What is a Self Sustained Life?

Self sustained, other known as self sufficiency. What exactly is it?
According to Wikipedia it is: Self-sufficiency refers to the state of not requiring any outside aid, support, or interaction, for survival.
That is the true definition, but it has different meanings to different people.
Our self sustained life is requiring very minimal outside aid. We grow what we can for food here on the farm, but we realize we also have to buy things like flour, butter and grains. There is no farm around here to trade with like there might have been years ago.
We have been doing this self sufficiency thing for 4 years, and in today's world, it is almost totally impossible. There seems to always be something that you need cold hard cash for.
You still to make money for taxes, food you can't grow, and feed for the animals. You can barter for some things that you want or need, but the town or city you live in will not barter for your taxes on your house or property. The local grocer probably won't barter for flour or grain either.
When we moved to the farm, we had in mind a total self sustained life. We would grow our own food, raise our own animals for milk, eggs, and meat. We would use wood for fuel, and not rely on petroleum oil. We would heat our water on the wood stove. For two years, we had no hot running water. During the winter, we bathed in the kitchen by the wood stove, and in the summers we would shower out doors. The 300 feet of dark red hose we used for watering, doubled as a shower. We built a shower / bath house, and it worked wonderfully. There is nothing like bathing outdoors in the fresh, clean air.
We then decided to become a foster home, so we had to put in a furnace. The foster parent idea was short lived, so we went back to our old system. You wouldn't believe how much you save on oil.
At this point, we could not totally go "off grid" because of our businesses. Michael runs a web marketing company, and I run the online store of Cloverleaf Farm. We do however use much electricity than the average Joe. We don't have a coffee maker, or dryer. We don't have a microwave; all our meals are cooked from scratch. Our lights for the most part are candles and oil lamps.
So, for the time being, we have electricity. That is something we hope we can change in the future.

Baking of The Bread

The fields are covered in snow, and more snow is expected tomorrow. They say over 2 feet. I guess we won't be digging any more carrots out of the ground now.
That's okay. It's a good day for making breads. I will make 6 loaves, and that will last us for the month.
As far as other groceries, it is almost time to do our 'big" shopping in the big city of Rochester. In December, right before the snows hit, we stock up on winter supplies. We buy enough to last us the winter. This trip, we'll need just some of the basics like dry milk and flour. In December, we stocked up on dried beans, peas and chicken stock. We live on soups for most of the winter. They are hearty and healthy.
So, bring on the snow, and I'll bake my home made bread. Maybe, I'll make some pasta while I'm at it.