Considerations of Survival Gardening
Survival gardening is a method designed to give your family the best odds of survival in a situation where the standard conveniences of society have failed in some way.
The many approaches to survival gardening encompass everything from finding the most secure location for your garden to the best methods of protecting your garden from both animal and human intruders.
However, one of the most important considerations is what types of crops you should grow. You’re looking for survival value. Crops with the highest hardiness, nutritional, and practical value for the least amount of your energy resources are ideal.
Staple Crops
Think of staple crops as you think of staples in your kitchen. These are items you need because they form the basis for many of the meals you prepare. They are typically foods that necessarily provide an excellent nutritional foundation as well. In a survival garden, staple foods will be necessary to feed your family. These will be foods that you can grow reasonably comfortably, foods that store for long periods under less-than-ideal conditions, and foods that provide high levels of calories and carbohydrates. Some examples of the foods you can grow in this category include potatoes and grain corn, which will give you a high level of carbs and require only minimal space. Sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene and highly healthy. Each of these is easy to store and ideal for taking you through long, cold winters. Beans are another excellent staple food that can be grown relatively quickly, stored for long periods, and provide high protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins.
Vegetable Additions to Your Diet
Green leafy foods pack a punch regarding nutritional value, although many don’t survive well in cold months and don’t store well. Since you will want to produce various foods year-round in your survival garden, you’ll need to focus on those vegetables and greens that are hardy enough to beat the odds. Your options may be limited, but there are still some workable choices. Kale is particularly resistant to the cold. It does require a warm temperature to grow, but it freezes well and survives winter weather with its character intact. Kale is high in B vitamins and beta-carotene, making it an ideal addition to your survival garden. Collards and spinach have similar qualities to kale and can be used similarly.
Carrots are another option. The roots grow when temperatures are above freezing, and they can be harvested regardless of size. Planting a crop in the fall will yield food throughout the winter months, and the remaining crop will produce again in spring. Brussel sprouts, leeks, and cabbage are other crops that can withstand hard frost.
An excellent source of dietary fiber is essential. You can plant winter wheat in the fall. It won’t produce in the winter, but it will survive the cold and produce well in the spring. This is an excellent source of dietary fiber, along with flint corn. Fruit is also a good choice due to its vitamins.
While living under extreme conditions will be challenging, you can at least be sure your family will have food for survival with the proper preparation.
