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How To Grow A Survival Garden FAST

Estimated reading time: 18 minutes

If you had one year before you knew everything was going to fall apart, how would you address your food supply situation? Would you jump up and run to the store to buy a bunch of canned goods or maybe you would purchase several emergency food buckets?

Neither of those are bad options but two problems arise. You can probably only buy so much food and eventually that food will run out. At the point when you need more food, buying it may not be an option. You need a source of sustainable food and you need it now.

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It’s time to put on some work gloves and find your green thumb because today we are going to discuss setting up a survival garden quickly.

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Survival Garden 101

Before you even stick a shovel into the ground there are a few things to keep in mind that will help you get off to a good start and have a successful food supply.

Investment

GARDEN TOOL SHED

Unless you already have some of the tools and supplies associated with gardening, there is going to be a bit of an upfront investment. Like any project or hobby, the sky’s the limit in terms of what you can spend, but gardening in itself doesn’t have to be expensive. Just remember, what resources you put into a food garden now, will pay huge dividends down the road.

Work and Time

WOMAN IN GARDEN

A garden will require your time and energy to set up and maintain. The key, however, is consistency. If you remain disciplined about tending to a garden every single day then you will avoid having to spend hours at a time on one specific task, such as weeding.

Timing

SPROUTING PLANT

The timing of planting and harvesting is something you also need to be aware of. Dropping some seeds into the ground isn’t going to provide food in a few days. Anything of substance is going to take almost 60 days or more to grow. This is why it is so important to lay down the foundation of a garden long before your main supply of food runs out.

Available space

URBAN GARDEN

Before buying any tools or supplies, take a look around your property and figure out the space you have available for gardening. This includes the back, sides, and front of your home. If you have zero outdoor space, you can still have a garden but will have to opt for growing indoors. Keep a sharp eye and utilize any available space.

For more information on garden space-saving tips, click here.

Preservation

CANNED TOMATOES

It’s important to have methods of preserving…

Recipe of the Week: Fruit or Berry Cobbler Cupcakes

The following recipe for Fruit or Berry Cobbler Cupcakes is from SurvivalBlog reader Mike in Alaska. It is his variant of a recipe that he found elsewhere. Note: This recipe was originally developed for use with peaches or nectarines. It will also work for many types of berries.

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 c. ripe fruit or berries, chopped.

Directions

Pre-heat your oven to 350 F.
With a fork, whisk flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl, and set that aside.
Beat butter and the two sugars in a large bowl for 1 minute until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla until blended.
Mix in the flour mixture that you set aside.
Fold in the fruit.
Fill cupcake liners or greased tins half full.
Bake at 350 degrees F for approx. 25 minutes or until a test toothpick comes out of cupcake clean.

SERVING And STORAGE

Can be served after slight cooling. These will keep in a refrigerator for a day or two, but there are usually none left over!

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Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Green Haven Farmstead Directly Connects Family To Food Source

“Our interest in having a small farmstead started several years ago when we began to feel a huge disconnect between what we were eating and where it came from,” says Clark Green. Green runs the 5.3 acre Green Haven Farmstead in Marysville, Ohio, alongside his wife, Carrie.

Successfully established, Green Haven Farmstead now hosts a troop of animals that includes seven chickens, a couple of goats, and some resident canines and felines. Recent garden hauls include bountiful carrots, tomatoes and raised bed squashes.

We spoke to Clark Green about the usefulness of raised beds and the joy of goats. We also touched on the Hügelkultur method.

From Florida to the Farmstead

When the Greens moved to Florida for three and a half years for work reasons, they discovered that is was “a struggle to find quality local sources for meat, eggs and other produce.” So after moving back to Ohio a couple of years ago, they pledged to “start growing and raising some of our own food.”

“We started with chickens for eggs then added our garden,” says Green.

The Science of Raised Beds

“Our soil here in Central Ohio is full of clay, and we didn’t want to wait another year to have it amended and ready to plant,” explains Green when asked why raised beds have become a key feature of the farmstead. “The biggest concern we had with raised beds was the initial cost. We wanted to use non-treated wood, but dimensional cedar was incredibly expensive. We opted for cedar fence pickets with cedar 2x4s for some structure.”

“To save some cost on soil and compost and to give a better long-term soil composition, we opted for the Hügelkultur method,” continues Green. “Even using the wood and other yard waste as a base, filling two 4×12 beds that are 2 feet high with organic soil and compost wasn’t cheap. I would suggest for anyone interested in raised beds that you spend time calculating your materials and costs ahead of time. It can add up quickly.”

Greeting the Goats

Five months ago, the Greens added some goats to the farmstead. “We purchased two Boer kid wethers from our close friends as a 4-H project for our daughter,” explains Green. “She named them Mocha and Latte.”

Originally, both goats were intended to be sold at the local county fair. “But our daughter instantly fell in love with Latte, the smaller of the two,” says Green. “He’s like a puppy dog trapped inside a goat’s body. Since it was obvious that he would be coming home from the fair with us, we made arrangements to purchase a young doe, Lily, from a 4-H friend.”

The Joy of Goats

“Goats have very unique personalities and bring us a lot of joy,” says Green, describing the impact of the resident ruminants on the farmstead.

“They’re relatively easy to take care of and they’ve helped our daughter gain a better understanding of animal stewardship. Neither my wife nor I…

Rare Breed Chickens Satisfy Numerous Poultry-Raising Needs

It’s a bucolic scene. A green pasture dotted with a rainbow of happy poultry scratching the ground and pecking for food to their hearts’ content. The hens chatter contentedly, and roosters crow when the mood strikes. The chickens might be jet black, brown, buff, gray, bronzish-red or a mix of other feather colors and patterns. But all are striking in appearance and fascinating to watch.

A basket full of naturally tinted eggs—brown, cream, green, blue and white—attracts neighbors to the farm for their weekly dozen. A local farm-to-table restaurant buys all the meat—prized for its flavor—that the farmer has for sale.

The poultry mentioned in this scenario could all be rare breed chickens on the Conservation Priority List of The Livestock Conservancy, a national organization with a specific mission: “To protect America’s endangered livestock and poultry breeds from extinction.”

In the commercial poultry world, white is the color of choice whether they’re laying hens or broilers, ducks, geese or turkeys. Yet, for poultry enthusiasts, many other breeds to choose from exist, offering varied options in color and form and valuable genetics in danger of being lost.

Value of Diversity

Today’s animal agriculture is dominated by just a few breeds in each livestock species, admittedly because those outshine the rest in efficiency of meat, milk or egg production. In dairy cattle, the black and white Holstein cow stands easily above the rest in volume of milk produced.

But according to Chad Dechow and Wansheng Liu, researchers at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, nearly all of today’s Holstein male pedigrees trace back to two bulls from the 1960s. What if something goes awry with those bloodlines?

A similar dilemma faces some breeds of poultry, beef cattle, sheep and goats, swine and even equines. A May 2019 United Nations Biodiversity Convention review estimated that 30 percent of the world’s livestock breeds were in danger of extinction and that six breeds were lost every month. The same report stated that 75 percent of the world’s food supply comes from only 12 plants and five animal species, illustrating how loss of biodiversity could intensify human food insecurity.

“Each breed represents a piece of genetic diversity for the species,” says Jeannette Beranger, senior program manager at The Livestock Conservancy and a poultry fancier working to preserve the Crévecoeur chicken breed. “When we lose a breed on our Conservation Priority List, we lose diversity we can’t get back because animals that were used to create the breed no longer exist.”Courtesy of Greenfire Farms

Beranger says that the traits carried on those genes can be in the form of mothering ability, fertility, disease resistance, flavor and so much more. Conserving these genetics ensures they will be available should they be needed later. As American agriculturist and U.S. Special Envoy for Global Food Security Cary Fowler put it:…

Diet and Hygiene Tips – reThinkSurvival.com

Going off the grid has its benefits, but there’s no denying it can also present barriers, especially when it comes to easily accessing standard healthcare services. But just because you’re moving somewhere remote or trying to be as off the grid as possible to prepare for emergency situations doesn’t mean you can’t take care of yourself and your family’s health.

As a survivalist, maintaining optimal health is essential. Unfortunately, it’s easy to overlook dental care – and that includes so much more than daily brushing and flossing. Your oral health is often a great indicator of your overall health. In fact, poor oral health can lead to a variety of other conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory issues.

Thankfully, there are things you can regularly do to keep your oral health in top shape, even when you’re far from professional dental services. Preventative practices are often the best way for a survivalist to maintain their health, but there are also actions you can take when you’re in need of emergency care and dental first aid.

The Challenge of Finding Dental Services

It can be difficult for just about anyone to find a dentist they trust. Some people have a fear of visiting a dentist or orthodontist, and others might struggle to find a qualified one if they live in a small town or rural area. That struggle becomes even greater when you’ve decided to live remotely or go off the grid. There are some things you can take care of yourself, but if you’re in an emergency dental situation, you’re going to want to work with a professional.

So, what can you do when the availability of services is limited?

One of the best ways is to do as much research as you can online. If you still use a computer or smartphone, you might be able to connect with a dentist of your choosing via telehealth. Obviously, they’re not going to be able to physically treat you if you’re struggling with pain or in need of oral surgery. But, they can offer actionable advice on how to care for your oral health and possible remedies you can use if you’re experiencing any kind of discomfort or changes to your teeth.

If you don’t want to rely on the Internet to reach a qualified dentist, consider doing your research in the nearest small town. You might initially think a big city dentist is better because they might be more likely to have state-of-the-art equipment, a large staff, and a more open schedule. But, a small-town dentist is more likely to provide personal care. They’re often treated with more respect because their patients get to know them, and vice versa. They’ll remember your dental history and create treatment plans that are personalized to fit your needs, rather than just giving you a cookie-cutter plan that is supposed to work for everyone.

If you’re completely off the grid when it comes to digital research, ask around. Talk…

Don’t Buy Another Canned Food Until You Read This

One of the most common ways for people to store great quantities of food over the long term is to invest in canned foods.

This is because buying canned foods is widely perceived as an inexpensive way to stockpile food that can last for a long time on the shelf while preserving its nutritional value.

There’s no denying that canning is a proven food storage method. Canning has been around since the late 1700s when it was utilized as a way to provide a safe food source to sailors and soldiers who were away on long military campaigns.

If you walk into any grocery store or supermarket nowadays, you’ll find long rows of canned meats and vegetables that can be bought for super cheap.

Buying canned foods is a perfectly viable way of storing your food with many advantages. But there are a few cons as well, which is why stockpiling your pantry or basement with canned foods should not be the only component of your food storage strategy.

Pros Of Canned Food

Here are the primary pros of canned foods:

Affordability

Most cans of meat or vegetables can be bought for only a couple of dollars, if not even less. You can buy large quantities of cans and accumulate a decent supply of food without spending a fortune.

Stores that offer special deals or discounts when buying in bulk will lower the cost even further.

⇒ Learn An Insanely Effective Way To Build A 5 Year Food Stockpile

Convenience

Storing canned foods won’t be difficult so long as you have enough storage space. All you have to do is stack your cans over one another in your basement or pantry.

Just make sure that you store the cans in an environment at normal room temperature and that’s free of moisture.

Variety

“What kind of foods can you buy in a can?” you might ask. Here’s a better question: “what kind of foods can you not buy in a can?”

From meats to fruits to vegetables to dairy to pasta to soups and even to dairy, all of the major food groups are covered when it comes to canned foods. Even after the grid goes down, with canned foods it’s easy to put a complete meal together to ensure you’re eating a balanced diet.

Nutritional Value

It’s a common misconception that canning food will reduce its nutritional value.

In reality, when you put food in a can at the peak of its ripeness right after it’s been harvested, it will preserve the same nutritional value as if it were fresh or frozen. You won’t compromise nutrition when you eat canned meat or vegetables.

Long Shelf Life

In the right storage conditions, dry and room temperature, canned foods can last for several years without losing their flavor or nutritional value.

You Can Repurpose The Cans

<img src="https://www.askaprepper.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dont-Buy-Another-Canned-Food-Until-You-Read-This-1.jpg" alt="Don’t Buy Another Canned Food Until You Read This"…

Trapping Laws in the United States – An Overview

Animal trapping is a practice that has been conducted even before history was recorded. For food, for defense and for commerce, people have relied on trapping to deal with animals in the environment around us, be it in the wild or close to our own places of habitation.

a Paiute deadfall trap

Although it’s seen as somewhat distasteful and rarely discussed today, trapping is alive and well throughout the United States.

Now as then, it’s also done for various reasons… However, there are many, many laws covering the practice of trapping, at the state and federal levels and sometimes even at the local level.

If you want to begin trapping for any purpose, you’ll need to understand these laws.

This article will serve as an overview of trapping laws in the US so you can better understand what to expect when you start looking into your own state’s laws. Grab your gear, and let’s get going.

Why Would Someone Need to Trap Animals at All?

If you’re unfamiliar with trapping, or if you just love animals, it’s easy to bristle at the notion of trapping.

What could be worse than luring some poor animal to its doom, either struck down by a lethal trap or held captive, suffering, terrified, waiting for someone to come along and dispatch it in a non-lethal trap?

Despite this sentimentality, trapping has always been extremely important historically, and it remains important today.

Trapping is the primary method by which nuisance animals are eliminated or relocated, and it is still commercially important for the production of fur, various glandular products, physical specimens, and a lot more.

Although tightly regulated, trapping is a crucially important skill that has until recently been in danger of dying out.

A surge of interest in self-sufficiency and personal preparedness has seen a corresponding surge in education concerning trapping, both the practical application and the ethics of it.

Whether you want to start a new business of some kind, to be better prepared to provide food for your family, or just get rid of troublesome animals tearing up your property, trapping is a great skill to know.

Trapping Laws Vary Considerably from State to State

As you should have expected by now, trapping laws are only broadly similar throughout the United States. As it turns out, each and every state has its own take on the practice and its own requirements for citizens who would engage in it.

In some states, trapping any kind of animal larger than a mouse in your own home might require substantial education, licensure, bonding and more.

In other states, trapping is far less regulated, and only the disposition of commercial fur trappers or professional pest controllers could be regulated at all.

Accordingly, all of the information presented in this overview should serve only to ground you concerning the most common concepts.

It is up to you to look up, learn, and understand your state’s regulations concerning trapping, whether…

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The World’s Most Efficient Bugout Shelter

Understanding Bugout Shelters

A bugout shelter, often referred to as a survival shelter, is a secure location where people can retreat to when faced with potential dangers or threats. It serves as a temporary dwelling that offers protection from the elements, wildlife, and potential adversaries.

We’re always on the look out for new ideas for shelters in the case of an emergency, or disaster situation. Recently we ran across a modular survival shelter known as the Bunkhouse.

The Bunkhouse can be assembled by 2 people in 30 minutes or less. The cost is only $1595. It has some nice features that include:

insulated walls
heating
air conditioning
solar power options for lighting and 110 outlets
6 bunks per unit
toilet
sink
shower
water storage
and more!

Designing the Most Efficient Bugout Shelter

Location and Accessibility

Selecting the right location for a bugout shelter is paramount. It should be easily accessible but strategically hidden from common pathways. An ideal bugout shelter should also have access to freshwater sources and be far from potential hazards such as flood-prone areas or fault lines.

Sustainable and Self-Sufficient

The world’s most efficient bugout shelter is designed to be sustainable and self-sufficient. It incorporates renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines to power essential devices and equipment. Additionally, it includes rainwater harvesting systems and on-site gardening to provide food and water for extended periods.

Sturdy Construction

The shelter’s construction is a crucial aspect that determines its durability and ability to withstand harsh conditions. High-quality materials like reinforced steel and impact-resistant walls ensure the shelter can endure extreme weather events and potential attacks.

Advanced Security Measures

Security is of utmost importance in a bugout shelter. The most efficient bugout shelter is equipped with state-of-the-art security systems, including surveillance cameras, motion sensors, and secure entryways. Furthermore, it has reinforced doors and windows to deter unauthorized access.

Multi-Functional Spaces

The world’s most efficient bugout shelter is designed to optimize space utilization. It includes multi-functional areas that can serve as living spaces, storage rooms, and medical bays. Each section is efficiently organized to provide comfort and functionality.

We love the nice features of this modular shelter which is made by CompassionShelters.com. The Bunkhouse is their smallest shelter and can sleep 6, and has available toilet facilities.

How the Bugout Shelter Works

Step-by-Step Bugout Plan

Having a well-defined step-by-step bugout plan is essential for the efficient functioning of the shelter. The plan includes clear instructions on when and how to evacuate to the shelter, what essentials to bring, and how to communicate with others during the evacuation.

Evacuation Essentials

To ensure a successful bugout, there are several essential items that individuals should bring with them. These include first aid kits, non-perishable food supplies, water purification tools, communication devices, and…

How to Make Penicillin at Home (Just in Case SHTF)

One of the hottest topics in the prepper and survivalist world is how to make penicillin at home.

Considering how expensive healthcare is, I wouldn’t be surprised if there aren’t some DIY types also wanting to learn how to make penicillin.

Because penicillin is “just mold bread” and was discovered by accident, it might seem pretty easy to make penicillin. Yes, it is – but it is really hard to make penicillin safely. If you want to learn how to make DIY penicillin, here’s what you need to know.

Even in SHTF Situations, Homemade Penicillin Probably Isn’t a Good Solution

Before I even get into the (complex) instructions on how to make penicillin at home, I want to emphasize that it isn’t as straightforward as many prepper sites would have you think.

Penicillin doesn’t treat superbugs: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a huge problem. Already many bacterial strains are resistant to penicillin. So, don’t count on penicillin to save you from every infection!
Penicillin doesn’t treat all infections: Penicillin can be used in many throat, respiratory, and skin infections. It won’t treat tooth infections or UTIs (amongst others).
It requires strange ingredients: Most people won’t have these things at home if SHTF. That’s an insane level of preparedness. Even if you do have the supplies, it’s still very complicated to safely make penicillin.

When Would I Recommend Learning to Make Penicillin?

I think learning any skill is a good use of time. However, I personally think that this one only makes sense if you plan on becoming an expert. I mean REAL EXPERT.

Why?

Because you could make penicillin as a SHTF bartering item. You’ll become much more valuable to your survival community if you know this too. Otherwise, you are spending a lot of time on this skill when simpler alternatives exist.

Alternatives to Homemade Penicillin

Most doctors won’t give out prescriptions for antibiotics “just in case.” Even if they did, those antibiotics can be really expensive!

A better alternative is to use fish antibiotics, which currently don’t require a prescription, are cheap, and easy to get.

But, just in case you still want to learn to make penicillin, here are the instructions!

Good luck!!!

Step 1. Isolating Penicillin Bacteria

Put a piece of bread, cantaloupe, or citrus fruit in a container in a dark place at 70 degrees F. It should be in a closed (but not airtight) container. It helps to add a few drops of water to the container and leave all but one corner closed to keep in moisture.

It can take weeks for the mold to start growing. Hopefully, you aren’t trying to treat gangrene with your DIY penicillin because your patient will likely be dead before you get any usable spores.

The bread or fruit will start getting a gray mold. This gray mold will eventually turn a bluish-green color. This is the…

The 17 Best Homesteading Books to Grow Your Knowledge

Questions come up daily on a homestead.

You need solid advice on how to build, grow, and manage your land. Luckily, you aren’t alone. There are tons of books available for homesteaders, covering everything from organic gardening to home medicine.

Remember, information is power. No matter where you are in your journey to self-sufficiency, you can develop your skill set and improve your quality of life with these 17 homesteading books.

Gardening and Growing

How to Create Your Garden: Ideas and Advice for Transforming Your Outdoor Space

By Adam Frost | 256 pages

This book is an excellent reference for those starting a garden from scratch. Rather than focusing on inspiration or ideas, Frost lays out actionable plans for designing and constructing garden space.

You’ll discover step-by-step instructions for mapping, layout, materials, and strategies for building hardscapes and raised beds. With full-page photographs and detailed drawings, the book helps transform homesteading daydreams into food-producing realities.

The Family Garden Plan: Grow a Year’s Worth of Sustainable and Healthy Food

By Melissa K. Norris | 224 pages

This book aims to teach beginner homesteaders how to grow a year’s worth of food sustainably. It’s chocked full of tips for choosing what to plant, when to plant, how to harvest, and even how to protect your garden from pests. It features charts and worksheets for a practical approach, including region-specific details and outlines on how to keep soil healthy for next year’s garden.

The Resilient Farm and Homestead

By Ben Falk | 368 pages

This comprehensive guide to whole-system permaculture designs is based on Falk’s real-world knowledge and hard practice of sustainable gardening. It gives detailed explanations on building and developing regenerative agriculture anywhere, including colder climates where many deem it impractical or impossible.

You’ll discover concrete plans and solid advice in these pages, coming away with a hopeful outlook for your homestead and our planet’s future.

The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible

By Edward C. Smith | 352 pages

This practical handbook covers productive food gardening across every region of the US. It lays out a roadmap to achieve high-yield results in any growing zone, advising on soil depth, timing, temperature, germination, and best practices for over 70 herbs and…

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