Yes, Self-Reliance and neighborly vigilance and co-operation is essential. The Amish come together and raise a Barn in a single day that will last for generations. Any one with land should look at the Permaculture movement out of Australia.
This video shows what one couple was able to do with 2 acres in less than 25years. They planted an astoundingly diverse and abundant food forest that could feed a whole community. They even re-animated a dead stream bed and got water running with a healthy native fish population taking up residence. This place looks like paradise to me, I just hope I can save enough money to buy land some day.