For all of its problems (no wood lot, no room to let fields rest, large animals), the biggest problem I see is with the word. We aren't meant to be self-sufficent. We're interdependent. To have the space to do it all means having a lot of help. It also means living very close to the edge and with nothing but necessities. To live in small community gives us the advantage of some leisure time, some small luxuries and company to share fun. The picture is meant to inspire rahter then inform.

I've read the book it's coming from and Seymour didn't define the 1 acre as self-sufficient, he did precise that you'd have to buy animal feed in that case. He also submitted a picture of a more realistic, 5-acre homestead but I can't provide the picture.

hello MademoiselleOceane! and welcome to the forum!
I'd love to see a pic of that done on 5 acres too.
You know, back years ago, there was a book called 5 acres and Independence. I THINK it came out in the 30's or something like that.
hang on, i'll go look it up. LOL

http://www.amazon.com/Five-Acres-Independence-Handbook-Management/dp/0486209741?tag=duckduckgo-d-20

there it is on amazon and it says 1973. I could have sworn it was older than that but no matter.
I think this is not a new idea and I love the way people are finding ways of replacing lawns and ornamental shrubberies with raised beds and fruit trees or bushes.
There is no way that this is a bad trend.