THE GARDEN CRAZE

          There is no doubt that having a garden is a good thing. Even if it is never “needed” it will always be a source of good food. As far as prepping goes, it is the value of the skill set you gain or maintain that is the biggest plus. It is extremely important to remember this. You can’t bug out with land. In a true TEOTWAWKI situation:

Strategically - it could be ruined by a variety of NBC incidents, military invasions, government takeover of resources (can you say Katrina), natural weather catastrophes, or critter outbreaks (i.e. locusts).

Tactically - Since most gardens require open space for sunlight they are a nightmare to defend. Worse, most are actually impossible to protect from destruction. Never underestimate they spite of people who are desperate - or how cruel they can be.

          All that having been said I still have one. I have two tiny plots (4x4) I can’t bug out with; and, I have a few containers that I may or may not be able to take (plan for the best and the worse). More important to me are what else I have that pertains to my garden. My skill sets are first. Everyone should have the gardening skill set - and maintain it. I also have an adequate supply of Non GMO seeds that I can bug out with. I rotate a small, select variety in my B.O.B.

          I have another garden related skill set - sprouting. Sprouting is another skill set everyone should have. Unlike a garden, you can grow sprouts practically anywhere - even on the move. If you can’t grow your garden for whatever reason you can still at least get great nutritional value from your seed supply.

          I am working on yet another garden related skill set - vermiculture (growing worms). In fact, since this is my first growing season at my latest AO I put in worms (red wigglers) before I put in plants. Worms are great for any garden even if we never have a TEOTWAWKI event. They also make good fish bait. With any luck I hope to raise enough to sell to a local bait shop. If there is a TEOTWAWKI event, worms transport well (even the slow USPS ships them alive) and transplant easily - which can’t be said for garden plots. As already mentioned they are good fish bait. When in abundance they can attract birds. They are an excellent form of protein. They can and will help when starting a new garden elsewhere - they will improve less than ideal soil conditions. Heck, I even raise them in small houseplant containers.

          Another new endeavor for me (working on my own surthrival) is growing my own tobacco. This will be my first attempt. Whether you smoke or not history shows tobacco will be a great barter item.

          I hope you can see there are a lot of garden related skill sets that are viable even for those without a green thumb. So get going ASAP. Don’t just survive - thrive.