The Coronavirus pandemic has thrown 2020 completely upside down. One day it is a virus on the other side of the world. The next day, we are going into a national lockdown and no one can get hold of toilet roll or pasta for all the love and money in the world. Shopping became more than a bit of a nightmare.
The pandemic, and the panic buying that followed announcements of lockdowns, has, for many people, become the catalyst for greater self-sufficiency. People are looking at what measures they can put into place to make sure that they are prepared for future events like this. Here, we look at some simple and realistic things that you can do to increase your level of self-sufficiency in a post-COVID world.
Look at what you consume
Before you do anything else, look at what you and your household consume, and what you can cut back on. Do you waste a lot of food? Do you leave lights on when you are not in the room? Do you have the central heating on full blast all through the winter? Consider whether you would make changes and live differently if you generated the electricity yourself or grew or reared your own food. Look at the areas where you could make savings and where you can stop relying on third-parties to supply it for you.
Find some space
Most people, even those who live in small inner-city houses with a yard or even flats with a balcony can grow something in pots or on windowsills, but to become self-sufficient you really need a plot of land. This may be in your garden or homestead, or you may rent an allotment. You might want one with farm buildings, irrigation, and the other infrastructure needed in place. If you want to keep it simple, you could see what you can grow in Maze greenhouses.
Decide what you want to grow
If space is at a premium, look for things that produce a high yield or that would otherwise be expensive to buy to really make sure that you are getting the best out of the space. You can also look for things that grow vertically up a trellis, trees, or even on balconies, such as sugar snap peas.
Save your seeds
One of the easiest and cheapest ways of getting started in growing your own fruit and vegetables is to start off using the seeds from the food you eat, such as tomato plants. Dry them out on a sunny windowsill and use them next year.
Learn how to preserve
If you have ever tried your hand at growing fruit and vegetables, you will know that you can go from nothing to having an overwhelming glut of produce very quickly. Don’t waste them – either give some to family, friends, and the local community, who would be overjoyed to be given homegrown fresh produce, or learn preservation methods such as pickling, canning, and dehydrating. You could also look at making jams and chutneys and jellies from the fruits of your labour.
Manage your food waste
Once you have realised what is involved in growing your own food, you will be less likely to waste food. However, there are always some things that you cannot use – vegetable peelings, for example. Put those in a compost bin or a compost heap and use it for fertilizing future crops.
Rear your own animals
Assuming you are not vegan or vegetarian, you could look at keeping and rearing your own animals. We are not talking about sheep and cattle, but hens for fresh eggs and chickens. Ducks are great for eggs too and are great for getting rid of unwanted pests such as slugs. You might also want to consider adding a beehive to your garden if you have space. They will help to pollinate plants and trees and can produce honey, which you could potentially look at selling. It is important to do your research into beekeeping and find out exactly what it entails first.
Use grey water for watering plants
If you have a lot of plants and crops, it can take a lot of water to keep them hydrated/, and this seems to be a little counterproductive. However, you can use what is known as ‘grey water’ to water them. Grey water is the used water from your sink, shower, and baths. It is fine to use this to water plants, providing you are not using chemicals in the water.
Find alternative sources of energy
This is becoming a popular option with homeowners now, particularly those who have got land to spare. There are various ways of producing your own energy, from solar panels installed on your roof to wind turbines on your land. While it can be costly to set up, it will not take long for you to make significant savings on your bill and make the money back. Some energy companies will buy any excess energy that you create, so you could even end up making a profit!
Be resourceful
Look at ways you can make an income while remaining self-sufficient. If you have the room, perhaps you could take in a lodger or rent it out on air BnB. If you are artistic, perhaps look at making homemade soaps or crafts, using materials that you have produced. If you have knowledge about foraging, create a blog or ebook to share it. There are lots of ways you can make some money while being committed to your self-sufficient lifestyle.
The Coronavirus pandemic has made many people think about the way that they live, and how, should we be in this situation again, they can manage better. By becoming self-sufficient, whether entirely or just growing your own vegetables, you are taking steps towards making sure that you have at least some of the things that you and your family need to thrive.
*This is a collaborative post.
