable too? With the many different plans and examples inside, you can adapt the projects to fit your specific needs, property size, resources, and time.
Let’s take a closer look:
Main Manual
- Chapter 1: 40 Years Homesteading
- Where it all Began
- The Beginning – The First Homestead
- Time for a Change A Move to the Wilderness
- The Final Frontier – The Last Homestead
- Chapter 2: The Homestead Plan
- More Question
- The Sketch
- Sketch Details
- Chapter 3: Site Selection
- One Step at a Time
- Homestead Layout
- Chapter 4: Road Building
The first four chapters of the program teach you the fundamentals of homesteading; covering the history, benefits, and what makes this lifestyle so worth it. You also learn more about Ron and Johanna’s own homesteading journey, with photos and tips to inspire you along the way.
These chapters also include expert advice on getting started, with tips for choosing the right site to building access roads. Plus, there’s a customizable sample sketch to help you design a layout that perfectly fits your unique needs and preferences.
- Chapter 5: Homestead Water
- Drilled Wells and Hand Pumps
- Hand Dug Wells and Piston Pumps
- Machine Dug Wells
- Well Disinfection
- Homestead Water Filtration
- Homestead Hot Water
- Rain Water Catchment
The next chapter is your go-to guide for securing a reliable, clean water source on your property. You learn various ways to access water, along with handy tips for keeping it clean using different filtration methods. This chapter also walks you through steps for getting hot water, using rainwater, and even installing a fire pump for emergencies. If it’s water-related, it’s covered here!
- Chapter 6: House Floor Planning
- Dirty and Clean Areas
- Homestead Kitchen
This chapter is all about choosing the perfect floor plan for your self-sufficient living space. It comes with helpful tips on what to consider based on your location and creative ways to make the most of the space you have, regardless of how big or small it is.
You also learn how and why it’s important to separate clean and dirty areas and receive some layout ideas and tips to maximize your experience, like why you want a spacious corner kitchen for food processing tasks such as canning, butchering, and cooking.
- Chapter 7: Off Grid Power
- Basic Electricity
- Batteries
- Solar Panels
- Charge Controllers
- The Inverter
- An Example Design
- Wind Turbines
Here, you receive expert advice from electrical engineer Rob Beckers, the owner of Solacity. He guides you through generating off-grid power, teaching you about the various energy sources, including hybrid systems. Rob also provides you with additional advice and knowledge to help you create sustainable energy for your property.
- Chapter 8: The Orchard
- Growing Zones
- Berry Planting
- Grapes
- Rhubarb, A Vegetable or a Fruit?
- Fruit Tree Planting
- Controlling Pest and Disease
- Chapter 9: Homestead Gardening
- Your First Garden
- Container Gardening
- Let There Be Light
- Edible Landscapes
- Choose Garden System
- The Shape Our Garden Takes
- Plan the Layout
- Crop Rotation
- Soil Building and Preparation
- Organic Fertilizers
- Vegetable Seed Selection
- Let’s Get The Garden Started
- Ready to Plan
- Succession Planting and Intercropping
- Mulch and Fertilize
- Insects and Diseases
- Varmint Control
- Season Extenders
- Plant Protection
The Solar Greenhouse - Seven Cash Cow Crops
- Guide to Common Garden Vegetables
- Winter Gardening
- Culinary Herbs
- Medicinal Garden
- Chapter 10: Easy on the Back Gardening
- Hay or Straw Bale Gardens
- A Keyhole Garden
- Chapter 11: Seed Savings
- Chapter 12: Food Preservation
- Freezing Fruits and Vegetables
- Freezing Meats
- Canning
- Canning Equipment
- Canning Foods – General Principles
- Canning Vegetables
- Canning Fruits
- Canning Fruit Juices
- Canning Jams, Jellies and Preserves
- Canning Meats
- Drying or Dehydrating
- Root Cellaring
- Curing, Smoking and Other Off-Grid Means of Food Storage
- Storage of Staples
- Making Apple Cider Vinegar
- Chapter 13: Busy as Bees
- Building the Hive
- Equipment
- Potential Issues
- How to Start a New Bee Colony
- Harvesting Honey
- Chapter 14: Introduction to Chickens
- Chicken Breeds
- The Chicken Coop and Run
- Starting the Flock
- Feed and Bedding
- Chicken Processing
Chapters 8 to 14 cover everything food-related – from gardening and raising chickens to beekeeping and growing medicinal plants. It comes with expert advice, food charts, and important tips on things like seed quantities per person, ideal planting times, spacing, and more. Chapter 13 even features advice from beekeeper Mario Swinkels, a member of the Canadian Honey Council.
- Chapter 15: Composting
- Recycling Human Waste
This chapter gets straight to the point: what to do with human waste. It covers the various ways to recycle and reuse waste, including composting methods, benefits, and more.
- Chapter 16: You Can Do the Impossible
- Tools of the Trade
- Real World Examples
- Safety First
- Homestead Fuel Storage
- Chapter 17: Parting Thoughts
The last two chapters help you put the finishing touches on your homestead. It covers essential tools, homesteading examples, safety tips, fuel storage, and more.
Free Bonus Guides
- The Aquaponic Gardner
- Where Free Land Can Be Found in the USA
- DIY Projects from the 1900s That Will Help You In the Next Crisis
The Verdict
Advantages of the Program
- Covers everything needed to achieve complete self-sufficiency on your own land.
- Requires as little as 1000 square feet per person for food production.
- Teaches proven, time-tested methods based on 40+ years of hands-on experience.
- Includes examples, tutorials, and detailed steps.
- Easily customize the program to suit your needs.
- All the research and planning is done for you, making it a quick and easy process.
- Compiles decades of experience into one easy-to-follow guide.
- Combines advice and knowledge from a variety of experts within their respected field, such as professional beekeepers and engineers.
- Available in a convenient digital format for access anytime, anywhere.
- A printed version option too.
- Backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee.
- Endorsed by expert survivalists.
Disadvantages of the Program
The Self-Sufficient Backyard is a digital program, giving you instant online access and the option to download it to your devices. While it doesn’t include a printed version, you can either print it yourself or order a physical copy for a small fee.
Conclusion
The Self-Sufficient Backyard is your all-in-one guide to creating a truly self-reliant lifestyle that suits your specific needs. It comes with over 200 pages packed with expert knowledge, step-by-step tutorials, DIY projects, and advice on everything you could ever need to know to transform your property – no matter the size or your experience level. Whether you have a small backyard or acres of space, you’ll find actionable steps and tips for making the most of it. Plus, with a 60-Day Money Back Guarantee, you can check the entire program out and see how self-sufficiency can work for you – entirely risk-free.
FAQs
You can get a physical copy of the program for a small fee through the official website. You’ll still have instant access to the digital version too, so you can dive in right away while waiting for your copy to arrive. This can be accessed on any device, online or offline.
No, the program is sold exclusively on the official website.
The authors have not announced any additional discounts at this time.
Of course! The program is designed for all property sizes, including specific tips for smaller spaces too.