How to Grow A Survival Garden To Survive The Recession

Now is the time to prepare your survival garden to help put food on the table during these tough times. Here are some ideas on what crops are best.

Instructions

1. Start planning your "survival garden" for the spring. Now more than ever gardening can help close the food budget gap. You will want to focus on hardy vegetable varieties that are abundant producers.
   If you don't already have a garden winter is a good time to break ground (provided it is not frozen.)
   Choose a spot that gets a good amount of sunlight throughout the day and is not located on or near a septic system.
   Break up the ground well with a pick and bust up the dirt clods. Rake out the lawn grass roots and rocks. You may need to bring in more soil. If you have been a heavy lawn chemical user it may be a good idea to remove the soil and bring in organic topsoil from an organic garden center. Avoid manure that has not been composted since it can burn new growth.

2. Include varieties that bear through most seasons of the year in your survival garden. You should check with your local County Extension Agent for a planting schedule for your area. Your local garden center may be able to help as well with dates and varieties to plant.
   In early spring you can plant lettuce, especially reddish varieties that resist cold weather. Some kinds of peas are cold tolerant as well.
   Greens, such as kale and mustard greens are an important part of a survival garden. Since only a couple of rows of greens can provide enough for several meals a day they are worth adding. Kale is high in vitamin A and other nutrients.
   Beans also provide a good quantity of food for the table. Once they start bearing one twenty foot row of beans should provide all you need for eating and freezing for later. In early fall you may be able to grow cold tolerant vegetables like broccoli and cabbage depending on your area.

3. Grow root crops in addition to above ground vegetables. Potatoes are another important part of a survival garden. Although potatoes are cheap in the store there is nothing better than "new" potatoes or the small reddish kind that you can cook along with green beans or serve covered with cheese.
   Add staple crops like corn, which can be prepared in a variety of ways and also shades tender plants like squash and beans. Sweet corn is a good survival garden component although it takes quite a while to grow.
   One of the most prolific survival garden plants are tomatoes. Plant both cherry and regular tomatoes. Check with your garden center for the kinds that do the best in your area. Beefsteak is one popular variety that bears a lot of fruit.
   Don't forget to round out the salad vegetables with carrots, parsley and cucumbers.
   Dedicate a small portion of the garden to spices that you can use in pickling and cooking. Add dill weed, cilantro and basil for everyday cooking.
   A survival garden can save you money in these difficult times and provide healthy organic produce too.
   Ask your local organic nursery about organic pest control methods.

Tips & Warnings

• You can keep bugs at bay with natural methods like Safer soap which is available at your local garden center.

• Keep a step ahead of bugs. Use ladybugs, which are sold in organic garden centers to control aphids and inspect your garden daily for signs of caterpillars and other buts. The sooner you treat the easier they are to get rid of.