am Nation A short film by Sara Schaumburg

Score 13-21
You fly First Class in the Self-Reliant skies, baby. You truly think and act for yourself. You care about where your food comes from; in fact, you might grow a lot of it in your own backyard! You care about sustainability, and don’t wish for other people to make decisions for you, especially concerning issues relative to your survival. You probably think that being self-reliant is not all about the individual, but is also about the community and society. You know that something as simple as sharing a home-cooked meal can mean a higher level of freedom. You probably feel responsible to give guidance to others and help them become more self-reliant too.

Score 22-30
You did enjoy those survival books as a kid. Maybe you do not have a garden, but you can see the value in enjoying nature. Self-reliance sounds like a fun and healthy way to live. You are interested in learning more about it. You know there are a few problems with the way the world is going, but it all seems to be working itself out...Right?

Score 31-39
Is ‘Dependent’ your middle name? You’re not alone. You enjoy eating what you want, where you want, never mind the details. Fresh flowers add a nice touch of color to your life on occassion, but you probably don’t aspire to have a greenhouse. You are working hard to make a living; you enjoy your car, your TV, your independence and the freedom to do what you want. Hopefully you have learned a little bit about why decreasing depedence can be a good thing. It might be hard for you to imagine becoming completly self-reliant, but there are small steps you can take to make big changes to your lifestyle.

10.) How connected are you to local food?
a. I converted my backyard into a green house
b. I buy from farmer’s markets, co-ops, or CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs
c. The only local food I buy comes from a grocery store

11.) Can you keep a plant alive for longer than 6 months?
a. I have an orchid named Harold who has been with me for 10 years now...
b. Sure, I like having a little green around
c. Six months? Try six days

12.) How self-reliant is your community?
a. I know everyone on the block! We recycle and build community gardens
b. We have a decent recycling program
c. What community?

13.) Were you an avid reader of Little House on the Prairie, Hatchet, or Swiss Family Robinson?
a. I live on a prairie, fool!
b. I built a tree house...once
c. I’m more of a Danielle Steele reader myself

Now you’re ready to calculate your self-reliant score.
Score each a-1, b-2, and c-3.
Good Luck!