A hybrid seed is basically a genetically altered seed designed to resist diseases and create more crop yield. The seeds harvested from plants and crops grown with hybrid seeds are useless and cannot be planted the following season. Therefore the Survivalist Farmer is forced to use new set of seeds for each subsequent crop.
A non hybrid seed is a seed that has not been genetically altered. There is some debate on if crops grown with non-hybrid seeds produce more of a nutrient rich or flavorful crop, but what is undeniably is that seeds collected from mature non-hybrid crops can be re-planted for a subsequent harvest.
Every Urban Survivor planning a future after the collapse would do well to stockpile a large supply of non-hybrid seeds for future farming and harvest. Maintaining a stock of these non-hybrid vegetable seeds at your Urban Survivor location, no matter how short you intend this to be, as well as in your Survival Bug Out Bag and in caches at or near your Survival Safe location should be considered.
While you can purchase non-hybrid seeds at retail locations, storage of these seeds for long term survival use is problematic. Purchasing sets of seeds in robust, vacuum packed containers is the best way to ensure you’ll have viable seeds when the time comes to plant, nourish and harvest.
We like the sets of Heirloom seeds offered by EarthWaveLiving, specifically their Garden Collection of Vegetables and Herbs including:
Asparagus, Bush Bean, Blue Pole Bean, Black Eyed Pea, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Collards, Popcorn, Eggplant, Leek, Romaine Lettuce, Buttercrunch Lettuce, Jumbo Cantaloupe, Curled Mustard, Spineless Okra, Sweet White Onion, Bunching Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Jalapenos, Red Sweet Pepper, Yellow Sweet Pepper, Pumpkin, Radish, Spinach, Summer Squash, Zucchini Squash, Winter Squash, Tomato, Giant Sunflower, Kohlrabi, Lima Beans, Cucumbers, Red cherry Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, Turnip, Sweet Watermelon, Jubilee Watermelon, Chard, Snow Pea, Casaba Melon, Curled Kale, Anise, Leaf Basil, Caraway, Chamomile, Cilantro, Dill, Fenugreek, Garlic Chives, Sweet Marjoram, Peppermint, Oregano, Leaf Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Summer Savory, Spearmint, Tarragon, Thyme, Fennel, Cress, Chervil, Arugula, Lemon Mint, Hard White Winter Wheat, Hard Red Winter Wheat, Golden Dent Corn, Brussel Sprouts, Green Arrow Pea, Golden Bantam Corn, and Catnip.
We plan on several additional posts in the near term on Survival Farming both in Urban, Suburban and Rural environments.
Not only is stockpiling seeds a good idea, basic seasonings can also be stored easily.
ReplyDeleteWhile you are stockpiling seeds - look for the medicinal plants, look for ground cover, look for edible greens... Find the plants you can plant that will keep vermin away... or if you are not adverse to eating the vermin - find the plants that will draw attention. Get the hanging tomato planters, stock them now... you'll need less water to water a plant that is hanging and you're watering directly at the root level, rather than wasting precious water pouring it into the ground. You can also hang the planters on your porch, in your basement, you can plant them during the winter and drape a clear plastic bag over them to allow them to stay outside and not freeze.
ReplyDeleteYou have wooden pallets? Start planning your vertical garden. You can plant a vertical garden in the smallest of spaces in the middle of a city - you do not need a farm. You can grow anything: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR6Xbu5Un74
If you've a pond, find the plants that can grow directly on the water - not needing soil.
Now is the time to think outside of the box...
i read a post on a site last week saying that soring seeds in a plastic/glass container vs vacumn packing is the proper way. said that seeds need a certain amount of air to be considered "live". any input on this? does anyone know where the seed vault is on this?
ReplyDelete