Why You Need Seeds

Why Worry About Seeds

Here in the United States, the typical grocery store carries only 72 hours worth of food on its shelves, with no back stock. When a disaster strikes the U.S. (not if, but when), there will be mad rushes to those stores and the food and water will be gone quickly. And that “disaster” could take many forms. It could be weather or terrorist related, or it could be a financial meltdown. Regardless, food could be very difficult to come by. Unless you are prepared.

The best way to be completely prepared for a food shortage?  Acquire, store, plant and harvest seeds. It’s essential to stockpile non-perishable food, but no one knows how long a crisis will last. Depending on what happens, you may find yourself in a position of having to feed your family for an extended period of time, perhaps well over a year. You can do it, but only if you are prepared.

How to Never Buy Seeds Again

The process is not easy – it will require work on your part – but it is simple.

First, you need non-hybrid, open-pollinated, non-genetically modified seeds with high germination rates. Even better if they’re organic.

Second, plant those seeds in a garden.

Third, store your unused seeds for the future. Finally, harvest the seeds from your current plants.

If you are successful in doing these four things, you’ll never have to buy seeds again. This way, you’re set up for the immediate needs of a short-term emergency and ready if the crisis is prolonged.

If you have not yet established a garden, I’d recommend doing so immediately. Make a plan. Establish how much space you can devote to your fresh survival food, and get started. Build raised beds or tilled rows – whatever you do, get planning and moving now.

If you already have a garden, collect the seeds from your plants and store them. You’ll want to time your harvest based on the individual plant’s method of seed dispersal, clean your seeds and spread them out to dry, label them properly and store them in secure containers in a cool, dark, dry place.

But what fruit and vegetable varieties are best for survival? This is my favorite part of the process.

Of course, you want to ensure your garden provides you with balanced nutrition and high yields. But you also want delicious, fresh food. That’s why I put together ten of my favorites.

My Top Ten Seeds for Survival

Beans        

Packed with protein and fiber, no Patriot Garden is complete without beans. The seeds of different types of beans should be planted well away from each other whenever possible to avoid any chance of cross-pollination.

Butternut Squash

Healthy and very filling, butternut squash is perfect roasted or used in soups and stews. You can roast the seeds or dry and save them for next season.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is versatile in recipes. But it’s also space-saving, while providing significant biomass for its small size. It’s a survival-garden essential.

Broccoli

When a true long-term emergency hits, there will be few better fresh sources of calcium than broccoli.

Cabbage

Full of vitamins and perfect for preserving – homemade sauerkraut, anyone? Cabbage also gives you a lot of fresh food without taking up too much space.

Beets

High in fiber, vitamin C and minerals potassium and manganese, they’re a nutrient powerhouse not to be left out of a survival garden. You’ll get plenty of seeds, also. In fact, what may look like a single seed is probably several seeds in a ball. When they turn brown, you’ll know they are mature.

Carrots

Carrots are rich in vitamin A in the form of beta carotene. It’s best to choose short varieties, which take up less space and take less time to reach maturity.

Peas

To me, there is nothing better than eating fresh-picked peas from the garden. To save the seeds for next season, allow pods to ripen on the plant and start to turn brown. When the seeds rattle inside with a little shake, they are ready for saving.

Tomatoes

Growing a few varieties of tomatoes is ideal. You want some for canning and sauces, and some for eating fresh. I recommend Roma for the former and Beefsteak for the latter.

Melons

Melons provide a plentiful, sweet treat in the summertime, with electrolytes that help battle dehydration. For eating, harvest early and often so they don’t take over. To harvest seeds, let a few grow larger before picking.

Even if you grow a handful of these varieties, you’ll be way ahead of the average American. And you’ll fare much better in a crisis.

If all of this information has made you interested in starting your own garden, the Seed Vault is a great place to start. Not only does it include the top ten seeds listed above, it includes 21 seeds in total, all of which would make it into a top 25 list if I made one.