Hello my friend and welcome back! With all of the warm weather we have been having around the country, you just can’t help from thinking about planting my survival garden this Spring. I’m sure a lot of people are feeling the same way, and in today’s post, we are going to look at how to know when to start planting your garden for maximum yield and where to plant it as well. Grab a cup of coffee my friend and have a seat while we visit.
As you may recall, in yesterday’s Video Monday blog, we had a video on growing a survival garden with some pretty good tips in it on getting started. Today however, I want to try to address some of the questions that those who are new to growing a garden may have. As some of you may know, I grew up on a little farm in East Texas and that was because farming and gardening is in our blood. There is just something about the smell of fresh soil and the feel of it on your hands. For me, it makes me feel closer to nature and very alive. Realizing the miracle that this simple soil can provide when you add seeds and plants to it is simply amazing. For those of you that have never raised a garden or worked on a farm, you are in for a real treat.
Let’s start by addressing a few simple questions that many people seem to have:
- Q: “Where is the best place to plant a garden?” A: Ideally you want to find a piece of land that is nice and flat with few rocks as possible. It needs to be in a place where you can get water to it easily because without water, nothing will grow. It needs to be close enough so you can keep an eye on it and keep predators both two-legged and four-legged out of it! You will also want to put a fence around it so the deer and rabbits will stay out as well.
- Q: “What about the soil?” A: you traditionally want a good black soil for your garden as that indicates that it is full of nutrients and vitamins that plants need to grow and thrive. If you can’t find a place for your garden that does not have this kind of soil, then you can always add things to it to make it better for growing plants. You could always add compost or other materials to it. If nothing else, locate a piece of wooded land and dig up some of the soil to mix with your soil to make it richer. There are a lot of good articles on the web that are loaded with ideas for improving your soil in your garden. Take the time now and do a little research so when the time comes, you will know just what you need to do to improve your soil and grow a bumper crop of food this year and for many years to come.
- Q: “What kind of food should I grow in a survival garden?” A: You are going to want to grow items that provide a maximum amount of calories and vitamins but can either be canned, dehydrated or stored in a root cellar for extended use. Most vegetables such as beans, cabbage and corn can be canned for use later when there is no fresh produce available such as in the winter. Root items such as Potatoes and Turnips can be stored in a root cellar to extend their usable life. If you don’t know how to can food, then by all means take the time to learn now. Purchasing the equipment and supplies needed to can vegetables and meat is a must! Your stored food will only last so long so you need to know how to replenish it with food you can yourself. Canning is a primary survival skill and one you must have if you want to have any hope of surviving a long term crisis.
- Q: “How do I know when to plant my garden in the spring?” A: The best way is to talk to local farmers who live in your area as they will know the best way to tell. I know that in Boise, Idaho they say that you should never plant until the snow is all gone from Bogus Mountain. Most places have similar tricks for judging when to plant. Another way that many people have been using for years is to consult the “Farmer’s Almanac”. Here is the link to the online version (http://farmersalmanac.com/) and you can also find the paperback version in many books stores as well. If I were you I would start buying a copy each year and add them to your preps so when the time comes, you will have a large amount of stored information for determining when to plant, when to harvest and even when to prune fruit trees as well. These are worth every penny and are a must for any serious farmer or Prepper. In the coming months, I will try to delve more into this subject from time to time.
The point I am trying to get across here is that whether you are an experienced farmer or brand new to gardening, there is a ton of information available to make you an expert in no time. Not will gardening be a must when SHTF hits, but it will also be a social event and something that many look forward to. Well I guess that is it for today and I hope you have enjoyed today’s post. Remember to use only non-GMO seeds when planting your gardens, so you can continue to use the seeds you produce year after year. Until next time, stay safe, stay strong and stay prepared!
-The Sargent-
