Modern Survivalism Tenet Number Three

thesurvivalpodcast.com ^ | Jack Spirko

[appleseed]

Growing your own food is for everyone not just people that want “organic” fruit and vegetables.

Every day I get into my car and do a podcast on self sufficiency during my morning commute called The Survival Podcast. Over past few months I have dedicated a great deal of time to the subjects of Agriculture and Permaculture for a very simple reason. While the “prepper” community is of course very big on food storage there is a finite limit to how much food any individual or family can store. Once you stored food runs out in a true long term emergency you had better have some level or production capacity.

In addition to the limitations of stored food the “green movement” is huge right now and new gardens are popping up in every corner of the nation. From those that simply want better quality food to those that actually think carbon footprints matter, it seems millions Americans are putting in gardens in a new “back to the land” movement. Many in the media are claiming the recession is driving people to garden, in some ways it is true but the reality is in the first year a garden is often a financial loss. In my view what is really driving the new gardening revolution is that people are actually becoming aware of the many risks to our food supply.

[agrace]

Thanks so much for the response. So if I get seeds this year they’ll be good next year. My 6 yr old also wants to plant an apple tree from the seeds in her apple cores - I’ll have to try that too.

[djf]

Good work and great page!

I would like to mention one thing, though. I’ve heard alot of folks going with the “bug out” idea.

Now if you had a weeks warning that something was happening, it might make sense. So it doesn’t hurt to be prepared BUT!!

In general, I think the “bug out” option is not very viable.

First, there will be ten thousand other folks trying to do the same thing. The roads will most likely be impassable.
Second, in the event of empty supermarket shelves or stuff like that, you would be putting your life at risk by traveling, even if well armed.
Third, I think you would be far better off IMMEDIATELY organizing with your neighbors to set up guard watches and divisions of responsibility.

Just my thoughts.

[proud_2_B_texasgal]

pinging self

[ChocChipCookie]

DJF, actually I agree with you. I’ve heard it said that once the authorities give the word to evacuate, it’s already too late. IOW, you should get out when your own eyes and ears tell you it’s time and not rely on an official directive. When I start my SurvivalMom podcasts, I’m going to interview an expert on satellite mapping, and ask him for tips in how to figure out the best routes for getting out of dodge.

Once you leave your home, even if you’re well-armed, you’re just another refugee. You are highly vulnerable until you reach your destination. I don’t like that option, which is why, if we ever had to bug-out, I’d like to think we’d get out before conditions became that dangerous. In addition, potential or actual structural damage to your home and in the surrounding areas, getting out may be the only safe option.

Hunkering down has its’ own pros and cons. It really depends on what type of crisis you’re experiencing. By staying put, you’re gambling that you will be ABLE to get out later, if need be. In a martial law scenario, you may be prevented from leaving. Also, if the crisis continues long-term, supplies will run low for everyone, and you may be at the mercy of whatever government officials can get to you, if anything. Could be a horrific scenario.

OTOH, you’re in familiar surroundings with neighbors who, hopefully, will be willing to join with you in sharing resources and protecting property. All your stored gear and food will be in one place. If you have kids, it will surely be less traumatic.

And you know, it kind of depends on your home, itself. Is it defendable? What is the construction like? If you stay put, can you be sure of a clean water source? Do you have neighbors you can count on or will they be part of the problem? The room I’m sitting in right now has five large windows on three walls. This house has a lot of windows! It’s a nice feature, unless you’re concerned about armed groups of zombies roaming neighborhoods in search of food! Because of our windows, we don’t even have a room that could be used as a ‘safe room’. Your home may be quite different.

We plan for what, we don’t know, and hope for the best. Thanks for visiting my blog. I update it every day, so check back often. :o)

[blueplum]

Thanks, Appleseed! it’s fun to share!

AppyPappy raised a possibility about fungal problems with the straw being damp/wet. Which got me to pondering. Since the spring crops were fast growing and shallow rooted, if a fungal problem is going to develop, there may not been time yet for it to gain any momentum - the real test may come with the summer crop and their water requirements. I think it’s safe to say, tho, for a temporary or emergency setup, using straw as a bed lifter performed well and produced a healthy and immediate crop under limited rainfall/watering conditions.

AppyPappy - do you think maybe planting a crop of garlic in the Fall or drenching the beds with garlic ‘tea’ would ease any hidden fungal issues?

[AppyPappy]

Not really. When the fungus gets in the soil, it tends to stay there. You can plant a cover crop to feed the soil. You should move your plants around every season. Don’t plant tomatoes and eggplant in the same place every year. Also, strong plants can fight the fungus. There are natural anti-fungals like sulphur.

Most of garden problems come from not resting the soil for the occaisonal season. Some of your garden should be fallow, planted with a cover crop of a nitrogen fixing plant.