Get a taste of the good life
Bring elements of self-sufficiency into your home and garden to help conserve resources while saving money at the same time
Help the planet and your pocket with these ideas to become more self-sufficient
In an age where we know how important it is to live more sustainably, taking care to choose and buy products for the home that help to conserve energy and water, there are always further steps that can be taken. For most of us it’s not practical to go the whole way with a smallholding, but there are different elements that can be introduced in order to help you become more self-reliant. If you can produce some of your own food, electricity and even water, you will not only be helping the planet by conserving its valuable resources but you can also save money, too.
1 INSTALL SOLAR PANELS
Generate your own electricity by installing solar panels on the roof. With prices starting at around £4,800, the most popular are panel systems but you can also find solar tiles, which cost twice as much. You shouldn’t need planning permission to install either, but check with your local council before you go ahead, just in case.
A roof area of 10-20 sq m can provide up to 45 per cent of a property’s electricity needs. It should be south-facing, unshaded and at a pitch angle of 30º or 40º according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Solar panels generate power even on cloudy days, and you’ll need to use their energy during the day, so get things like your washing done during this time. In the evening, you’ll be back to using energy from your supplier so you’ll still need to pay bills, but they should be a lot lower.
2 GROW YOUR OWN VEGGIES
By creating your own veg patch you can harvest all sorts of goodness. You don’t need a lot of space or skill; things like herbs and tomato plants can even be grown in pots on the window sill. Use this fresh produce alongside shop-bought food, and turn it into pickles and chutneys to make your produce last longer.
Spring and autumn are the best seasons to start. Choose a sunny spot, give it a good digging over to break up the soil and get rid of weeds and stones. Add compost or soil conditioner then plant away. Space out evenly and add poles for climbers like beans. Some seedlings should be started off indoors, so check before planting. You can section off the patch with reclaimed railway sleepers or planks of timber, or create a raised bed for root vegetables.
3 MAKE YOUR OWN COMPOST
Creating your own compost gets rid of kitchen scraps and provides you with natural, organic fertiliser that can be used on your vegetable patch in about two to three weeks. By popping things like banana peel, coffee grounds, plastic-free teabags, apple cores, potato peelings and eggshells into a composter on the work surface or under the sink, you can reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill.
It’s easy to make your own compost bin using a basic plastic container but you can buy ready-made airtight designs in stainless steel or bamboo too, which will look more attractive if it’s going to be on show. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can also think bigger and start a compost heap outdoors, incorporating your garden waste and lawn cuttings, too.
4 RAISE ANIMALS
Chickens, bees or goats will supply you with eggs, honey, milk and cheese and you might not need as much space as you think. Hens will need a coop to sleep safely at night and lay their eggs. They’ll also need a fenced-off area or a run in a spot that drains well.
For bees you’ll need a beehive, which you can install in a residential area – though the more space the better so they have access to a range of flowers.
Goats are sociable, so you’ll need at least two, and they will need a quarter of an acre of fenced-off land. You’ll also want somewhere dry and ventilated for them to shelter in.
Before you bring your livestock home, check there are no restrictions on your deeds or lease, ask the council if it’s ok and let close neighbours know.