Survival Gardening

Survival Gardening isn't to be forgotten as many people just cannot pack up and walk away from a home!

But many have a space that could be used to practice gardening as a survival necessity, growing things like cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, gourds and squash, radishes, beets, turnips, a herb garden, etc.

Most of these can either be canned, fermented, pickled, dried, or preserved in some manner. A good place to start is the BALL Blue Book, now titled differently in several ways, but it is THE book on canning and preserving foods. A great basic instructional book that will be of great help and if you cannot find something in there the Internet is full of recipes for all kinds of food preservation.

And, also, do NOT forget fruit trees and other plants that can supply you with content for preservation. One of my favorites is Elderberries for making wine, You just have to have a little joy in tough times!     :-)

You can also make Elderberry syrup for health problems, tinctures, use as pie fillings, and used as an additive in cakes for flavoring.

Other plants can also be used in a wide variety of ways. Remember the old Sassafras trees that used to grow along fence rows? The following is one example.

My mother made us dig up some roots of those every fall and they were stored in the cellar where it was mildly humid. Whenever one of us had a sore throat or a cough, out came the Sassafras root, a chunk was cut off and a strong tea was made for use on those - no sugar or honey sweetening whatsoever. Sometimes I think we got well quickly just so we wouldn't have to drink that cup of tea!

Again, check the Internet for information on your plants and see if they list any part as being edible. IF they do there will probably be a recipe included. IF there is none just check further with different wording and you're likely to find some amazing help with preserving such an item.

Two things about a survival garden IMO:

1. Have extra seed on hand.

Few people do, which means they are relying on a supply chain that can be disrupted by world/local events. Remember the great garden rush of 2020? Seed is cheap, cheap, cheap until you can't get it. Even the little tiny potatoes from your garden that are too tiny to futz with are untreated with chemicals, and viable.

2. Plant it even if you don't need it.

The lead time from planting to your table is substantial. Plant a lot extra and share with neighbours or donate to the local food bank. You may know someone who has extra space that's fallow -- plunk in some seed there too, and keep things growing. It's good for the soil and good for the soul. And in some circumstances ...

Hi Douglas, you are spot on.  I see #1 as obvious but essential.  #2 is critical. Passing up on the opportunity for a quality crop I see as foolish at best and possibly disastrous in the long term. Then, there are the other benefits you identify.