15 Essential Crops To Have In Your Survival Garden

15 Essential Crops To Have In Your Survival Garden. Photos – Pixabay (PD)

In a survival scenario, the keyword is self-reliance. The weekly trips to the local food markets or stores will cease to become an option. And even if available, the prices will most likely sky-rocket so that it just won’t be convenient anymore. What you need to do is consider the possibility to set up your very own garden, which will sustain and provide for you and your entire family. It’s a rather complex task, but it’s nowhere near impossible. And once you’ll get the hang of it, it will become rather relaxing and enjoyable.

It’s something that can ultimately be achieved by the average Joe, with enough practice, resources, and dedication. You don’t have to be a professional farmer, you’ll just have to educate yourself a little on the matter. Be aware of the sustenance and nutrients each product has to offer, calculate how much land you’ll need for the endeavor and set your budget. Your best weapon (if you decide to pick up the shovel) is information: educate yourself on season crops, micro-farming, insect repellants, seed collections and storage and on the nutritional value of various crops.

And arm yourself with patience, because this type of activity requires a lot of practice if you’re starting from scratch. But you’ll get better at it with time, and at some point, you’ll be become self-sufficient, even though if you originally started gardening as a hobby. When it comes to choosing the right seeds, I strongly recommend getting non-GMO or heirloom variety seeds. These seeds will continue to reproduce, unlike the hybrid varieties that stop reproducing after the first season. Let’s have a look at different types of seeds that are suited for your very own survival garden.

Corn – it’s a warm-weather crop, very intolerant to low temperatures, so you should plant it only after the last frost. It usually produces two ears per stack and it’s loaded with calcium, iron, and protein. It’s easy to pick and to store.

Wheat – possibly the most common crop in the world, because of its large content of nutrients like copper, iron zinc and potassium. Spring wheat is planted in early spring and it’s the most common variety in the world. Winter wheat can be planted anytime from late September to mid-October.

Potatoes – they’re high in protein, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and potassium. It’s best if you plant your potatoes 4 – 6 weeks before the last frost. An average plant will hold somewhere in the lines of 4 -6 potatoes per sprout. When storing them, just know to keep them in a very cool and dark place, away from fruit.

Peas – it’s one of the most (if not THE) easiest plants to grow, because most varieties are not pretentious and grow very fast. Peas are rich in fiber, protein, potassium, vitamin A, Vitamin B6 and more. The best varieties to consider are the snap, the shelling and the sugar and snow pod. They will do just fine even during a harsh winter, as they’re resistant to frost.

Spinach – considered the original super-food, it’s a great source of nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and thiamin. It’s easy to grow, and most species grow best during winter. There are a few though that stray from the rule, so inform yourself before purchase.

Tomatoes – once again, we’re dealing with one of the easiest plants to plant and grow. It’s very nutritious as it’s abundant in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, potassium, thiamine, and niacin. To make sure you get plenty of them throughout the year, just plant the first batch in late spring and the second one in late summer.

Beans – they come in many varieties, such as kidney beans, pole beans, bush beans etc. They are rich in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and Calcium. Pole beans require steak firmly planted in the ground, on which the plant can grapple and grow. Their grow cycle is shorter than that of the bush beans and the yield production is better as well. It’s easy to grow and staggering the plant will give continuous yields.

Carrots – there are very easy to grow and prefer cooler weather. So the best time for planting would be during fall, winter or early spring. They’re rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene, which is excellent anti-oxidant which does wander for your eyesight, skin or hair.

Garlic and Onions – they’re a very rich source vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber and folic acid (folate). They’re best planted in mid or late October and can be pulled early in case you’re eager to have green onions or garlic.

Cucumbers – they come in all shapes and sizes, with many varieties to choose from. You can pick whatever you like, from large to small ones (which are excellent for pickling). They are very nutritious, as they are loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium. They are a crop for warm weather and if you pick them regularly, you’ll get increased production.

Lettuce – not only will it be easy to plant and grow, but is also one of the earliest harvests you’ll get. It’s best if you plant it somewhere at 6 – 8 before the first frost date for optimum results. It grows quickly and you can pick it partially simply by choosing a few leaves at a time. The nutritional content differs in case of variety, but mostly all contain proteins, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, folic acid, and iron.

Eggplants – it’s one of the most versatile vegetables when it comes to cooking, as it offers a lot of possibilities. It’s a warm weather plant and doesn’t do well during winter. So you should wait after the last frost is over in order to plant it. It’s high in fiber, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, and anti-oxidants.

Broccoli – it’s a plant that grows rather easily. It’s usually planted mid to late summer and by the time fall is upon us, you’ll have your first broccoli harvest. It has, however, the tendency to give yields even after the first harvest. It can withstand mild frost, but won’t survive a harsher climate. A far as nutrients go, it’s most commonly packed with vitamin A, vitamin K, and protein.

Cauliflower – it’s a cool season vegetable, resistant to low temperatures. It’s quite fast to grow and gives extremely rich yields. It’s very nutritious and can be very versatile when it comes to cooking. It’s packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fibers.

Turnips – the seeds are best sown in late may, but if you get caught in doing anything else and forget, early summer will do just fine. They’re easy to manage, as they’re very resilient to plant diseases. It’s very versatile too, as you can eat the whole plant, green and root alike. They contain calcium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and iron.

This list is a must for your very own garden, the plants that no survival enthusiast should go without during a crisis. Remember what I said before: take your time and practice, because it’s unlikely you’ll be successful right away. But once you get the hang of it, you and those close to you won’t go hungry a day in case SHTF. So get going, get your hands dirty and you’ll pick the fruit of your labor in no time… literally!

By My Family Survival Plan

4 Hobbies Any Survivalist Should Have

4 Hobbies Any Survivalist Should Have. Photo – Pixabay (PD)

I know some of you might think “isn’t prepping already a great hobby?” and “where in the world to find that extra time for other hobbies?”. My answers to you are:

1. No, prepping is not just a hobby, it’s much more than that. It’s a way to secure your family’s future and well-being (I don’t think you treat your safety as a hobby, do you?), and…

2. You CAN find the time if you really want to – it surely depends what other hobbies you already have and how much time they take, but the hobbies I’m suggesting are not very time-consuming. Plus, they’re not only fun but really help improve your long-term SHTF survival skills.

Gardening

What other hobbies could be more related to prepping than gardening? Think of all the benefits: your own organic, fresh fruit and vegetables for daily consumption, a way to relax, your own food source, independence from grocery stores… plus, it saves you a lot of money.

You know most stores keep food supplies in the warehouse only for about 3 days? This means they’ll be emptied out almost instantly in a case of emergency. You won’t have to deal with this problem if you’re gardening. Start small, with a traditional garden and grow a few things you like that are easy to cultivate like carrots, peas, and potatoes.

You can find out more here about survival gardening and suggestions where to start from. After you’ve learned to work the soil you can take into consideration stepping up to a secret survival garden for pros. You’re not going to put in a lot of effort,but your garden will be safe from looters at all times.

Beekeeping

If you’re gardening, then you might as well get into the practice of beekeeping, too. Bees have an essential role in fertilization and pollination, so your fruits and veggies will grow bigger and juicier.

But that’s not all. Raising bees has many more benefits for survivalists: you’re going to get a lot of honey, wax (maybe you should re-read the 5 great survival uses for wax article to find out why preppers need wax), bee pollen and propolis, a lot more than you could use yourself. So you could sell the extra and make some money. You can also use honey and beeswax to make cosmetics. There’s an infinite number of things you can do with such a simple hobby.

Exercising

Fitness, mountain biking, hiking, trail running, you name it. As long as it improves your physical and mental condition, go for it. Exercising is crucial for preparedness success and it is something a lot of survivalists don’t take into consideration.

If you want to manage in the woods or other wild places, to easily carry your BOB and endure stress, to run with no effort — in other words, to SURVIVE — you have to be fit and healthy. And exercising is the most natural way to get there.

It doesn’t have to be hard exercising like going to the gym daily, but something you can enjoy with your family or friends on the weekend. Try country biking (it builds leg strength), hiking to get used to walking in the wild for long periods of time, or geocaching if you’re looking for the perfect hiking, treasure hunting, and trading items mix.

Hunting

Hunting is essential to endure the extreme conditions of a survival situation, so you most definitely understand why this is a great hobby for survivalists. You need to learn how to track and trap small animals you can afterwards eat, it’s a necessary skill.

There won’t be time to learn when you’ll find yourself in the situation of needing something to eat fast. If you’ve never hunted before, buy some books on the subject or talk to an experienced hunter – hunting is not a walk in the park. Also, learn more about guns and weapons if you don’t already have all the information you need about shooting and what decent gear to own. You can also introduce your children to hunting, it’s a life skill they should early develop.

There are a lot of other rewarding hobbies for survivalists you should try. I can also think of collecting guns (this goes hand in hand with hunting), woodworking or carpentering, raising small animals like chickens (works great if you’re also gardening), camping or going to naturalists clubs. Choose to spend your spare time in a useful way that will later help you in your survival efforts.