Welcome to DK Preppers: A place to discuss practical ways to get through emergencies, both short term and long. Topics may include skills for growing, storing and sharing food, lost and historical skill sets, sustainability issues, living and leaving safely, and growing community. Everyone is welcome, and the comments are open. We have open threads on Saturday (noon eastern time) and Tuesday evenings (7 eastern time).
Food is a big part of prepping. We store food, we can food, and many of us grow food. But what can you do if you don’t have a garden? This post is all about ways to grow what you can, where you can, using what is freely available around us.
And don’t let anyone tell you that growing just a little isn’t worth it. Home grown herbs can add a big flavor boost to your foods. Home grown greens and salads, especially during an emergency situation where your diet is limited, can add vital nutrition, and keep food boredom at bay.
Also, if you have plans to grow some of your own food in an prolonged emergency situation, you need to get to know plants, soil, sunlight and water now. Practicing on containers now will give you practical knowledge that will be invaluable later when you do have a garden in the future.
These tips range from using recycled materials to be basically free, to DIY options that take a little time and money, and maybe some tool know-how. I’m hoping there is something here that nearly everyone, of every ability can try.
First you can grow food from your food: here is a non-video link, and then a different youtube video below: foodrevolution.org/…
I’ve grown carrot tops into nice, ferny houseplants, and onions into almost perpetual green onions, so I know this can work.
If you have a sunny place to hang some plants (a window, an outdoor stair, a patio) here is an idea that would keep one person in daily salads.
You can also take bigger bottles, cut open their sides and use them too:
Since many greens can tolerate some shade, a few hours of sunlight is all they need. You could also supplement their light with grow lights or full spectrum lighting if needed, but that makes your greens expensive, so a sunny windowsill is preferable.
If you have a patio, or a patch of garden space, here is a way to get some privacy and grow food at the same time. I’ve tried this, and it works beautifully for most greens, and some herbs. You can try little tomatoes too, the kind recommended for containers, but they will need 6 to 7 hours of direct sunlight a day. Herbs and greens need a lot less.
This time of year, you can buy onion sets in many stores for just a few cents for a handful. Here is a way to grow them on a windowsill to have perpetual green onions.
And here is a cute little herb garden that hangs on a wall, along with some other ideas for small spaces:
balconygardenweb.com/…
So, look around you to find containers to recycle and use, and maybe you can grow something to eat!
And don’t forget, there is some evidence that gardening and touching dirt helps you feel better, and think more clearly: www.huffingtonpost.com/…
So, even if you don’t have that 5 acre place you dream of, you can still get your hands dirty, and enjoy the thrill of a home grown plate of food.
Do you have more ideas? Share them below!
What have you done, or set aside for your preps? I’d love to hear, and we learn from sharing, so comment below!
In the comments, let us know your plans for being more prepared, and the measures you have taken to get there. Anything about getting yourself to a place where, in an emergency, you can care for yourself, your family, and your community is great to talk about.
If you would like to do a story for DK Preppers, I try to have a discussion on Saturday afternoon and Tuesday evenings. The stories can be about your experiences, or just a topic to discuss. Let me know if you are interested.