How to be self-sufficient during the Covid-19 pandemic

We’ve all had to become a bit more self-reliant in light of the Covid-19 lockdown, as some of our much needed non-essentials were shutdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
With so much disruption and change to our behaviour, there is an expectation that post-coronavirus things may stay influx, and that new behaviours that we have adopted out of necessity will stick around.
Self-sufficiency doesn’t have to be all or nothing; even the smallest steps can make a big difference. If you’re not already doing these things, you can start today.
Here are few ways to be self-sufficient during Covid-19 pandemic:

Take your health in your hands:

Eating well, exercising regularly, drinking water and getting enough sleep are proven ways to improve your wellbeing. More than ever, taking control of your own health is important. The more steps you take to prioritise your physical health, the less reliant you could become on doctor’s visits during this period.

Sharing is caring:

Share excess food – cooked, uncooked, or grown in your garden – with friends, family, co-workers, and neighbours adhering to Covid health and safety protocols, of course.

Don’t bin it, compost it:

If the thought of a living compost bin makes you squeamish, consider the benefits. Organic waste, such as food waste, makes up 25 to 50% of what people throw away, and when it decomposes in a landfill, it releases methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas. Not to mention, that South Africa’s landfills are on the brink of reaching capacity. So, this is an easy way to turn everyday scraps into garden gold and help reduce waste.

Grow green fingers:

Have the freshest leaves at your fingertips by growing them on your kitchen windowsills. If you think you need to be a skilled gardener to grow your own salad crops, winter soup or culinary herb, relax! It can be done with little effort, on a windowsill in your kitchen.

Make your own tea:

Try a zero-waste approach to tea drinking: collect and infuse your own mint leaves, chamomile flower, rosemary and sage. Leaves can be harvested fresh from the plant or dried. It’s simpler than it sounds. Prepare leaves for drying, wash them and shake off any excess moisture.