A well-maintained garden can enhance the beauty of any home. But a survival garden can offer so much more: It allows you to harvest fresh produce, and it can even be a source of useful medicinal herbs. (h/t to ThePreppingGuide.com)
The benefits of cultivating a survival garden
Preppers are practical, and a survival garden is perfect for people who love to grow both beautiful flowering plants and fresh, organic produce. Unlike ornamental gardening which highlights aesthetics, survival gardening focuses on the cultivation of herbs, fruits, and vegetables that can help you survive when SHTF.
Maintaining a well-planned survival garden can help whole families prepare for long winters. A home garden can also help you weather disasters, especially if you get cut off from stores. Even if you can't leave your house to buy groceries, you can keep your family fed by harvesting vegetables right in your backyard.
If you're on the fence about starting a survival garden, these benefits might help change your mind.
It lets you grown your own food.
Survival gardens are perfect for homesteaders who want to save money on groceries and people who simply want to have access to fresh, GMO-free produce. If you're new to gardening, start with vegetables that are easy to grow, like beans, carrots, peas, and potatoes. You should also grow calorie-rich crops such as corn and squash. (Related: The top 10 best foods to grow for survival.)
Home gardeners who want their vegetables to last throughout winter should plant crops that store well, such as beets, carrots, kale, leeks, onions, and turnips.
It's a great source of medicinal herbs and plants.
When SHTF, you can use herbs and plants with medicinal benefits to address common complaints like insect bites or the flu.
These useful herbs and plants deserve a space in your survival garden:
- Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) – Comfrey heals pulled muscles and sprains.
- Garlic (Allium sativum) – Garlic is more than a flavorful herb. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Garlic also lowers blood pressure, cholesterol, and the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Garlic is used as a home remedy for colds, certain sinus infections, and yeast infections.
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale) – Ginger is a useful plant that is used to relieve stomach ailments. It also relieves arthritis pain and muscle aches. Home remedies that contain ginger are often used to address indigestion, reduce nausea, and fight the common cold and the flu.
- Horehound/White horehound (Marrubium vulgare) – In traditional medicine, horehound is used to treat asthma, colds, congestion, and sore throats.
- Lavender (Lavandula ) – Lavender relieves anxiety and depression. A lavender compress is used to ease insomnia and migraines. This flowering plant is also used to treat bruises and cuts.
- Sage (Salvia officinalis) – Sage is one of the most useful herbs that you can grow in your survival garden. Sage has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. This herb is used to ease cramps, diarrhea, digestive problems, and inflammation.
- St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) – St. John's wort is an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory plant that relieves bites and burns.
It can help you make money.
Once you preserve and store enough fruits and vegetables for your whole family, you can eventually start selling excess produce for some extra cash. Popular vegetables to sell include broccoli, herbs, peppers, and tomatoes.
You can then set aside the extra money you make from selling your homegrown fruits and vegetables. You never know when you're going to need emergency funds. During a survival scenario, you can barter your extra vegetables and fruits for other supplies or services that you may need.
Even if things remain calm and relatively quiet in your neighborhood, a survival garden is a great source of fresh, nutritious produce for your whole family.
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