In the event of a long-term coronavirus quarantine, knowing important survival skills will ensure that you can provide for your family even after most businesses shut down when SHTF.
No one knows for sure if all this will blow over in a month or two, but the economic repercussions of a pandemic like this will affect things on a global scale. Don't wait until your city is under a community quarantine before learning some of the skills below.
Cooking
Knowing how to cook from scratch is essential for any prepper. Instead of buying take-out food, buy ingredients that you can use for several dishes or grow your own herbs and veggies.
Learn how to make homemade bread and pasta, and cook filling and nutritious meals using food from your survival stockpile. Experienced cooks can learn how to cook over hot coals or a sun oven.
Home gardening
Look up which fruits and vegetables grow best in your area before your starting planting in your garden. Urban preppers can also consider space-saving options like container gardening.
Here are some nutritious vegetables that you can grow in containers:
Below are herbs that you can grow in a container garden on a sunny windowsill if you don't have space for a full-sized garden:
Food preservation
Once you've gotten the hang of gardening, you can extend the shelf-life of excess produce by learning how to preserve food.
Try beginner-friendly methods like canning, freeze-drying or sun-drying.
Water sourcing
Don't be complacent because you have running water in your tap. You need clean water for drinking, cooking and sanitation.
But when SHTF, you might need a backup source of water. Store several gallons of water in your stockpile, but learn how to find and purify water from a different source.
Set up a rain catchment system or dig a well, if your property and city ordinances allow for it.
First aid and basic medical skills
Prep a first aid kit and learn how to use each item in it before your neighborhood is quarantined. Knowing basic first aid can save someone's life.
It is crucial to learn first aid, especially if you have young children or live with elderly people.
Natural and holistic medicine
It's good to have enough medical supplies for a month or two, but what happens when your stockpile runs out?
Grow medicinal herbs in your home garden. Learn how to make natural cures and healing tinctures that can be used to treat common complaints like nausea or headaches.
If a loved one relies on a specific type of medicine for chronic conditions, try to find natural alternatives that would also work for them if you can't purchase the necessary meds.
Home repairs
You don't need to turn into MacGyver, but knowing basic home repairs like fixing minor electrical issues or the plumbing will be a big help when you can't reach a plumber for emergency toilet repairs.
Basic home repair skills can also save you money in the long run. In a lockdown, it's also crucial to get the repairs done in a timely fashion. Study the manuals for appliances at home, but wear protective gear when tinkering with anything to avoid accidents.
Basic carpentry
Carpentry is an important survival skill for several reasons. First, it can help distract you from your boredom while you're stuck at home. If you're not confident in your woodworking skills, you can improve with patience and practice.
Second, woodworking and carpentry are two occupations that will continue to be in demand even in a post-SHTF world. Having basic carpentry skills can help you find work, or you can sell some of your projects.
Home and personal hygiene
During a community quarantine, sanitation and personal hygiene should be a priority in your household. If you ever experience a supply shortage, knowing how to make non-toxic cleaning products using common household items like baking soda and apple cider vinegar will be a godsend.
Your skill set should also include proper waste disposal. During a long-term community quarantine, you need to know how to set up composting toilets or get a septic system if your home or property allows.
Sewing
Sewing may be a mundane skill during quiet times, but in a long-term quarantine, it's just as important as growing your own food or home repairs. Even if you can't knit like Grandma, you should at least know how to fix loose buttons and mend a tear.
As a bonus, sewing can help improve your hand-eye coordination. Sewing can also be a recreational hobby. Teach kids fun projects like cross-stitching or crocheting to help them pass the time.
Don't be complacent because things seem normal in your city. As time passes, a community quarantine may be the only way to prevent the further spread of coronavirus in your area.
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