Food Cultivation

With the serious problems developing on the west coast and Pacific ocean, it pays to do your own gardening so you know exactly what you are eating! We also recommend a geiger counter that can let you know if products you buy in stores are free of radiation. Fukishima has caused a terrible blow to the food production on the west coast which will affect prices country wide. If you can grow your own, you will be much better off when inflation in food prices hits - and it will. One thing about gardening, it's not as easy as it looks. Some people have a knack for it and some don't...I personally happen to be a don't. It's taken me at least 3 years to get a passible return on my investment of time and seeds. I still have a long way to go. Don't wait until the SHTF and think you'll just throw some seeds in the ground. Even under optimal conditions, with a lack of experience you will STARVE. Better to get up to speed as soon as possible - even if it's small container gardens. With each season you will gain the experience needed to improve the next year's harvest.

If you plan it right, you can enjoy a beautiful garden full of the fruits of your labor -- without spending hours taking care of it. Now is the time to start - don't wait until you are in a SHTF situation to learn what to do!

Producing Food in Small Spaces (example: back yard)

What should I grow?

It's best to start small with your first garden. Many preppers dive in too fast and plant more than they need -- and end up wasting food and feeling overwhelmed by their garden. On the other hand, consider the amount of maintenance time you'll need for weeding, fertilizing, and trimming unruly plants.

So first, take a look at how much your family will eat. Keep in mind that vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and squash keep providing throughout the season -- so you don't need a lot of plants. Heirloom plants I've found do not produce as much as hybrids, but you can save the seeds for the next year's crop .Vegetables, such as carrots, radishes, and corn, produce only once. You'll need to plant more of these.

Determining How Much Space You Need

Once you know what you want to plant, you can figure out how much space your garden will need. You don't need a large space to begin a vegetable garden. If you choose to grow in containers, you don't even need a yard -- a porch or deck may provide enough space.

A well-tended 10x10-foot garden will usually produce more than a weed-filled or disease-ridden 25x50-foot bed. The key here is maintenance - you'll need to weed and remove diseased plants and pests.

Choosing a Location

Regardless how big your vegetable garden is, there are three basic requirements for success:

Full sun. Most vegetables need at least 6-8 hours of direct sun. If they don't get enough light, they won't bear as much and they'll be more susceptible to attack from insects or diseases. If you don't have a spot in full sun, grow leafy vegetables such as lettuce and spinach. If your area is particularly hot and dry, partial shade for some items like peas may work better anyway.
Plenty of water. Because most vegetables need LOTS of water during dry spells. Keep your garden within reach of a hose and water source.
Good soil. As with any kind of garden, success usually starts with the soil. Vegetables do best in moist, well-drained soil that's rich in organic matter (such as compost or peat moss).

Planting Rows

Planting in rows works best for large gardens, and it makes it easier to use mechanical equipment such as tillers to battle weeds. The downside of row cropping is that you don't get as many vegetables in a small space, as there is wasted space between the rows.

If you decide to use rows, at least 18 inches between your rows so you have room to work between them. And as you sketch out your plan, place taller and plants that can be grown on vertical supports -- including snap peas, cucumbers, and pole beans on the north side of the garden.

Digging it up

Loosen the soil before you plant. You can either use a tiller or dig by hand.

Once the soil has been loosened, spread out compost and work it into the soil. Avoid stepping on freshly tilled soil as much as possible so it stays loose. When you're done digging, smooth it with a rake, then water thoroughly. Allow the bed to rest for several days before you plant.

Care and Feeding

Plant seeds according to directions on the package and at the time recommended. About an inch of water per week is sufficient. If there is a dry spell, you'll have to do the watering. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. That may mean watering once or twice a week; raised beds drain faster and may require watering every other day.

Weeds compete with your vegetables for water and nutrients, so it's important to get rid of them. Use a hoe or hand fork to lightly stir (cultivate) the top inch of soil regularly to discourage weed seedlings. A mulch of clean straw, compost, or plastic can keep weeds from taking over around larger plants.

Fertilizing your plants increases your yields. Organic gardeners often find that digging in high quality compost at planting time is all the vegetables need. Most gardeners will need to apply a packaged vegetable fertilizer, following the directions on the box or bag. Don't apply more than recommended or you can burn the plants.

Harvesting

If you've done everything right, your vegetables can be harvested all summer long. Some, like lettuce, can be picked as young as you like. You can snip some leaves and it will continue to grow and produce. Cucumbers can be harvested at almost any size. Generally, the more you pick, the more the plant will produce.

Hydroponics/Aquaponics

This can enhance your bounty measurably. Plants grown this way are less susceptible to disease and their output is greater. Unfortunately in a SHTF situation it may be difficult to have enough power for lights (stick to LED) if you don't utilize a greenhouse, and finding the nutrients may prove difficult. That's where aquaponics has the advantage because the fish can eat scraps, but their poo enhances the nutrients in the water. There are many good books on these systems so don't rule them out. Their advantage is growing more in less space so they may be well suited to an urban SHTF situation. Finding the equipment may be difficult so I would accumulate what you can now, though a creative person can rig up a very adequate system with some tubing and buckets. Experiment now, not when your life depends on success.