🧵 THREAD: I was just flying my drone over my land… and I thought: damn — I really built my own paradise here in the Brazilian jungle.
Here are the 8 Pillars of Real Self-Sufficiency I live by — far from government overreach, societal collapse, and digital slavery. ⬇️
Here are the 8 Pillars of Real Self-Sufficiency I live by — far from government overreach, societal collapse, and digital slavery. ⬇️
1. FOOD 🍗
“You are what you eat.” Whoever first said it was absolutely right, because food is more than fuel. It shapes your body, your brain, your mood, your immunity, and ultimately your freedom. If you want sovereignty over your life, it starts with what’s on your plate.
Most of the food you find in supermarkets today isn’t really food. It’s processed, stripped of nutrients, pumped with preservatives, and grown in degraded soil. Even the meat and milk are compromised. Factory-farmed animals fed unnatural diets result in products with dangerously skewed omega-6 to omega-3 ratios, which drive inflammation and disease. Add in pesticide residues, seed oils, and synthetic additives, and you get the perfect recipe for physical and mental collapse, disguised as a “balanced diet.”
Almost every modern Western disease, from depression to diabetes, can be traced back to the gut. And the gut is shaped by what you feed it.
This is why food must be your number one priority if you’re serious about self-sufficiency, health, or survival. Growing your own food in a regenerative, permaculture-based system, or trading with others who do, is the only real solution.
As a scientist who has worked with human metabolism for years and studied the causal-loop relationships between dietary input and long-term well-being, I chose to walk the hard path. I left Europe — my family, friends, and even my frozen bank accounts — and moved to Brazil to build the life I believe in. I found a safe place surrounded by jungle, rich in natural resources, and began reclaiming control over my own food and health.
Today, I raise 30 Rhode Island Reds — strong, self-reliant chickens that lay around 20-25 eggs per day. They’re free-range, keeping snakes and spiders away from the house. I feed them homegrown corn, banana plant stalks, and local supplements. While jaguars and pumas occasionally claim one or two despite the electric fencing, I simply hatch more eggs and keep the cycle going.
I also built two greenhouses. The first (50m²) is dedicated to NFT hydroponics, where I grow strawberries, shishito peppers, blackberries and blueberries (in compost), safely shielded from the destructive jungle ants. The second (14m²) is for tomatoes, grown in Dutch bucket systems under sunlight and 20 solar-powered grow lights, yielding 2-4 pounds of heirloom tomatoes per day. I even started breeding my own tomato varieties, but I’ll tell you more about this in a post below.
I also constructed my own aquaculture system to raise trout and tilapia using mountain spring water, which then (being more nutrient-rich due to fish poop/pee) becomes as a fertilizer source for my greenhouse crops.
Beyond that, my land overflows with edibles that thrive in this environment. “Plagues” like sweet potato are a blessing, producing several kilos per plant, perfect for barter or storage. Physalis (golden berries) pop up everywhere and fetch premium prices abroad. Turmeric is invasive, yes, but I harvest and dry it, alongside chili, sweet paprika, black pepper, rosemary, oregano, and cumin. For this, I imported a Ninja 11-in-1 oven, which I also use to ferment yogurt from raw milk.
My food forest is expanding fast. I’ve planted over a dozen banana varieties, including rare types from pink to black. I’m growing mulberries, papayas, avocados, peaches, grapes, olives, lemons, oranges, and tropical species few people have even heard of. I’ve even started harvesting jabuticaba, one of my favorites — its sweet, grape-like fruit grows directly on the bark, straight from the trunk like something out of a fantasy novel (see picture).
Everything I grow is real, nutrient-dense, and free from chemicals. Some of it feeds my family, some feeds my animals, and some I trade for raw milk, meat, or organic cheese with local farmers.
Food is the foundation. Food is health. Food is sovereignty. And growing it yourself is the first act of true rebellion.
“You are what you eat.” Whoever first said it was absolutely right, because food is more than fuel. It shapes your body, your brain, your mood, your immunity, and ultimately your freedom. If you want sovereignty over your life, it starts with what’s on your plate.
Most of the food you find in supermarkets today isn’t really food. It’s processed, stripped of nutrients, pumped with preservatives, and grown in degraded soil. Even the meat and milk are compromised. Factory-farmed animals fed unnatural diets result in products with dangerously skewed omega-6 to omega-3 ratios, which drive inflammation and disease. Add in pesticide residues, seed oils, and synthetic additives, and you get the perfect recipe for physical and mental collapse, disguised as a “balanced diet.”
Almost every modern Western disease, from depression to diabetes, can be traced back to the gut. And the gut is shaped by what you feed it.
This is why food must be your number one priority if you’re serious about self-sufficiency, health, or survival. Growing your own food in a regenerative, permaculture-based system, or trading with others who do, is the only real solution.
As a scientist who has worked with human metabolism for years and studied the causal-loop relationships between dietary input and long-term well-being, I chose to walk the hard path. I left Europe — my family, friends, and even my frozen bank accounts — and moved to Brazil to build the life I believe in. I found a safe place surrounded by jungle, rich in natural resources, and began reclaiming control over my own food and health.
Today, I raise 30 Rhode Island Reds — strong, self-reliant chickens that lay around 20-25 eggs per day. They’re free-range, keeping snakes and spiders away from the house. I feed them homegrown corn, banana plant stalks, and local supplements. While jaguars and pumas occasionally claim one or two despite the electric fencing, I simply hatch more eggs and keep the cycle going.
I also built two greenhouses. The first (50m²) is dedicated to NFT hydroponics, where I grow strawberries, shishito peppers, blackberries and blueberries (in compost), safely shielded from the destructive jungle ants. The second (14m²) is for tomatoes, grown in Dutch bucket systems under sunlight and 20 solar-powered grow lights, yielding 2-4 pounds of heirloom tomatoes per day. I even started breeding my own tomato varieties, but I’ll tell you more about this in a post below.
I also constructed my own aquaculture system to raise trout and tilapia using mountain spring water, which then (being more nutrient-rich due to fish poop/pee) becomes as a fertilizer source for my greenhouse crops.
Beyond that, my land overflows with edibles that thrive in this environment. “Plagues” like sweet potato are a blessing, producing several kilos per plant, perfect for barter or storage. Physalis (golden berries) pop up everywhere and fetch premium prices abroad. Turmeric is invasive, yes, but I harvest and dry it, alongside chili, sweet paprika, black pepper, rosemary, oregano, and cumin. For this, I imported a Ninja 11-in-1 oven, which I also use to ferment yogurt from raw milk.
My food forest is expanding fast. I’ve planted over a dozen banana varieties, including rare types from pink to black. I’m growing mulberries, papayas, avocados, peaches, grapes, olives, lemons, oranges, and tropical species few people have even heard of. I’ve even started harvesting jabuticaba, one of my favorites — its sweet, grape-like fruit grows directly on the bark, straight from the trunk like something out of a fantasy novel (see picture).
Everything I grow is real, nutrient-dense, and free from chemicals. Some of it feeds my family, some feeds my animals, and some I trade for raw milk, meat, or organic cheese with local farmers.
Food is the foundation. Food is health. Food is sovereignty. And growing it yourself is the first act of true rebellion.
2. WATER 💦
Without water, there is no self-sufficiency. It’s not just about drinking — it’s about irrigation, animals, cleaning, aquaculture, and even energy.
The first step to living off-grid is identifying your primary water source:
– Spring water is ideal — clean, pressurized, and often year-round
– Groundwater can work, but always test for contaminants and ensure recharge stability
– Rainwater can be excellent too, but it requires proper collection, filtration, and reliable storage
– Surface water (creeks, ponds) may be usable if managed well, especially with filtration or for non-potable use
No matter what the source: Have a reservoir.
Water storage = drought insurance.
And invest in treatment or filtration systems, because polluted water is worse than no water.
In my case, I’m lucky:
I have three natural untouched springs flowing directly from the mountain. There’s no one above me. That means:
– No chlorine
– No fluoride
– No microplastics
– No pee/poo
– No birth control residue or other pharmaceutical garbage
Just clean, chemical-free, pressurized mountain water. This water feeds everything: my house, my gardens, my chicken, and my aquaculture system (where I raise trout and tilapia).
That nutrient-rich fish water then gets channeled it into my NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) greenhouse, where strawberries and peppers grow like wildfire (and the solid waste goes right onto the composting systems).
Right now, I still use an electric pump to push water to my main tank. But I’m about to upgrade to a hydraulic ram pump, which is a pump that uses gravity and pressure from falling water to lift a portion of it uphill, without any electricity.
That means more efficiency, less energy use, and even less dependence on solar or batteries.
If you don’t control your own water, you’re not free. It’s that simple. You can live without power for a while, but not without water. And if your water is poisoned, everything else collapses.
I also have a 300 ft elevation drop across my land, and all my springs feed into a single stream. That gradient allows me to run a micro-hydropower plant, and will be expanded over time due to its immense potential.
To preserve the purity of this water system, for me and for the ecosystem downstream, I’ve implemented:
– Multilevel septic tanks to responsibly treat both graywater and blackwater
– Biodegradable cleaning and hygiene products only: sodium bicarbonate, organic soaps, borax, vinegar, and essential oils
We don’t poison our land to feel clean.
Without water, there is no self-sufficiency. It’s not just about drinking — it’s about irrigation, animals, cleaning, aquaculture, and even energy.
The first step to living off-grid is identifying your primary water source:
– Spring water is ideal — clean, pressurized, and often year-round
– Groundwater can work, but always test for contaminants and ensure recharge stability
– Rainwater can be excellent too, but it requires proper collection, filtration, and reliable storage
– Surface water (creeks, ponds) may be usable if managed well, especially with filtration or for non-potable use
No matter what the source: Have a reservoir.
Water storage = drought insurance.
And invest in treatment or filtration systems, because polluted water is worse than no water.
In my case, I’m lucky:
I have three natural untouched springs flowing directly from the mountain. There’s no one above me. That means:
– No chlorine
– No fluoride
– No microplastics
– No pee/poo
– No birth control residue or other pharmaceutical garbage
Just clean, chemical-free, pressurized mountain water. This water feeds everything: my house, my gardens, my chicken, and my aquaculture system (where I raise trout and tilapia).
That nutrient-rich fish water then gets channeled it into my NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) greenhouse, where strawberries and peppers grow like wildfire (and the solid waste goes right onto the composting systems).
Right now, I still use an electric pump to push water to my main tank. But I’m about to upgrade to a hydraulic ram pump, which is a pump that uses gravity and pressure from falling water to lift a portion of it uphill, without any electricity.
That means more efficiency, less energy use, and even less dependence on solar or batteries.
If you don’t control your own water, you’re not free. It’s that simple. You can live without power for a while, but not without water. And if your water is poisoned, everything else collapses.
I also have a 300 ft elevation drop across my land, and all my springs feed into a single stream. That gradient allows me to run a micro-hydropower plant, and will be expanded over time due to its immense potential.
To preserve the purity of this water system, for me and for the ecosystem downstream, I’ve implemented:
– Multilevel septic tanks to responsibly treat both graywater and blackwater
– Biodegradable cleaning and hygiene products only: sodium bicarbonate, organic soaps, borax, vinegar, and essential oils
We don’t poison our land to feel clean.
3. ENERGY ⚡️
Without energy, self-sufficiency collapses. You can grow your own food, collect your own water, but without power for pumps, fridges, lights, or communication, you’re still dependent.
The best setup isn’t just going solar.
It’s about creating an energy mix that gives you reliability, day and night, rain or shine.
– Micro-hydropower is ideal: if you have a steady stream or height drop, it gives you base-load electricity 24/7. No sun needed. No wind required. No fluctuations.
– Solar is excellent for sunny areas, especially when paired with batteries and smart load timing.
– Wind can be useful in the right environment, though it’s more complex.
– Biogas (from food scraps, manure, or plant biomass) can fuel a generator and keep things running off-grid.
A hybrid system is key.
In my case, I run a hybrid microgrid built for real independence:
– 11 kWp solar PV system
– Micro-hydropower turbine (powered by a 300 ft elevation drop from my springs)
– Backup generator — rarely used, but always ready
– 20 kWh battery bank
All of it flows through a central hub of two 5 kW inverters in parallel, powering my house, my greenhouses, pumps, studio, and even Starlink.
The result are: no bills, no outages during the rainy season, no worries. I generate power while others are stuck in the dark.
If you’re building your own system:
– Start with what’s abundant in your area (sun, water, biomass)
– Combine sources for stability
– And size your batteries wisely — because energy storage is your security
Without energy, self-sufficiency collapses. You can grow your own food, collect your own water, but without power for pumps, fridges, lights, or communication, you’re still dependent.
The best setup isn’t just going solar.
It’s about creating an energy mix that gives you reliability, day and night, rain or shine.
– Micro-hydropower is ideal: if you have a steady stream or height drop, it gives you base-load electricity 24/7. No sun needed. No wind required. No fluctuations.
– Solar is excellent for sunny areas, especially when paired with batteries and smart load timing.
– Wind can be useful in the right environment, though it’s more complex.
– Biogas (from food scraps, manure, or plant biomass) can fuel a generator and keep things running off-grid.
A hybrid system is key.
In my case, I run a hybrid microgrid built for real independence:
– 11 kWp solar PV system
– Micro-hydropower turbine (powered by a 300 ft elevation drop from my springs)
– Backup generator — rarely used, but always ready
– 20 kWh battery bank
All of it flows through a central hub of two 5 kW inverters in parallel, powering my house, my greenhouses, pumps, studio, and even Starlink.
The result are: no bills, no outages during the rainy season, no worries. I generate power while others are stuck in the dark.
If you’re building your own system:
– Start with what’s abundant in your area (sun, water, biomass)
– Combine sources for stability
– And size your batteries wisely — because energy storage is your security
4. COMMUNITY 🫂
You can go far alone, but you’ll go farther, safer, and saner with others. Self-sufficiency doesn’t mean isolation. It means independence within interdependence.
If you’re serious about off-grid or permaculture living, then find people.
– Build shared projects
– Create a micro-village
– Pool resources, land, tools, skills, and labor
– Reduce workload, increase security, and multiply your freedom
Surround yourself with people who know how to do things:
– Grow food
– Fix machines
– Treat injuries
– Build, hunt, trade, preserve
Because when things go sideways, people with degrees in marketing, HR, or gender studies won’t be the ones who keep you alive.
In my case, I live remotely — no direct neighbors. But within 20–30 minutes driving, I’ve built a network of farmers and homesteaders like this dairy farmer.
We trade regularly:
– Eggs for milk
– Seedlings for cheese
– Labor for meat
Most of the food I don’t produce myself, I get directly from people who do — no middlemen.
And most importantly: Each person brings a skill. And in a world where systems are breaking down, real-world skills are the new currency.
You can go far alone, but you’ll go farther, safer, and saner with others. Self-sufficiency doesn’t mean isolation. It means independence within interdependence.
If you’re serious about off-grid or permaculture living, then find people.
– Build shared projects
– Create a micro-village
– Pool resources, land, tools, skills, and labor
– Reduce workload, increase security, and multiply your freedom
Surround yourself with people who know how to do things:
– Grow food
– Fix machines
– Treat injuries
– Build, hunt, trade, preserve
Because when things go sideways, people with degrees in marketing, HR, or gender studies won’t be the ones who keep you alive.
In my case, I live remotely — no direct neighbors. But within 20–30 minutes driving, I’ve built a network of farmers and homesteaders like this dairy farmer.
We trade regularly:
– Eggs for milk
– Seedlings for cheese
– Labor for meat
Most of the food I don’t produce myself, I get directly from people who do — no middlemen.
And most importantly: Each person brings a skill. And in a world where systems are breaking down, real-world skills are the new currency.
5. COMPOSTING 🪱
If you don’t build your soil, you’re just camping. Soil is everything. It’s your foundation for long-term abundance.
Modern agriculture has destroyed our topsoil layer, the most fertile part of the earth. Years of chemical farming, tillage, and surface runoff have stripped it of nutrients and life. What you often see today is dead dirt, not living soil.
If you want a thriving, disease-resistant, nutrient-dense food system, you need to restore the soil. That starts with composting, and goes far beyond dumping food scraps in a pile.
In my case, I do multi-level composting and bio-enhancement:
– I run a Kon-Tiki Kiln to create biochar (a high-carbon charcoal)
– I collect indigenous jungle microbes using bamboo tubes filled with cooked rice
– I incubate and multiply those microbes in homemade bioreactors filled with water, sugar, and self-made papaya juice.
– I mix the pulverized biochar, compost, and microbes to create terra preta, the legendary black soil once used by the indigenous peoples of the Amazon
I don’t just sustain my land, I regenerate it.
And I go further:
– I do wet composting as well, using the nutrient-rich brine as a fertilizer in my hydroponic systems
– Nothing goes to waste; it all gets cycled back into the land
The results are healthy plants, nutrient-dense food, and microbial-rich soil that only gets better with time.
Composting turns your waste into gold… literally.
If you don’t build your soil, you’re just camping. Soil is everything. It’s your foundation for long-term abundance.
Modern agriculture has destroyed our topsoil layer, the most fertile part of the earth. Years of chemical farming, tillage, and surface runoff have stripped it of nutrients and life. What you often see today is dead dirt, not living soil.
If you want a thriving, disease-resistant, nutrient-dense food system, you need to restore the soil. That starts with composting, and goes far beyond dumping food scraps in a pile.
In my case, I do multi-level composting and bio-enhancement:
– I run a Kon-Tiki Kiln to create biochar (a high-carbon charcoal)
– I collect indigenous jungle microbes using bamboo tubes filled with cooked rice
– I incubate and multiply those microbes in homemade bioreactors filled with water, sugar, and self-made papaya juice.
– I mix the pulverized biochar, compost, and microbes to create terra preta, the legendary black soil once used by the indigenous peoples of the Amazon
I don’t just sustain my land, I regenerate it.
And I go further:
– I do wet composting as well, using the nutrient-rich brine as a fertilizer in my hydroponic systems
– Nothing goes to waste; it all gets cycled back into the land
The results are healthy plants, nutrient-dense food, and microbial-rich soil that only gets better with time.
Composting turns your waste into gold… literally.
6. PRIVACY & LOCATION 📍
If the system crashes, and one day it will, location will decide your fate. Whether it’s a global economic collapse, a civil breakdown, or even a polar shift, being in the wrong place at the wrong time means you’re a target or a casualty.
Choose wisely.
– Far enough from urban chaos
– Remote enough to be off the radar
– Accessible enough to still live and trade
– Secure enough to defend
The perfect location isn’t a bunker; it’s a buffer zone between total isolation and total exposure.
In my case, I live at nearly 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) in the Brazilian highlands. To reach my land, you need all-wheel drive and more than just basic driving skills. It’s not a quick stop off the highway. That’s the point. It’s not convenient, it’s strategic.
There are no streetlights, no direct neighbors, no noise. Only jungle, elevation, and peace.
Privacy is protection. Remoteness is resilience. And when the shit hits the fan, I won’t be stuck in a traffic jam or waiting in a breadline.
I’ll be home with everything I need.
Build your sanctuary now. Later may be too late.
If the system crashes, and one day it will, location will decide your fate. Whether it’s a global economic collapse, a civil breakdown, or even a polar shift, being in the wrong place at the wrong time means you’re a target or a casualty.
Choose wisely.
– Far enough from urban chaos
– Remote enough to be off the radar
– Accessible enough to still live and trade
– Secure enough to defend
The perfect location isn’t a bunker; it’s a buffer zone between total isolation and total exposure.
In my case, I live at nearly 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) in the Brazilian highlands. To reach my land, you need all-wheel drive and more than just basic driving skills. It’s not a quick stop off the highway. That’s the point. It’s not convenient, it’s strategic.
There are no streetlights, no direct neighbors, no noise. Only jungle, elevation, and peace.
Privacy is protection. Remoteness is resilience. And when the shit hits the fan, I won’t be stuck in a traffic jam or waiting in a breadline.
I’ll be home with everything I need.
Build your sanctuary now. Later may be too late.
7. SKILLS & TOOLS 🛠️
In a world where systems are breaking down, real-world skills are the new currency. It’s not about what you studied or what title you hold, it’s about what you can do with your hands, your mind, and the tools you’ve got. If you can’t fix, build, grow, or repair, then someone owns your life. And no amount of theory will save you when the lights go out.
Luckily, this is the best time in history to learn. We have YouTube. We have AI. We have access to a near-infinite pool of knowledge and tutorials, and most of it is free. If you don’t know how to install a solar inverter, wire a battery, or build a chicken coop, you can learn it. The earlier you start, the more confident and capable you become.
I never imagined I’d be renovating houses, running plumbing, installing energy systems, or building greenhouses in the jungle. But here I am, because I had to. I figured it out. And the best part is, the more you solve problems, the more your confidence grows. Everything is learnable, and every skill adds to your freedom.
But skills alone aren’t enough. You need tools. Good tools. Essential tools. In my case, I couldn’t live without my chainsaw, my Kon-Tiki kiln for charcoal production, my water pumps (always have backups!), and my workshop full of wrenches, saws, electrical gear, and repair kits. Depending on your land, even small machinery, like a mini excavator or earth auger, can be a massive time-saver. Wherever you are, you’ll need the right equipment to get the job done, especially when there’s no one to call for help.
In short: the system wants you helpless. Useless. Trapped in convenience and dependence. But every tool you master and every skill you develop is one more chain broken. Self-sufficiency is built with your own two hands, one problem, one project, one solution at a time.
In a world where systems are breaking down, real-world skills are the new currency. It’s not about what you studied or what title you hold, it’s about what you can do with your hands, your mind, and the tools you’ve got. If you can’t fix, build, grow, or repair, then someone owns your life. And no amount of theory will save you when the lights go out.
Luckily, this is the best time in history to learn. We have YouTube. We have AI. We have access to a near-infinite pool of knowledge and tutorials, and most of it is free. If you don’t know how to install a solar inverter, wire a battery, or build a chicken coop, you can learn it. The earlier you start, the more confident and capable you become.
I never imagined I’d be renovating houses, running plumbing, installing energy systems, or building greenhouses in the jungle. But here I am, because I had to. I figured it out. And the best part is, the more you solve problems, the more your confidence grows. Everything is learnable, and every skill adds to your freedom.
But skills alone aren’t enough. You need tools. Good tools. Essential tools. In my case, I couldn’t live without my chainsaw, my Kon-Tiki kiln for charcoal production, my water pumps (always have backups!), and my workshop full of wrenches, saws, electrical gear, and repair kits. Depending on your land, even small machinery, like a mini excavator or earth auger, can be a massive time-saver. Wherever you are, you’ll need the right equipment to get the job done, especially when there’s no one to call for help.
In short: the system wants you helpless. Useless. Trapped in convenience and dependence. But every tool you master and every skill you develop is one more chain broken. Self-sufficiency is built with your own two hands, one problem, one project, one solution at a time.
8. PERSISTENCE 💪🏻
Call it grit, discipline, or just pure stubbornness — without it, nothing else works. Building a self-sufficient life isn’t a weekend hobby or a summer retreat. It’s a full-on commitment. It’s waking up each day knowing there’s another problem to solve, another part to fix, another upgrade to plan. It’s like living in a real-life strategy game where every click is replaced by sweat, tools, and time. Only here, the outcome directly shapes your survival, your freedom, and your future.
Yes, you need tools. Yes, you need skills. But above all, you need persistence. You need the mental strength to keep going when it rains for two weeks straight, when the ants wipe out your seedlings again, when a jaguar kills almost all of your chickens, or when your water system malfunctions at 2 a.m. It’s not about comfort; it’s about conviction.
The drone photo I shared gives you a wide view of my land and my sub-projects. What you don’t see in that lush jungle landscape is how much of it started as nothing but wild terrain. Every path, every line of pipe, every fence post and greenhouse was built step-by-step. There’s still so much to do, and I do a bit more every single day.
What I’ve been building, and continue to build, is a long list of solutions to countless problems. It’s been a constant process of:
– Solving humidity issues
– Managing temperature fluctuations
– Fixing accessibility and road erosion during the rainy season
– Rebuilding soil quality and structure
– Troubleshooting energy system inconsistencies
– Fighting off plant pests and fungal outbreaks
– Developing defense mechanisms against deadly snakes, spiders, jaguars, and pumas
– Trying to outsmart the relentless plant-cutting ants
This lifestyle isn’t for people who give up. It’s for those who choose discomfort now so they’re not defenseless later. It’s for the modern-day adventurer. The type who wants to build a real legacy, not just consume one. The kind of person who dares to take control of life instead of outsourcing it to collapsing systems.
We haven’t seen a full economic collapse in our lifetime, but history tells us it’s coming — again. Every empire has fallen. Look at the global deficits, the inflation, the absurd money printing, the distraction wars, and the social engineering. It’s all pointing toward the same outcome. And when it happens, no government will save you. No delivery app, no welfare state, no comforting slogans.
You’re responsible. For yourself. For your family. For your future.
So, yes, get the tools. Learn the skills. Build the networks. But above all: keep going. The mindset to never stop improving, never stop solving, never stop building, that’s the real superpower. Because freedom isn’t something you’re given. It’s something you fight for. One day at a time.
Call it grit, discipline, or just pure stubbornness — without it, nothing else works. Building a self-sufficient life isn’t a weekend hobby or a summer retreat. It’s a full-on commitment. It’s waking up each day knowing there’s another problem to solve, another part to fix, another upgrade to plan. It’s like living in a real-life strategy game where every click is replaced by sweat, tools, and time. Only here, the outcome directly shapes your survival, your freedom, and your future.
Yes, you need tools. Yes, you need skills. But above all, you need persistence. You need the mental strength to keep going when it rains for two weeks straight, when the ants wipe out your seedlings again, when a jaguar kills almost all of your chickens, or when your water system malfunctions at 2 a.m. It’s not about comfort; it’s about conviction.
The drone photo I shared gives you a wide view of my land and my sub-projects. What you don’t see in that lush jungle landscape is how much of it started as nothing but wild terrain. Every path, every line of pipe, every fence post and greenhouse was built step-by-step. There’s still so much to do, and I do a bit more every single day.
What I’ve been building, and continue to build, is a long list of solutions to countless problems. It’s been a constant process of:
– Solving humidity issues
– Managing temperature fluctuations
– Fixing accessibility and road erosion during the rainy season
– Rebuilding soil quality and structure
– Troubleshooting energy system inconsistencies
– Fighting off plant pests and fungal outbreaks
– Developing defense mechanisms against deadly snakes, spiders, jaguars, and pumas
– Trying to outsmart the relentless plant-cutting ants
This lifestyle isn’t for people who give up. It’s for those who choose discomfort now so they’re not defenseless later. It’s for the modern-day adventurer. The type who wants to build a real legacy, not just consume one. The kind of person who dares to take control of life instead of outsourcing it to collapsing systems.
We haven’t seen a full economic collapse in our lifetime, but history tells us it’s coming — again. Every empire has fallen. Look at the global deficits, the inflation, the absurd money printing, the distraction wars, and the social engineering. It’s all pointing toward the same outcome. And when it happens, no government will save you. No delivery app, no welfare state, no comforting slogans.
You’re responsible. For yourself. For your family. For your future.
So, yes, get the tools. Learn the skills. Build the networks. But above all: keep going. The mindset to never stop improving, never stop solving, never stop building, that’s the real superpower. Because freedom isn’t something you’re given. It’s something you fight for. One day at a time.
ADDENDUM: TOMATOES 🍅
When it comes to tomatoes, I’ve taken things one step further. Most people just grow what they can buy, but here in the humid jungle, that doesn’t work. The fungal pressure is extreme, and most commercial varieties collapse under mildew, leaf spot, or fruit rot. So I began breeding my own tomato varieties — resilient, adapted, and optimized for my unique environment.
It started with a wild tomato species I obtained from a genetic bank — the original, ancestral tomato from the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia. The fruits are tiny, less than half an inch wide, but the plant is nearly immune to disease. I began crossing it with some of my favorite modern tomatoes by hand-pollinating flower by flower and collecting the resulting F1 hybrid seeds.
From there, I selectively bred those hybrids across generations; F2, F3, and beyond, often reaching F7, F8, or F9. With three growth cycles per year, I can make steady progress, developing tomatoes that are not only flavorful and colorful but also far more resistant to tropical fungal pressures.
Sometimes, I even create what I call a triple F1 hybrid. For example, I’ll first cross the wild Andes variety with a disease-resistant type I like (which takes about 50 attempts to get a successful fruit due to low compatibility). Once I get that initial F1, I then cross it with a third parent (the wet dream of every woke liberal), typically a large, delicious cultivar like beefsteak, to combine durability with fruit size and taste. It’s slow, meticulous work, but it’s deeply rewarding.
Another side project I’m working on involves a rare tomato line that carries a high-fructose sugar profile instead of glucose. Since fructose is roughly 1.5 times sweeter than glucose, I’m attempting to breed that trait into one of my custom strains to create a naturally sweeter tomato. That’s what you do when you get “bored” in the jungle. You create new tomato genetics.
Most of my heirloom and “wild variety” seeds, came from tomato research stations and genetic banks. I’m selective with what I use and methodical in how I evolve it. I don’t just grow tomatoes, I also design them to make them more resilient.
And yes, I name my favorite new lines after my nieces back in Europe. It makes them happy and gives my work a personal legacy.
I’m telling you this tomato story not because I think everyone should start hybridizing fruit, but because it’s a perfect example of what gives my life meaning out here. I could spend my days just debating people online, trying to convince them they’re wrong. But honestly? That doesn’t build anything.
What does build something, literally and figuratively, are these small, hands-on projects that solve real problems and create lasting value. Breeding a tomato that thrives in the jungle, making something delicious from scratch, watching it grow stronger with each generation… that’s deeply fulfilling.
And this is just one of many little things I’m working on. My life is made up of dozens of these problem-solving loops that are tangible, useful, and, often beautiful. They add up. They give purpose. And they remind me that having a real life offline, filled with real effort and creation, beats any argument I could win online.
That’s why I shared this story. Because that’s what sovereignty really looks like: not just being free from something, but being full of something better.
When it comes to tomatoes, I’ve taken things one step further. Most people just grow what they can buy, but here in the humid jungle, that doesn’t work. The fungal pressure is extreme, and most commercial varieties collapse under mildew, leaf spot, or fruit rot. So I began breeding my own tomato varieties — resilient, adapted, and optimized for my unique environment.
It started with a wild tomato species I obtained from a genetic bank — the original, ancestral tomato from the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia. The fruits are tiny, less than half an inch wide, but the plant is nearly immune to disease. I began crossing it with some of my favorite modern tomatoes by hand-pollinating flower by flower and collecting the resulting F1 hybrid seeds.
From there, I selectively bred those hybrids across generations; F2, F3, and beyond, often reaching F7, F8, or F9. With three growth cycles per year, I can make steady progress, developing tomatoes that are not only flavorful and colorful but also far more resistant to tropical fungal pressures.
Sometimes, I even create what I call a triple F1 hybrid. For example, I’ll first cross the wild Andes variety with a disease-resistant type I like (which takes about 50 attempts to get a successful fruit due to low compatibility). Once I get that initial F1, I then cross it with a third parent (the wet dream of every woke liberal), typically a large, delicious cultivar like beefsteak, to combine durability with fruit size and taste. It’s slow, meticulous work, but it’s deeply rewarding.
Another side project I’m working on involves a rare tomato line that carries a high-fructose sugar profile instead of glucose. Since fructose is roughly 1.5 times sweeter than glucose, I’m attempting to breed that trait into one of my custom strains to create a naturally sweeter tomato. That’s what you do when you get “bored” in the jungle. You create new tomato genetics.
Most of my heirloom and “wild variety” seeds, came from tomato research stations and genetic banks. I’m selective with what I use and methodical in how I evolve it. I don’t just grow tomatoes, I also design them to make them more resilient.
And yes, I name my favorite new lines after my nieces back in Europe. It makes them happy and gives my work a personal legacy.
I’m telling you this tomato story not because I think everyone should start hybridizing fruit, but because it’s a perfect example of what gives my life meaning out here. I could spend my days just debating people online, trying to convince them they’re wrong. But honestly? That doesn’t build anything.
What does build something, literally and figuratively, are these small, hands-on projects that solve real problems and create lasting value. Breeding a tomato that thrives in the jungle, making something delicious from scratch, watching it grow stronger with each generation… that’s deeply fulfilling.
And this is just one of many little things I’m working on. My life is made up of dozens of these problem-solving loops that are tangible, useful, and, often beautiful. They add up. They give purpose. And they remind me that having a real life offline, filled with real effort and creation, beats any argument I could win online.
That’s why I shared this story. Because that’s what sovereignty really looks like: not just being free from something, but being full of something better.
This thread took me 6 hours to write. I should probably finish my book on health and self-sufficiency.
If you want a free PDF once it’s ready, subscribe at sunfluencer [dot] com (at the bottom).
And if this thread inspired you, share it and follow me. ⬇️
If you want a free PDF once it’s ready, subscribe at sunfluencer [dot] com (at the bottom).
And if this thread inspired you, share it and follow me. ⬇️
https://x.com/goddeketal/status/1920568724978860345
I also published the full thread as an article on sᴜbꜱᴛᴀᴄᴋ (excluding the tomato part, which pushed it over the length limit).
If you’re on Substack, feel free to follow me there for free if you want more content like this.drgoddek.com/p/preparing-fo…
If you’re on Substack, feel free to follow me there for free if you want more content like this.drgoddek.com/p/preparing-fo…
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