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.
