Survival Gardens: How to Grow Your Own Food for Emergencies

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you could not access food from the grocery store or other sources? How would you feed yourself and your family in times of crisis, such as natural disasters, pandemics, or economic collapse? One way to prepare for such scenarios is to grow a survival garden.

A survival garden is a plot of land containing enough vegetable, herb, and fruit crops to provide a family or household with continual nourishment. It is planted with the intention of relying on garden rather than grocery produce so one is better prepared for emergencies and/or financial hardship.

Growing a survival garden has many benefits, such as:

- Eating fresh, healthy, and organic food that you know where it came from and how it was grown

- Saving money on food bills and reducing your dependence on external food systems

- Enhancing your self-reliance and resilience skills

- Supporting local biodiversity and ecological health

- Enjoying the satisfaction and joy of gardening and harvesting your own food

But how do you start a survival garden? What do you need to consider? What are the best crops to grow? In this article, we will answer these questions and provide you with some practical tips and advice on how to grow your own food for survival.

How to Start a Survival Garden

The first step to start a survival garden is to do some research and planning. You need to assess your situation and determine your goals, needs, and resources. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

- How much space do you have for gardening? Do you have a backyard, a balcony, a rooftop, or a community garden plot?

- What is your climate and growing zone? What are the average temperatures, rainfall, frost dates, and daylight hours in your area?

- How much time and energy can you devote to gardening? How much experience and knowledge do you have?

- How many people are you planning to feed from your garden? What are their dietary preferences and needs?

- What are the potential threats or challenges that could affect your food security? How likely are they to occur and how severe could they be?

Based on your answers, you can decide on the size and location of your garden, the type and number of crops to grow, the layout and design of your garden, the materials and equipment you need, and the strategies and techniques you will use.

Size and Location

The size of your garden will depend on how much space you have available and how much food you want to produce. Ideally, you want to maximize your yield per square foot by using intensive gardening methods, such as raised beds, vertical gardening, container gardening, square foot gardening, or permaculture.

The location of your garden will depend on the environmental conditions and accessibility of your site. Ideally, you want to choose a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day, has good drainage and soil quality, is protected from intense winds and pests, and is close to a water source.

The amount of space needed for a survival garden depends on the number of people you are planning to feed and their dietary preferences and needs. A survival garden is a plot of land containing enough vegetable, herb, and fruit crops to provide a family or household with continual nourishment.

For example, according to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, a family of four can grow enough vegetables in a 20-foot by 30-foot garden plot to feed them for a year.

According to Lifehacker, a good rule of thumb is that you need about 200 square feet per person for a self-sustaining garden. So, if you are a family of four, figure you will need about 800 square feet, or a space about 20 foot by 40 feet¹. However, it is important to note that there is no single correct answer when it comes to deciding vegetable garden size. Some sources say 100 square feet per person is the magic number, but that cannot be right because every family has diverse needs and preferences when it comes to food. Also, plants vary in size, so it depends on what vegetables you grow³.

(1) How Much Garden You Would Need to 100% Survive On - Lifehacker. https://lifehacker.com/how-much-garden-you-would-need-to-100-survive-on-1848829190 Accessed 24/04/2023.

(2) Vegetable Garden Size Calculator: How Much to Plant for Your Family. https://morningchores.com/vegetable-garden-size/ Accessed 24/04/2023.

(3) 6 Best Survival Garden Layouts 2023 [Plans, Square Footage, Crops]. https://seasonedcitizenprepper.com/gardening-for-survival/ Accessed 24/04/2023.

Part 1: What is a survival garden and why should you grow one?

Part 2: How to plan and prepare your survival garden

Part 3: How to choose and grow the best crops for your survival garden

Part 1: What is a survival garden and why should you grow one?

A survival garden is a vegetable garden that allows you to live primarily on the produce you grow. Whether an emergency like an earthquake hits your community or a personal tragedy prevents you from being able to get to the market, this type of garden will keep your family fed in troubling times.

Survival gardening is not a new concept. In fact, it has been practiced for centuries by people who faced wars, famines, depressions, and other crises. During World War I and II, many people in Europe and America planted "victory gardens" to supplement their food rations and boost their morale. Today, many people around the world still rely on their gardens for their daily sustenance.

There are many benefits to growing a survival garden. Here are some of them:

- You can save money on food bills and reduce your dependence on the food system

- You can eat fresh, organic, and nutritious food that boosts your health and immunity

- You can enjoy the satisfaction and joy of growing your own food

- You can share your surplus with your neighbors and community

- You can learn valuable skills and knowledge that can help you in other aspects of life

- You can create a beautiful and productive space that attracts wildlife and improves the environment

Growing a survival garden is not only a practical way to prepare for emergencies, but also a rewarding and enjoyable hobby that can enrich your life.

Part 2: How to plan and prepare your survival garden

Before you start planting your survival garden, you need to do some planning and preparation. Here are some steps to follow:

1. Determine your goals and needs. Think about why you want to grow a survival garden and what you hope to achieve from it. How many people do you need to feed? How much space do you have? What are your dietary preferences and restrictions? How much time and money can you invest? These questions will help you set realistic expectations and guide your decisions.

2. Choose a suitable location. The location of your survival garden is crucial for its success. Ideally, you want a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight per day, has good drainage, fertile soil, easy access to water, and protection from pests and harsh weather. You also want to consider the visibility and security of your garden, especially if you live in an urban area where theft or vandalism might be an issue.

3. Prepare the soil. The soil is the foundation of your survival garden, so you want to make sure it is healthy and productive. You can test your soil for its pH level, nutrient content, texture, and drainage using a simple kit or by sending a sample to a lab. Based on the results, you can amend your soil with organic matter (such as compost, manure, or mulch), lime (to raise pH), sulfur (to lower pH), or fertilizer (to add nutrients). You can also use raised beds, containers, or vertical gardening methods if your soil is poor or limited.

4. Design your layout. The layout of your survival garden will depend on the size, shape, and orientation of your space, as well as the crops you want to grow. You can use various techniques such as square foot gardening, companion planting, succession planting, intercropping, or permaculture principles to maximize your space and yield. You can also incorporate elements such as paths, trellises, fences, or water features to make your garden more functional and attractive.

Part 3: How to choose and grow the best crops for your survival garden

Choosing the right crops for your survival garden is crucial. You want to grow plants that are nutritious, productive, easy to store, and suited to your climate and soil conditions. Here are some factors to consider when selecting your crops:

- Calorie density: You want to grow crops that provide enough calories to sustain you and your family in times of need. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, beans, squash, and grains are some examples of high-calorie crops that can fill you up and keep you energized.

- Nutrient density: You also want to grow crops that provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals that are essential for your health. Leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, beets, and berries are some examples of nutrient-dense crops that can boost your immune system and prevent diseases.

- Storage potential: You want to grow crops that can last for a long time without spoiling or losing their quality. Root vegetables, onions, garlic, winter squash, dried beans, grains, nuts, and seeds are some examples of crops that can be stored for months or even years in a cool, dry place.

- Pest and disease resistance: You want to grow crops that can withstand common pests and diseases that may affect your garden. Choosing varieties that are adapted to your region and practicing crop rotation, companion planting, mulching, and organic pest control can help you reduce the risk of losing your harvest to pests and diseases.

- Climate and soil adaptability: You want to grow crops that can thrive in your climate and soil conditions. Choosing varieties that are suited to your hardiness zone and planting them at the right time can help you maximize your yield and avoid frost damage. Testing your soil and amending it with organic matter and fertilizers can help you improve its fertility and drainage.

Some examples of crops that meet most or all these criteria are:

- Potatoes: Potatoes are one of the most calorie-dense and versatile crops you can grow in your survival garden. They can be planted in early spring or late summer and harvested in about three to four months. They can be stored for up to six months in a cool, dark place. They are also rich in vitamin C, potassium, fibre, and antioxidants. You can eat them boiled, baked, fried, mashed, or roasted.

- Kale: Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense and cold-hardy crops you can grow in your survival garden. It can be planted in early spring or late summer and harvested throughout the fall and winter. It can be eaten fresh or cooked in salads, soups, stir-fries, or chips. It is also rich in vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, calcium, iron, and antioxidants.

- Beans: Beans are one of the most protein-rich and drought-tolerant crops you can grow in your survival garden. They can be planted in late spring or early summer and harvested in about two to three months. They can be stored for years as dried beans or canned as green beans. They are also rich in fibre, folate, iron,

- Squash: Squash is a broad term that includes pumpkins, zucchini, butternut squash, acorn squash, and more. Squash is a prolific crop that can produce a lot of food from a few plants. Squash is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. You can grow squash from seeds or from seedlings that you buy at the nursery. Squash can be grown on the ground or on trellises to save space and prevent pests.

In this article, I will explain what survival gardens are, why they are important, and how to grow one successfully. I will also provide some tips and examples for choosing the best crops for your survival garden.