Outdoor Life Prepare for Anything Survival Manual (32 page)

Exactly what to grow, and how much of it you want, depends on a wide range of factors, including how much space you have for gardening, what grows well in your region, and of course what your family likes (sure, you could force your kids to live on nothing but cabbage for the next few years, but is the convenience worth the whining?). There are computer programs out there to help with garden planning, but a pencil and a piece of graph paper work just as well. Grid out your gardening space and plan what to plant based on how much space is needed for each type. Then follow these rough guidelines for quantity, which is based on feeding a family of four. Adjust as necessary for your family’s needs and cabbage-free desires.

There are a number of ways to keep thieving animals and burrowing rodents from ruining all your hard work. One homegrown tactic is to pee (that’s right, pee) around the garden bed perimeter. The scent will scare off those pesky critters.

VEGETABLE

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Good for tight spaces since they can grow on (or, in the case of peas, prefer to grow on) poles or trellises.

Even with limited space, you can grow your own herbal remedies—and in a disaster scenario, this is valuable knowledge. These won’t replace proper medical care, but they’re nice to have on hand in a pinch—or a bruise.

ALOE VERA
Very soothing to burns and scalds, this tender plant is best grown in a container so that it can be brought inside for the winter (unless you live in a tropical climate).

BORAGE
The flowers can be soaked in alcohol to make a mood-boosting tonic.

PEPPERMINT
Similar to pennyroyal, peppermint can be a great tonic for digestion. Fresh peppermint, though, along with pennyroyal and other strong mints, should not be consumed by women who are (or may be) pregnant, as food and drink that contain fresh strong mint leaf can be dangerous to the baby.

COMFREY
The cooked mashed roots of comfrey are used for a topical treatment for arthritis, bruises, burns, and sprains. Just don’t eat it. Recent research shows that it is damaging to the liver if eaten in quantity.

YARROW
Crushed yarrow leaves and flowers can be placed on cuts and scratches in order to stop bleeding and reduce the chance of infection.

LEMON BALM
Make the best lemonade of your life by adding bruised lemon balm leaves to the drink. This plant also makes an outstanding topical agent for cold sores, and it is often used as a calming “nightcap” tea to fight insomnia.

ECHINACEA
Echinacea, also known as the purple coneflower, is an American perennial wildflower best known for stimulating the immune system. Echinacea preparations are used to protect against colds and flu, minor infections, and a host of other ailments.

PENNYROYAL
This great-smelling mint relative can be crushed and applied to the skin as a very effective bug repellent. The leaves can also be crushed and then applied to wounds as an antiseptic, or brewed as a tea to settle upset stomachs.

LAVENDER
Typically used as a fragrance today, lavender has been used since ancient times to treat bug bites, burns, and skin disorders, and to relieve itching and rashes and reduce swelling. It should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, or small children.