re: Creating a self sufficient life for your family - what all goes into it?

between my garden in my city backyard, my Dads garden, and the farmers market, we don't have to buy much from the grocery store

if you want to be completely self sufficient, I would say all you really need is about 3 acres

a few pigs, some chickens, maybe a cow to slaughter on occasion

and decent sized garden, although I can grow a LOT of veggies out of my little 4 x 24 raised bed garden

my advice is to just try and buy from local people as much as possible, that is what we do when we can't get it from the garden