Episode 197 - More Than Urban Self-Sufficiency: Sonia Barrish, Part 1

In this episode of Outside of Sunday, Christa sits down with Sonia from Urban Self Sufficiency, from transforming an ordinary suburban section into a thriving food-producing garden (that harvests over 500 kilograms of food each year!!) to raising a family with self-sufficiency at its heart, Sonia shares practical wisdom, honest reflections, and encouragement for anyone wanting to start where they are. She also opens up about growing up in poverty, the journey that led her to this lifestyle, how she came to faith in Christ, and why life at a slower pace has deepened her relationship with the Lord. This conversation is both inspiring and grounding, reminding us that sometimes the simplest way of living can create more space to know and enjoy God.

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube.

0:00 - Coming up
0:40 - Welcome Sonia
1:20 - About Urban Self Sufficiency
1:44 - Growing up poor and the desire to become self-sufficient
2:50 - The best family hike in the South Island
3:46 - The easiest and most useful plant to grow
5:52 - How self-sufficiency works alongside marriage
6:35 - Do the kids enjoy this lifestyle?
7:05 - An ordinary 698m² section vs Sonia's grass-free garden
9:18 - Why lawns are a relatively new concept
10:19 - Harvesting over 500kg of food each year
14:19 - What surprised Sonia most about urban self-sufficiency
14:43 - The desire for more land and the reality of the work involved
15:28 - Where to start if you want to become more self-sufficient
17:28 - The beginnings of Back to the Wild
18:36 - Creating a natural sunscreen
19:24 - Learning gardening through trial and error
19:46 - How Sonia came to faith in Christ
22:23 - Knowing God was present through difficult seasons
25:56 - The connection between a slower life and walking with the Lord