While gardening is a relaxing hobby for many people, survival gardening is a bit different since your health and wellbeing rely upon its success. Just as you would prep for a medical emergency by keeping a fully-stocked First Aid kit, it’s time to prep for a food emergency by keeping a fully-stocked garden.

1. Good Soil

The average home isn’t built on land with outstanding soil, and developers don’t bother bringing in the best topsoil they can find. That’s your job, if you want it. But we should consider what our soil might need to make it better for our gardening (see below).

2. Gasoline (if you till)

That not only means having a rototiller sitting in your garden shed, but enough gasoline to run it for a good long while. Gasoline is hard to store, even if you buy the extenders that are available on the market. But if you only store it for a few months, then burn it in your car, it’s not a problem.

3. Fertilizers

Fish emulsion is probably one of the best fertilizers out there, as it contains all the key nutrients your garden needs. Compost is a great way to make use of the parts of the plants you don’t use.

4. Edging for raised beds

I’m a firm believer in raised garden beds, as they are much more efficient and will usually result in greater yields, with less wasted seed.

My stockpile for this is actually a stack of salvaged wood. It was free and will give me a start on getting my new beds in place.

5. Means of watering

Your best bet is to either use underground soaker hoses or drip sprinklers. Run off a small pump.

Drip irrigation was developed by the Israelis, who needed something that could be used in a desert environment. Since most of Israel’s water comes from seawater desalination, spraying it into the air.

6. Insecticides (organic preferably)

The last thing you’ll need to see happening to your garden is insects eating it up, destroying all your hard work and denying your family the food it needs.

While I seriously doubt that there will be a run on your local garden center after a disaster hits, there won’t be any more shipments, restocking them. It would be a good idea to find natural recipes for your own insecticides, as well.

7. Seeds, lots of seeds

Buy only heirloom seeds for your survival garden, as they are the only ones which will allow you to harvest the seeds and replant the next year. Freezing your seed allows it to keep longer, so that you won’t lose that investment while waiting until you need it.

What other things should be stockpiled for survival gardening?

Article Source: Off The Grid News