How To Be More Self-Sufficient at Home

Now is the ideal time to become more environmentally-conscious - after all, there is no better time than the present says Mike Greeff, CEO of Greeff Christie's International Real Estate. Being more self-sufficient at home, during lockdown, does not have to be a huge undertaking - it requires just a few quick and easy steps and voila, you're helping Mother Nature.

Self-sufficiency begins when we start relying less on outside services and wasteful resources. This type of change happens when you and your family commit to a series of small tasks in order to make your home more holistic and when you make a concerted effort to reduce your carbon footprint. With just a few changes to your routine (which you can actually keep up with in the long run), you will start to see a difference in how your home functions and how it becomes more environmentally-friendly as you start to implement certain changes.

Here are a few changes that you can introduce to your day-to-day:

1. Recycle unused water

Fact: According to LivPure, draining clean water is one of the primary causes of water pollution. When we drain clean drinking water, we inadvertently pollute it.

As mentioned, being self-sufficient is not a huge undertaking - and re-using water is not a difficult job. Below are a few examples of what you can do with your leftover water - whether it be from your bedside glass or your drinking bottle.

• Water your plants
• Fill up your pet bowls
• Flush the toilet
  • When Cape Town experienced its water crisis not too long ago, we all rallied our efforts into saving water. One of the main ways we did this was by using grey water to flush the toilet.
  • The best source of grey water is the excess water used when showering - place a bucket in the shower and allow it to catch all the water used while waiting for it to warm up.
  • Fill up the toilet's cistern with this water and use it to flush. Refill when necessary.

2. Start an herb garden in your kitchen

Instead of adding herbs to your shopping list, why not source it from your own garden? Starting a herb garden does not require a lot - it merely needs some careful planning to ensure that your herbs are placed under the best growing conditions. For example, basil, cilantro, rosemary, and thyme can be grown together in a sunny spot, whereas, parsley, mint, and chives should be housed in a shadier spot.

3. DIY cleaning agents

During this time, we are being encouraged to stay home as much as possible, but that seems nearly impossible when we need to run to the store for cleaning products on a regular basis. Apart from the hazardous plastic packaging, it also makes a dent in your pocket, but this needn't be the case - there is an alternative. You can make your very own detergents minus the plastic and chemicals so it's a win for you and the environment.

Below you will find the ''recipes'' for homemade detergents and the best part? You will already have the majority of the ingredients in your pantry.

Tile Floor Cleaner

One part white vinegar + 2 parts water (remember the clean, unused water from Tip #1 - it can come in handy here too). You can also add a drop or two of essential oils to give your home a fresh smell.

Wooden Floor Cleaner

Olive oil + white vinegar + water. The olive oil will give your floors a lovely shine but take care not to use too much as you don't want your floors to be too slippery - a few drops will get the job done.

Appliance, Refrigerator and Kitchen Countertop Cleaner

All you need is baking powder and warm water. Baking powder can also be used to shine stainless steel sinks and appliances. This versatile ingredient also has the power to get rid of any odours - simply pour the baking powder straight from the box and into the necessary drains to get rid of any odours and blockages. Tip: you can use vinegar as a follow up to the baking powder if you want to ensure the blockage dissolves completely.

Brass Cleaner

White vinegar + lemon juice + table salt makes for the most efficient brass cleaner. All you have to do is dampen a sponge with vinegar and lemon juice, then sprinkle on the salt. Lightly rub over the desired surface and rinse thoroughly with water. Immediately dry the area with a clean soft cloth and give it a quick buff for shine.

It's difficult to imagine any silver lining to this pandemic, but there is. Cities and lives are at a standstill and life as we know it has changed, but our skies, rivers and oceans are cleaner than ever. While the environmental benefits by no means reduce the anguish caused by COVID-19, it is important to find the good in all of this. No one knows what the future holds, but one thing is for certain, being under lockdown has done unexpected wonders for the environment.