Basic Gardening for Survival #2

Farmer’s Almanac and Lunar Planting
The Farmer’s Almanac has been consistently 85-90% accurate and is a great resource to consult prior to planting. The reason that the almanac is this accurate is that it follows the time proven concept of lunar planting, which basically means that there are better times to plant certain crops than others.

Increasing Yield:
Rotating crops is very important as soil will become depleted if you keep planting the same crops in the same area. As a general rule you should rotate your crops at least every couple of years. Fertilize with a good manure every fall after your crops have been harvested. Fertilizing in the spring before planting can be done, but it is riskier and can scorch newly planted crops if the manure is too hot. Rototilling soil will help plants grow strong deep roots and this can be done with a traditional tiller, or the old fashioned way with hand tools.

I think it is also a great idea to figure out how to collect rain water. Metal buildings are great for capturing rain water and you can use above ground 55 gallon drums, or underground water tanks. We prefer under-ground tanks as you can store more water in them and they are hidden from view. It is amazing how good rainwater works on crops.

Benefits/Risks of Crop Cultivation:
There are numerous benefits to growing your own crops, including eating healthier, more nutritious food and having the ability to provide for your family. While this country has one of the strictest EPA organizations, most of our food supply is now imported.

Protecting your crops/harvest from insects is also important, and if things have gotten so bad we are all trying to grow our own food thru primitive methods, then there will not be any pesticide available to keep insects at bay. Planting things like garlic and onions around the perimeter of your garden, and in various other strategic places, helps keep insects out of the garden. Certain flowers such as Marigolds also work well. We decided to invest some time and energy into deer proofing our garden area with green poly square weather resistant fencing, and it has worked remarkably well.

We also have a fruit tree orchard of peaches, 5 varieties of apples, cherries, grapes, and plums, which are a little trickier to farm organic. A fruit tree is a virtual zoo of insects from crown to base. Everywhere you look is an insect of some variety. Some are going, some are coming, and all of them are eating fruit.

The use of lady bugs, dragon flies, and praying mantises all help control dangerous insect infestations and these can be purchased from companies such as Burpies, or down at the local farm/supply store. Once you have a group of beneficial insects, they tend to hang around year after year. Fruit trees can be further protected by hanging red sticky tape balls, or paper balls sprayed with adhesive, to attract worms and other insects. This practice works pretty much like fly strips, capturing lots of insects and keeping them away from your produce.

It is your responsibility to make sure that your family is well taken care of so figure out how to start a garden, a greenhouse, or your own mini farm. Once you decide to take action and make a plan, everything else gets easier, and there is nothing more satisfying than knowing that regardless of what may happen down the road, you have taken the necessary steps to feed your family.

If you're worried about the way things are headed and want to survive what's coming, then please Follow Me @survivalist.com For Daily Preparedness tips and training.