Going to the store and buying a bunch of storable food is not the only way to build up an emergency food supply.
Another way to build up your emergency food supply is to start your very own emergency food garden.
After all, the food that you store will eventually run out, but a garden will keep on producing year after year.
In addition, as the number of chemicals and insecticides in our food supply continue to increase, as the genetic modification of our food supply reaches frightening proportions, and as the signs of societal collapse have become more evident, the popularity of emergency food gardens has exploded. People want to be able to feel good about the food that they are putting into their bodies, and they want to be ready for whenever disaster or emergency strikes.
So how does one start an emergency food garden? The following are 9 easy steps for getting your garden started.....
#1) Decide What Your Goals Are - Do you want to grow enough food to be able to add a few vegetables to your dinner once in a while? Do you want your garden to be able to provide enough food for your family if there is a major emergency?
Some people who live "off the grid" end up building an emergency food garden that is large enough to provide almost all of the food that their family needs. It is important to have an idea of what your goals for your garden are BEFORE you get started.
#2) Evaluate Your Land - Once you know what your goals are, you need to evaluate the land that you are currently living on. Is it big enough for the garden that you envision? Does it get enough sun? Will you need to put up a fence to keep wildlife away?
If you decide that you want a "mega-garden" but you live on a very small lot, then you may have to end up moving in order to achieve your goals. If you live on a large piece of property, then you will not want to stick your garden just anywhere - you will want to pick the best location possible.
You will want to pick a spot for your emergency food garden that gets at least half a day of sunshine and has easy access to water. Also, be certain that it drains well, because you don't want pools of water to cover your garden.
#3) Clear The Ground - You will need to clear rocks, obstacles and all other plant life from the plot of soil where you plan to plant your emergency food garden. It is especially important to try to eliminate any weeds before you begin. Weeds will choke the life out of your young plants and you definitely don't want that.
#4) Improve The Soil - Unfortunately, it is almost a certainty that your soil will need a boost. These days, trying to grow a garden without improving the soil is a difficult proposition at best.
So what is the solution? Add organic matter to your soil. Putting a three inch layer of compost on your garden should give your soil the boost it needs.
One way to have a continuous supply of organic fertilizer is to start a compost pile. Recycled leaves, grass clippings, coffee grounds, eggshells and kitchen waste make excellent organic fertilizer, and if you build it up over time you should always have all the organic fertilizer that you will ever need.
#5) Dig Up The Soil - Churning up the soil enables the roots of your young plants to penetrate more easily. It can be very difficult for your plants to penetrate ground that is very hard or very dry.
If you are able to loosen up the top 6 to 12 inches of soil that will help your emergency food garden immensely. As you dig, try to mix in the organic matter that we talked about in step four.
#6) Pick Your Seeds - This can be a tricky step. The reality is that each type of plant has different needs. Many grow better in some climates than in others. Some grow better in different areas of the country than others.
Make sure that you do NOT get seeds that are genetically modified. You do not want your family eating unhealthy garbage during a disaster or emergency.
You will want to pick plants with good local track records. Consulting with other local gardeners can be a big help here.
Most of the time you can find excellent directions on the seed packets that you buy. The good seed companies will even tell you the best time of the year to plant the seeds and what they will need over the course of their growth cycle.
A word of caution for those of you who buy small plants for your garden from nurseries instead of growing your own plants from seeds. Most nurseries carry plants that were conventionally grown using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These plants will bring trace amounts of these chemicals into your garden. In addition, plants grown in a conventional manner tend to get almost “addicted” to the chemicals that they are raised on, so they don't tend to do well when they are taken off those chemicals. However, with patience most of these plants can recover and will adjust to chemical free conditions in time.
#7) Put Them In The Ground - This step will really make you feel like a farmer! Make sure to consult the directions for your particular seeds regarding how deep to plant them. If you plant your seeds too deep they will have trouble sprouting, but if you plant them too shallow they could get scorched by the sun or they may sprout too quickly.
#8) Water Your Plants - This step can make or break your emergency food garden. All plants need water, but different types of plants need different amounts of water.
Get educated and figure out what each type of plant that you are growing needs. Then set up a plan and be consistent in executing it so that your garden will not be neglected.
#9) Keep Going And Never Give Up - Success in just about anything comes to those who refuse to quit. Perhaps your first experience with gardening will be a disaster. Perhaps it will be a complete success. Whatever the case is, if you keep working at it and you don't give up you will have the best chance for success in the long run.
The truth is that now is the time to learn gardening skills. With food prices soaring and food shortages popping up all over the world, the truth is that we all need to build up an emergency food supply.
When you and your family have plenty to eat in an emergency situation it will all be worth it.
