Farming and agriculture is a big way forward when you're talking about being self sufficient because it means you don't depend on the government for your food completely and you get to eat your crops fresh from harvest. There's big money is agriculture.Where I am from we own farms and farm lands and most people are taught how to grow and process their own food locally from a really young age.
I don't like to be totally dependant so sometimes I deprive myself of certain things just so I would get used to not having it even before I can't have it any longer.