The self-sustainable life is a lot more work than one can imagine. It demands a shift in lifestyle choices from what you consume to what you will do with your time. And while you're doing your best to assist nature in handling the human footprint, it can became a tad tedious watching the neighbour's counteract your efforts by driving their gas-guzzling tank down the drive to pick up the mail.

In fact, it would be interesting to see some research on how many people set out to live the self-sustainable life but reverted back due to discouragement and disillusionment. I'm sure that many start out with grandiose plans to change the world, or at least theirs, but within a few years realise that supplementing their lifestyle with organic produce instead of remaining completely self-sustainable is probably a better option.

Let's assume that the self-sustainable lifers have a 5-acre plot from which to exist. On this piece of land they have ample space to grow a few different varieties of fruit trees, operate a decent-sized veggie patch, run some chickens, ducks and other poultry and even have a cow or a few goats or a couple of sheep. One could assume that this would be sustainable enough with a few changes to the diet.

However, where are the grains: the wheat, barley and rice that we consume on an almost daily basis? Sure, you could remove the animals, and the veggies and possibly the fruit trees to make way for growing these bare essentials but then your diet becomes even more restrictive.

If there's no wheat, then there becomes no flour. No flour = no bread, no cakes, no biscuits and definitely no pancakes on a Sunday morning dripping with maple syrup. Then, if there's no rice you're limited to potatoes as your staple carbohydrate.

Sure, these items don't have to remain in your dietary lifestyle but it does beg the question, "Are you prepared to limit yourself that much for the sake of a truly self-sustainable life?"

My theory is that there are very few self-sustainable life purists. Instead, it would seem that the few I know supplement their sustainable lifestyle with delicacies and staples from the consumerist's table while at the same time pointing the finger at those who don't choose their lifestyle path.

So, if you were faced with having to living completely off your own piece of land, could you do it? And what would be the hardest thing to sacrifice in doing so?