Gardening & Growing

• 6 TOP Crops to Grow at Home to Save You From STARVING

  Here is a great video from Self Sufficient Me's channel. It's not only very informative, it's also quite humorous.

  12.5 minutes that are well worth the time.

   

   

• Essential Survival Skills for a Collapse: Beyond Guns and Self-Defense

  When we imagine a world thrown into chaos by an economic collapse or social anarchy, it’s tempting to think that guns and self-defense would be the most important tools for survival. However, history, particularly the experience of the Great Depression, teaches us that while security is important, the skills needed to survive—and even thrive—are much broader. Practical, everyday survival skills, such as cooking, sewing, and agriculture, were essential in the 1930s, and would be just as valuable today in the event of a societal breakdown.

  In this article, we’ll explore the most important skills you would need to sustain yourself and your community if modern conveniences disappeared.

• How to Build and Maintain a Home Aquaponics System

  What You Need

  • Fish tank (20-50 gallons)
  • Grow bed for plants
  • Water and air pumps
  • Grow medium (clay pebbles or gravel)
  • PVC pipes/tubing
  • Fish (tilapia, goldfish, catfish)
  • Plants (lettuce, herbs, tomatoes)
  • pH test kit (optional)
  • Light source
• Preparing for Prosperity: The Overlooked Aspect of Survivalism

  In the world of prepping and survivalism, much emphasis is placed on preparing for worst-case scenarios and doomsday scenarios. However, what if society doesn't collapse, and things actually improve over the years? In this article, we explore the often overlooked aspect of survivalism – preparing for prosperity. Specifically, we delve into the potential challenges and opportunities that preppers might face if the world continues on its current level or experiences positive developments.

  1. Adapting Survival Skills to Everyday Life: Embracing Self-Sufficiency for a Thriving Future

     Preppers, often associated with an intense focus on disaster scenarios, possess a unique skill set that extends beyond the realm of doomsday preparations. These survival skills, cultivated with the intent of navigating crises, can seamlessly integrate into everyday life, fostering self-sufficiency and resilience in a world that is continually evolving. By shifting the narrative from solely preparing for catastrophic events to embracing a lifestyle of preparedness, individuals can not only navigate potential challenges but also contribute positively to their well-being and independence.

  2. Prepping on a Budget: Tips for Economical Disaster Preparedness

     In today’s uncertain world, being prepared is crucial, especially when it comes to disasters and emergencies. Whether you're a seasoned prepper or just beginning your journey toward disaster readiness, the cost of supplies can sometimes be prohibitive. However, with careful planning and strategic budgeting, you can significantly reduce expenses while still ensuring that you have the necessary resources for survival. This article provides practical tips for prepping on a budget, helping you to create a robust emergency kit without breaking the bank.

     Assess Your Needs

     The first step in any preparedness plan is assessing your specific needs. What are the essentials? For most people, this includes water, food, medical supplies, and basic shelter items. Start by listing these essential items based on your family size and health requirements. This will help you focus your efforts and avoid unnecessary expenditures.

     • Water: Look for large bottles or jugs that come at a reduced price per liter.
     • Canned Goods: Dried beans, pasta, rice, tuna, and other non-perishable foods are great choices. Always check the expiration date to ensure you're not buying expired items.
     • Dried Fruits and Nuts: These can be added to your diet as a healthy snack or used in recipes.

     Buy in Bulk

     One of the most effective ways to save money while prepping is by buying essential items in bulk. Many stores offer discounts when purchasing larger quantities, and over time, these savings can add up significantly. Additionally, buying in bulk allows you to reduce packaging waste, which is environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

     Grow Your Own Food

     If you have the space and time, growing your own food is one of the best ways to reduce costs while increasing self-sufficiency. Start by selecting easy-to-grow vegetables that are nutritious and require minimal resources.

     • Tomatoes: These require full sun but produce large yields.
     • Carrots: They grow well in containers and provide high nutritional value.
     • Leafy Greens (Spinach, Lettuce): These plants grow quickly and can be harvested multiple times per season.

     Utilize Free Resources

     There are numerous free resources available that can help you save money on your prepping journey:

     • Community Gardens: Check if there's an existing community garden in your area. Many local governments sponsor these as a way to encourage sustainable living.
     • Food Banks: Many communities have food banks where you can obtain non-perishable items for free.
     • Homesteading Forums and Websites: These platforms often offer tips on how to reduce expenses while building up your survival skills.

     DIY Projects

     Making use of DIY projects is another great way to stretch your budget further. There are countless tutorials available online for crafting everything from water storage tanks to solar-powered lights. Not only does this help you save money, but it also gives you the satisfaction of creating something yourself.

     • Water Storage Tanks: You can convert empty plastic jugs into makeshift containers by drilling holes and attaching spigots.
     • Emergency Lighting: Make use of inexpensive LED bulbs that last longer than traditional incandescent ones. You can even build your own emergency flashlights out of simple components.

     Practice Smart Shopping

     Even when you're buying supplies, there are ways to cut costs:

     • Shop Seasonally: Buy fruits and vegetables at their peak season when they’re cheaper and fresher.
     • Compare Prices: Always check for deals or coupons before making a purchase.
     • Use Multiple Suppliers: Sometimes local suppliers will offer better prices than large retailers.

     Educate Yourself

     Knowledge is one of the greatest tools you can have as a prepper. Attend workshops, read books, and participate in online forums to learn about various aspects of preparedness. Many resources are free or low-cost, so take advantage of any opportunity available. Understanding how different systems work—whether it's water filtration methods or building shelters—can also help you make informed decisions that could save money.

     Build Long-Term Relationships

     Building relationships within your community can be incredibly beneficial for prepping purposes. By joining groups focused on survival skills, sharing resources becomes much easier and more efficient. Whether it's trading seeds with neighbors during a gardening exchange or pooling together to buy large quantities of food at once, working together reduces overall costs.

  3. Self-sustainable farming on a sailboat

     Found a great article about a sailor who grows their own food onboard.

     Three hulls, one planet: Neel 51 owner explains how he went self-sustainable (opens in a new window)

     As an experienced live-aboard cruiser, I disagree with a few points in his article. A few examples:

     • He states "Desalination puts brine back into the sea, which contributes to the eutrophication of the marine environment". First off, evaporation from the ocean surface removes much more water than a sailboat would. Second, the water you take from your watermaker will all end up going back into the ocean, thereby diluting the salt content back to normal. I also have rain catchers on our boat, but while Wolf uses them as his primary source, and watermaker as secondary, we use the watermaker as primary and raincatchers as secondary.
     • Re-using grey water is needed if you are relying on rain catching. While I am not opposed to having a grey-water system, we found it was easier just to use potable water for everything. The amount of waste from a single boat is minimal, and the ocean naturally bio-degrades it.
       Our reliance on potable water may partly be because we have excess electrical power, and so can "waste" the energy to use our watermaker as we please. Wolf has 3kw of solar and a 10kwh battery bank, compared to our 4.5kw solar and 29kwh battery bank.

     Generally, however, he has some great ideas, and it's good to see other people making the switch to a cruising lifestyle. Definitely worth the read.

  4. Survival Gardening: Growing Your Own Food in Challenging Environments

     I. Introduction

     In an increasingly uncertain world, self-sufficiency and the ability to sustain oneself have become paramount. One crucial aspect of self-sufficiency is food production. Growing your own food not only provides a sense of empowerment and independence but also ensures a steady supply of fresh, nutritious produce, especially in challenging environments. This is where the concept of survival gardening comes into play.

     A. Importance of self-sufficiency in food production

     In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, we have become heavily reliant on complex global food systems. However, these systems can be vulnerable to disruptions such as natural disasters, economic crises, or even pandemics. Developing self-sufficiency in food production acts as a safeguard against such uncertainties, allowing individuals and communities to have a reliable source of nourishment even in challenging times.

  5. Vertical Gardening: The Future of Food Cultivation

     Gardening is a pastime that has been enjoyed by millions of people for generations, but with growing populations and limited space, the traditional way of gardening is becoming less and less viable. However, there is a solution that has been gaining popularity in recent years: Vertical Gardening.

     Vertical gardening involves growing plants in a vertical tower, allowing for more plants to be grown in a smaller space. This solution is perfect for people living in urban areas where outdoor space is limited, or for those looking to grow more food in their backyard.

     Hydroponic gardening is a popular method used in vertical gardening. This method involves growing plants in water, instead of soil. This method is not only space-saving but also eliminates the need for soil-based nutrients, as the plants are fed a nutrient-rich solution directly.

     Building a hydroponic garden can seem like a daunting task, but with some basic knowledge, anyone can do it. There are many tutorials and videos available online that will help you get started, and you can even find detailed plans and drawings to help guide you. However, it's important to remember that a hydroponic system requires power and requires you to add nutrients to the water.