10 small steps to self-sufficiency

1 Collect rainwater

Watering houseplants, shrubs and edible crops uses plenty of one of our most precious resources: water. Collecting your own rainwater – free from added fluoride or chlorine – is an important step towards what’s often referred to as a ‘closed-loop’ home. ‘It gives you a bit more control,’ says sustainability consultant Dr Paula Owen (green gumption.co.uk). ‘We had two weeks of no rain a few months back, so I had to water the garden, but I had three water butts full, so none of it needed to come from the mains. I’m always conscious