Cheat sheet: Self-reliance

1. 1Check the site – Observe hours of sun, check wind shelter and weight.
2. 2Choose containers – Containers with drainage holes; large tubs for tomatoes, balcony boxes for herbs and lettuce.
3. 3Fill – Use fresh potting compost, not garden soil, in pots.
4. 4Sow or plant – Sow according to the packet or plant young plants; put tender plants outside only after the last frosts.
5. 5Water and feed – Water when the top layer of soil is dry – often daily on hot days.
6. 6Harvest – Harvest herbs and lettuce regularly; this encourages new growth.

Caution: Fix containers on railings and sills securely or place them on the inside – falling pots can seriously injure people. Consider the balcony's load capacity; wet soil is heavy.

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1. 1Choose a site – Sunny, sheltered, close to water, not under trees.
2. 2Prepare the soil – Remove grass and weeds, loosen the soil and work in mature compost.
3. 3Planting plan – Choose simple, robust crops (e.g. lettuce, radishes, beans, courgettes, potatoes).
4. 4Sow and plant – Sow at the right time according to the packet, mark rows and keep spacings.
5. 5Care – Water thoroughly in the morning or evening rather than lightly every day, remove weeds while young, cover the soil with mulch.
6. 6Keep records – Record sowing dates, varieties, harvests and problems – the most valuable basis for next year.

Caution: On former industrial or building land, next to busy roads or where previous use is unknown, the soil may be contaminated. When in doubt, have a soil sample tested or grow in raised beds with new soil.

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1. 1Site and bin – Set the bin on bare soil, in partial shade, easy to reach.
2. 2Mix green and brown – Add green (vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, thin layers of grass clippings) and brown (leaves, straw, torn cardboard, twigs) in…
3. 3Chop up – Chop coarse material; smaller pieces decompose faster.
4. 4Check moisture – Moisten when dry; when wet, add more brown material and cover.
5. 5Turn – Turn or loosen occasionally to let in air; this speeds up decomposition.
6. 6Use mature compost – Compost is ready when it is dark, crumbly and smells earthy and the original materials are barely recognisable.

Caution: Wear gloves when turning, avoid breathing in dust and wash hands afterwards. Anyone with a weakened immune system should check with a doctor beforehand whether compost work is suitable.

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1. 1Choose varieties and plants – Grow open-pollinated varieties and mark the healthiest, most typical plants as seed bearers.
2. 2Let them ripen – Let beans and peas dry on the plant until the pods rattle.
3. 3Extract the seed – Open dry pods.
4. 4Dry – Spread out on paper or a plate in an airy, shady place and let them dry completely.
5. 5Store – Label paper bags or jars with variety and year and store cool, dry and dark.
6. 6Germination test – Before sowing, germinate a few seeds on damp kitchen paper to estimate viability.

Caution: Bought seed may be chemically treated (often coloured). Never eat such seed and store it separately from food.

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1. 1Clean – Wash off soil, dry and remove rust with a wire brush or abrasive pad.
2. 2Clamp – Clamp the tool so the existing bevel is easy to reach.
3. 3Restore the bevel – Push the file at the angle of the existing bevel in one direction away from the body, working only the bevel.
4. 4Remove the burr – Take off the burr on the back with a flat stroke of the file or stone.
5. 5Oil and check the handle – Oil the metal lightly, check wooden handles for cracks and treat with linseed oil if appropriate.

Caution: Clamp the tool firmly and file away from the body. Wear cut-resistant gloves when sharpening shears and blades.

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1. 1Decide the amount – Follow your authority: Germany's BBK gives around two litres per person per day for emergency preparedness, Ready.gov one gallon (about 3.8…
2. 2Prefer sealed bottled water – Bought water in its original packaging is simplest.
3. 3Prepare your own containers cleanly – Use only food-grade containers with a tight closure.
4. 4Fill with tap water and label – Fill to the top with drinking water from the public supply, close tightly and note the fill date.
5. 5Store correctly – Cool, dark, not next to chemicals, fuel, paint or cleaning products – plastic can absorb odours.
6. 6Rotate regularly – Replace self-filled water at fixed intervals; Ready.gov gives six months for this.

Danger: Never use containers that held fuel, chemicals or cleaning products – residues cannot be reliably removed.

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1. 1Select – Store only undamaged, healthy produce; use bruised items first.
2. 2Prepare – Do not wash potatoes; let them dry briefly.
3. 3Store – Potatoes in the dark in crates, root vegetables in crates of slightly damp sand, onions airy and dry, hung or in nets, apples side by side…
4. 4Label – Note variety and date stored.
5. 5Check – Go through weekly, remove anything rotten, keep an eye on temperature and frost protection.

Caution: Green patches and sprouts on potatoes contain more solanine. Cut them away generously; do not eat heavily green or bitter-tasting potatoes.

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1. 1Check the rules – In rented property, get permission.
2. 2Prepare the base – A level, load-bearing base (e.g. paving slabs).
3. 3Connect – Use a rain diverter or downpipe connector that sends water back into the downpipe when the barrel is full, so it does not overflow.
4. 4Cover – Close the lid tightly; secure any openings with fine mesh against mosquitoes, leaves and animals.
5. 5Maintain – Clear leaves from the gutter and strainer regularly.

Danger: Open or poorly covered barrels are a drowning hazard for small children. Close the lid firmly and child-safely.

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1. 1Clarify dependencies – Find out whether the heating works without electricity.
2. 2Approved heat source – Use only appliances approved for indoor use.
3. 3Install alarms – Carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with fireplaces or stoves and in sleeping areas, smoke alarms according to local requirements; test…
4. 4Store fuel – Store firewood dry and away from the stove; liquid fuels only in approved containers outside living areas, as locally permitted.
5. 5Passive measures – Designate one room as a warm room, seal windows, keep warm clothing, blankets and sleeping bags ready – they work without any risk.

Danger: Carbon monoxide is invisible and odourless and can kill. Never run a grill, charcoal, camping stove, patio heater or generator in a home, cellar, garage or tent. If several people have headaches, dizziness or nausea, get outside immediately and call the local emergency number (112 in the EU).

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1. 1Split and cut to length – Saw to stove length and split, as soon as possible after felling.
2. 2Choose the site – Sunny and windy, on pallets, timber bearers or stones, with some distance from the house wall.
3. 3Stack with airflow – Stack loosely in rows, bark up, sides open.
4. 4Cover the top – Roof or tarp on top only, leave the sides open.
5. 5Check – Measure on a freshly split face with the meter.
6. 6Day supply – Bring only a small supply indoors a few days before use, at a distance from the stove.

Danger: Wood fires produce carbon monoxide. Only burn in inspected stoves with a working flue and install a carbon monoxide alarm.

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1. 1Find leaks – On windy days feel with the hand or a feather around windows, doors, letterboxes, sockets on outside walls and pipe openings for draughts.
2. 2Mark vents – Note all openings that belong to stoves and gas appliances or serve moisture control – these stay open.
3. 3Seal – Stick draught strip into window and door rebates, brush seals at door bottoms, draught excluders at doors, a cover for the letterbox.
4. 4Curtains and blinds – Close heavy curtains and blinds at night, open them in sunshine during the day.
5. 5Zone rooms – During heating failure keep one room warm and close doors to unused rooms.
6. 6Keep airing – Air briefly and thoroughly several times a day instead of leaving windows tilted open.

Danger: Never seal vents, air bricks or air supplies for stoves, fireplaces and gas appliances. A lack of combustion air can lead to deadly carbon monoxide. Install a CO alarm.

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1. 1Clarify the goal – Cut costs (grid-tied) or backup power for small devices (off-grid or power station)?
2. 2Check the rules – Clarify requirements on registration, power limits, plugs and meters, and consent from landlord or owners' association – check local rules.
3. 3Site – A sunny place with little shade, safely accessible, with load-bearing mounting.
4. 4Install per instructions – Only use complete kits with manufacturer instructions and follow them exactly; connect only as locally permitted.
5. 5Check regularly – Check the mounting after storms, inspect cables for damage, occasionally clean panels carefully from a safe position.

Danger: Panels are heavy and catch a lot of wind. Falling panels can seriously injure people. Only mount according to manufacturer instructions and rated for the load; involve professionals if unsure.

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1. 1Find the main water valve – It is usually where the water pipe enters the building – often in the basement or utility room near the water meter.
2. 2Find the breaker panel and main switch – Find out where your home's breaker panel (consumer unit) is and whether there is a main switch.
3. 3Know where the gas shut-off is – If there is gas in the building: ask the landlord, utility or a qualified professional to show you where the main shut-off is. Whether and…
4. 4Label and keep clear – Mark the main water valve and breaker panel clearly and keep the access free of boxes and shelves.
5. 5Operate the water valve once deliberately – Turn the main water valve off and on again once in a calm moment so you know the direction and whether it moves freely.
6. 6Brief everyone in the household – Show all adults and older children the locations and explain the gas rule.

Danger: If you smell gas: do not operate switches, doorbells or phones inside the building, no flame. Leave doors open, leave the building, warn others and call the utility's gas emergency service or the local emergency number (112 in the EU) from outside. Do not look for the leak yourself.

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1. 1Choose the skills – List five to ten things that would matter in an emergency: making an emergency call, reaching the meeting point, finding shut-offs, tuning…
2. 2Set dates – Plan one short exercise per month.
3. 3Practise realistically – Practise under slightly harder conditions: lights off and find the torch, put the phone away and dial numbers from paper, actually walk the…
4. 4Debrief briefly – What did not work?
5. 5Rotate roles – Each person should take on each task once.

Caution: Choose exercises so that no one is put at risk: no open fire indoors, no generators or stoves inside, no risky abseiling or climbing exercises without training.

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No step-by-step – details in the entry.

Danger: No work on gas lines or gas appliances. If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas emergency service or the local emergency number (112 in the EU) from outside.

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1. 1Prepare – Wash the garment, trim frayed threads and look at the damage from inside and outside.
2. 2Cut the patch – Cut a patch of similar fabric so it extends a good two centimetres beyond the hole all round; round the corners so they do not lift.
3. 3Pin – Pin the patch inside or outside, keeping the fabric smooth and without tension.
4. 4Sew – Sew the edge with small whip stitches or backstitches, then stitch the edges of the hole down onto the patch.
5. 5Repair a hem – Fold the hem along the old crease, pin it and sew with small stitches that barely show outside.
6. 6Zip – Ease sticking teeth with a pencil or a little wax.

Caution: Replace protective equipment whose function depends on its seams after damage, or have it checked by the manufacturer.

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1. 1Pre-ride check – Tyre pressure (stated on the sidewall), brakes (pull the lever, push the bike), chain (clean, oiled, not rusty), lights.
2. 2Remove wheel and tyre – Open the brake if necessary, remove the wheel and let all the air out.
3. 3Find hole and cause – Inflate the tube and listen for the hole or find it in water.
4. 4Patch – Dry the area, roughen it, apply a thin layer of solution, let it dry as stated on the pack, press the patch on firmly.
5. 5Refit – Inflate the tube slightly, insert it and push the tyre onto the rim by hand without pinching the tube.
6. 6Test – Check the wheel is seated, the quick release or nuts are tight and the brakes work; take a short test ride.

Danger: Do not ride with unreliable brakes. After any work on a wheel, check the brakes and that the wheel is secure before setting off.

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1. 1Smoke alarms – Mount alarms on the ceiling in bedrooms, children's rooms and hallways used as escape routes; at least one on every level.
2. 2Escape plan – Know two ways out of every room, agree a meeting point outside, keep escape routes clear, keep keys within reach.
3. 3Keep extinguishing aids ready – Fire blanket near the kitchen, extinguisher clearly visible near the exit.
4. 4Small fire – Only fight it if the fire is small, your escape route stays clear behind you and you feel confident.
5. 5During crises – Never leave candles unattended; keep them away from curtains on a fireproof base.

Danger: If a fire spreads or the room is smoky: get everyone out immediately, close doors behind you and call the local emergency number (112 in the EU) from outside. Do not go back in.

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1. 1Core set – Hammer, set of screwdrivers (flat and cross-head) or a bit set, combination pliers, needle-nose pliers, adjustable wrench, utility knife…
2. 2Consumables – Duct tape, cable ties, screws and wall plugs in common sizes, cord, wire, glue.
3. 3Protection and light – Safety glasses, work gloves, head torch with spare batteries.
4. 4For emergencies – Tools that fit your own shut-off devices kept with the tool kit; note where the shut-offs are.
5. 5Store and maintain – Store dry, remove rust, replace blades, check batteries.

Caution: Wear safety glasses when hammering, drilling and cutting; cut away from your body.

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1. 1Clean the strainer – Remove the strainer or plug and clear hair and dirt with gloves.
2. 2Plunger – Cover the overflow with a wet cloth, leave some water in the basin, place the plunger and pump firmly several times.
3. 3Clean the trap – Put a bucket underneath, unscrew the trap by hand, rinse it out, check the seals and refit hand-tight.
4. 4Tap: shut off the water – Close the isolation valve under the basin or the main stopcock, open the tap until no more water comes.
5. 5Replace washer or cartridge – Unscrew the head according to the manufacturer's instructions, take the old part with you to buy the matching replacement, fit it and…

Danger: No work on gas pipes, gas boilers or water heaters. If you smell gas, leave the building and call the emergency service or the local emergency number (112 in the EU) from outside.

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1. 1Check the situation – Is only your home or one circuit affected?
2. 2Unplug appliances – In the affected circuit switch off and unplug appliances, especially ones just switched on or wet ones.
3. 3Switch back on – With dry hands push the tripped switch fully off and then on again.
4. 4Narrow down the cause – Plug appliances back in one at a time.
5. 5Call an electrician – If it trips even with nothing plugged in, smells burnt, or sockets are warm or discoloured: leave it off and call an electrician.

Danger: After flooding or water ingress do not switch the power back on yourself and do not approach the consumer unit while standing in water. Contact the network operator or a qualified electrician.

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1. 1Sort and prioritise – Separate lights, darks and heavily soiled items.
2. 2Soak – Soak in lukewarm water with a little detergent for 30 minutes or longer.
3. 3Wash – Knead, rub or agitate with a clean plunger or dolly; rub stains with soap.
4. 4Rinse – Rinse in two or three small rounds of clean water until hardly any suds appear.
5. 5Wring – Wring well or roll in a towel and press.
6. 6Dry – Hang with space and airflow, outdoors in wind and sun, indoors with a window open or near – not on – a safe heat source.

Caution: Do not use drinking-water supplies for laundry when supply is uncertain. Do not pour wash water into streams or onto vegetable beds.

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1. 1Take stock – Write down what you can do and what you would like to learn, e.g. sewing, preserving, bikes, first aid, gardening.
2. 2Find courses – Adult-education centres, gardening clubs, relief organisations (first aid), libraries and local initiatives often offer low-cost courses.
3. 3Repair café and tool library – Learn to repair together and borrow tools instead of buying.
4. 4Pass it on – Offer your own skills: a workshop, help in the neighbourhood, seed or tool swaps.
5. 5Maintain the network – Note contacts and their skills, meet regularly, and know whom to ask in a crisis.

Caution: Learn preserving only from tested recipes. Unsafe canning methods can cause serious food poisoning.

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