preparedness

Top 10 Ways to Grow Your Own Food

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Growing your own food is one of the most satisfying aspects of self-reliance. There is nothing quite as rewarding as serving up a meal comprised of home-grown ingredients.

Growing your own food saves money, and it provides your family with fresh, nutrition-packed produce. Plus, you get the added benefit of knowing exactly what chemicals have – and have not – been part of the growing process.

According to a five-year study by the National Gardening Association, more than 35 percent of American households grow food either at home or in a shared community garden. If you are thinking of starting a garden or adding to your existing garden, you may be wondering which of the many methods to use.

As you might expect the method you choose depends mainly on the space you have, your budget, and the types of food you wish to grow. Keep in mind that a home garden does not have to be an all or nothing enterprise. You may find that you mix these methods in order to make the best use of your space and your time.

Here are the top 10 ways to grow your own food.

1. Square Foot Gardening

The square foot gardening method allows you to make the most of your garden space by growing plants more closely together than with traditional “single row” gardening. This method uses raised beds sectioned with a wooden grid into individual square foot areas.

You can grow anywhere between one watermelon (or another large-yielding plant) to 16 herbs (or other small plants) within one square foot. You can customize your square foot garden in many ways, adding, for example, a wire frame to keep the birds and animals away or a trellis for your vining plants (such as beans or cucumbers).

Here are some helpful resources for square foot gardening.

2. Container Gardening

Container gardening involves growing food in containers rather than planting them in the ground. This method allows you to grow food just about anywhere you have room for a pot, barrel, or another container that can hold dirt.

With this method, apartment dwellers and large property owners alike can make use of patios, balconies and other small spaces for growing fruits and vegetables.

Just about anything can be used as a container, and many gardeners get creative, incorporating everything from kids’ toys to colorful ceramic or terra cotta pots, to basic five-gallon buckets as their planters. Whatever container you choose, be sure it has drainage holes. Plants in containers do need frequent watering and fertilizing.

Here are some resources to check out.

3. Vertical Gardening

When we think of a traditional garden, we usually picture rows of plants growing side by side along the ground. Vertical gardening is the method that encourages plants to grow up, not out.

Many plants, such as tomatoes, have a natural tendency to grow up, but even plants that grow along the ground like strawberries and even pumpkins can grow upwards on a trellis. The significant advantage of vertical gardening is that you can grow more food in less space.

Once again, you can get creative with what you use to entice your plants to grow upwards. Ladders, wood pallets, window frames are all good possibilities.

Here are links for more information on vertical gardening.

4. Hydroponics

Did you know you could grow food without soil? You can with hydroponics.

In this gardening method, you plant seeds in a small amount of grow medium, such as coconut fiber, sand or gravel, until they sprout. Then, the roots grow through the medium into nutrient- and mineral-rich water. With hydroponic gardening, which is usually done indoors, plants grow more quickly than with traditional methods.

Other advantages of hydroponic gardening are little to no weeds, the small amount of space needed and the year-round growing possibilities. Some plants, such as root vegetables, do not lend themselves to hydroponics, and this method usually requires the use of artificial light

Here is some how-to information.

5. Aquaponics

Aquaponics combines hydroponics with aquaculture, which is the practice of raising fish. In this method, fish live in the water below the plants and help fertilize the plants. Therefore, with aquaponics, you can both grow plants for food and raise fish for food.

Sound intriguing? Here’s where to find out more.

6. Permaculture

Perhaps better defined as a concept rather than a method, permaculture is a way of creating a self-sustaining ecosystem to grow your own food. With permaculture, you go with the flow of nature rather than trying to control nature. For example, you use compost as a natural fertilizer and you use landscaping to help prevent erosion and to make the best use of water.

With a mix of herbs and perennials of all shapes and sizes, a permaculture garden appears more like a forest than a tended garden. If you like the idea of living at one with nature when it comes to growing your food, here is some information on permaculture.

7. Cold Frame or Greenhouse

Cold frame gardening is an excellent way to extend your growing season. You can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish, but a cold frame is a glass lid placed on top of your raised bed. The structure allows sunlight in and maintains its warmth inside for your plants.

Similarly, a greenhouse can be as basic as a plastic frame constructed around your garden or as complicated as a small house made of glass that keeps plants warm and protected outside the traditional growing season.

Here are some sources for information on these methods.

Here’s how to build a raised bed cold frame.

And here’s how to make a hoop house for a raised bed.

8. Keyhole Gardening

A keyhole garden is a specially designed raised bed with a hole in the middle for placing compost. It gets its name because the hole resembles a keyhole. The big advantage of this gardening method is that you do not have to spread compost on the surface of your garden.

Keyhole gardens are low cost and low maintenance, and they help maximize crop output in hot and dry conditions.

Here are some resources to learn more.

9. Lasagna Gardening

As the clever name suggests, lasagna gardening involves layering. In this case, you create layers of brown material (such as cardboard) and green material (such as kitchen scraps and leaves) in a lasagna pattern in your garden area.

Layer about twice as much brown material as green and let it all decompose into compost. Then, plant your seeds in the compost.

Advantages of this method are that you can start a lasagna bed right over a bed from the previous season (or on another area of your property) with little to no preparation or tilling. Weeding is also minimal.

Here is some background information on lasagna gardening.

10. Back to Eden Gardening

If you’d like your garden to be as natural as possible, you might want to consider the Back to Eden method, which is named for the Bible’s Garden of Eden.

Back to Eden gardening is a form of organic gardening that incorporates soil covering. With this method, you place a soil covering of wood chips or straw on top of the soil and then place compost on top of that layer. The covering keeps soil moist, and the wood chips prevent the soil from becoming too compact.

Back to Eden garden is low maintenance in terms of watering, fertilizing, and weeding. To learn more, here are a few sources.

Of course, there are many other gardening methods and combinations of gardening methods – both traditional and non-traditional.

As you explore these and other gardening ideas, you will eventually find a combination that works well for your property, your time, and your budget.

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preparedness

4 No Cook Meals For Surviving The Pandemic And Food Supply Shortages

When it comes to your food supply, you just can’t risk not having enough. These no cook meals will be a great addition to your food supply planning. Check out the recipes below!

No Cook Meals to Help You Through the Pandemic

As of the writing of this article, there are 20 meat processing plants that have been shut down due to COVID-19 infections. We have been worrying about these types of effects on our food supply for months now, and this is the first real sign of how infections can affect the food supply.

When you walk into a supermarket, you might not see all the choices you had in the past. An empty meat case is a humbling thing for your eyes to fall upon. It’s the shocking realization that the seemingly infinite supply of chickens, pigs, and cows that are butchered for us has begun to run dry!

To deal with this issue, we are going to present four no cook meals that will help you create dinners at home that will feed your family without worrying so much about what’s available, or unavailable, in the meat case.

1. Smashed White Bean, Avocado and Salted Pork Sandwiches

Smashed White Bean, Avocado and Salted Pork Sandwiches | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

As preppers we get beans. There are a bunch of ways to use beans and this a great example of how you can pack a sandwich with great nutrition and protein.

Serving: Makes 4 sandwiches

Ingredients:

Can of White Beans
Olive Oil
1 Avocado
8 Slices of Whole Grain Bread
8 Slices of Salted Pork (Prosciutto, Ham, Virginia Ham)

Instructions:

Begin by draining your beans in a colander then smashing them up in a bowl add a few glugs of olive oil, salt, pepper. This little mix is delicious. If you add some minced rosemary, you can even turn this into a delicious dip.
Pit your avocado and cut it in half and then quarters lengthwise. Leave the skin on.
Lay the bread out on a clean work surface for assembling the sandwiches.
Spread your mashed bean mix onto one side of the bread.
Peel your avocados and slice 1 quarter for each sandwich. Spread slices over the bean spread.
Add a few slices of your pork to over the top of the avocado.
You can finish this sandwich with some lettuces, fresh sprouts, or just eat it as is.

2. Delicious Crab Salad

Canned crab is a protein option that will likely be around through much of this meat crisis. It does have to be kept in refrigeration, but it’s delicious and this chipotle mayo salad is great in the spring and summer.

Ingredients:

1 Can of Crab Meat
1 Bunch of Asparagus
Chipotle Mayo
1 Bunch of Green Onions
1 Bunch of Cilantro

Instructions:

Drain your crab in a colander and set it in the sink.
Slice your asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Throw them into a bowl.
Thinly slice your onions and your cilantro and throw that into the bowl, as well.
Gently toss in the crab meat.
Squirt on enough Chipotle mayo to coat everything and toss gently not to break up the crab meat.
Chill in the fridge and serve.

3. Simple Greek Salad

Simple Greek Salad | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

The combination of simple summer ingredients makes for an incredible quick salad that you could add other proteins, too, if you wanted. These could be canned meats.

Ingredients:

2 Large Tomatoes
1 Cucumber
1 Red Onion
¼ Cup of Feta Cheese
A Few Sprigs of Fresh Mint
½ Cup of Kalamata Olives
Balsamic Dressing

Instructions:

I like to cut the tomatoes in large chunks and have them kind of be the main course in this salad. Peel and slice your cucumber in half. Remove the seeds and either dice or slice in half-moons.
Peel and slice your red onion in half. Julienne your, or thinly slice, your half onion.
Add all these ingredients to a bowl. Finely slice your mint.
Add your olives, crumbled feta, and mint to the bowl and add enough dressing to coat everything.
Stir it up and allow this to chill for at least an hour for the flavors to really blend.

4. Mediterranean Tuna Lettuce Wraps

Mediterranean Tuna Lettuce Wraps | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

Using some similar ingredients and adding a protein like tuna, you can create some delicious lettuce wraps. The key to a good lettuce wrap is to have most of the items around the same size. So, consider that when you are preparing this dish.

Ingredients:

Iceberg or Butter Lettuce
Canned Artichokes
Canned roasted Red peppers
Fresh Cucumber
Feta Cheese
Minced Olives ¼ Cup
2 Cans of Tuna
Green Onions
Basil

Instructions:

Start by peeling all the full leaves from your lettuce. Set them on a plate either cover them with a wet paper towel or put them back into the fridge.
Dice the peppers, artichokes, and cucumbers into cubes. Go no larger than ½ an inch.
Thinly slice your green onions and basil and add them to a bowl with your diced vegetables. Add your loves to this bowl and mix them thoroughly.
Crumble your feta cheese over the mixture.
Drain your tuna thoroughly and then add that to the bowl, as well.
Gently toss this mixture. Try not to break up the tuna and the cheese too much but incorporate it thoroughly.
If you want, you can add some olive oil to the mix or a few glugs of balsamic vinegar. It’s also delicious just how it is.
Scoop a few tablespoons into a lettuce leaf, wrap it up and eat up!

These no cook meals should help lessen the stress you feel when thinking of what to feed your family. If you don’t have the specific ingredients, use your creativity, and use what you have. You might discover a new recipe while you’re at it!

What’s your favorite no cook meal recipe? Please share it with us in the comments section!

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This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

preparedness

Billionaire Whistle Blower: Wuhan Coronavirus Death Toll Is Over 50,000

Exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui recently revealed leaks from Wuhan crematoriums. He claims based on the number of bodies their furnaces are burning, the death toll could be as high as 50,000.

A Chinese billionaire and whistleblower who lives in U.S. exile says Wuhan crematoriums have burned 50,000 coronavirus victims. | Credit: Chinatopix via AP

The official coronavirus death toll in China is a little over 800. But an exiled Chinese businessman says crematoriums are leaking the real figure.
A billionaire whistleblower alleges Wuhan has crematoriums working 24/7. He claims they’ve cremated some 50,000 coronavirus victims.
Guo Wengui is a Chinese billionaire living in exile in the United States.

The official coronavirus death toll is some 800 people in China. The current official death toll worldwide, outside of China, is 774. But a Chinese billionaire with a history of blowing the whistle on his former government says the real figure is much higher.

Exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui recently revealed leaks from Wuhan crematoriums. He claims based on the number of bodies their furnaces are burning, the death toll could be as high as 50,000. Wengui made the bombshell allegations in an interview with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.

Whistleblower: 1.5 Million Coronavirus Cases In China, 50,000 Coronavirus Deaths In Wuhan

He also claims to have inside information that there are 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases in China. Wengui is emphatic that these are not merely quarantined or “under observation” but confirmed cases of coronavirus infection:

China has struggled to contain the coronavirus. But it has also struggled to contain public outcry against censorship and tight control of information. Dr. Li Wenliang, who sounded the alarm about the disease, succumbed to an infection and died this week. The Chinese government arrested him for blowing the whistle.

Then officials tried to suppress news of his death. Afterwards, millions of Chinese citizens saw the hashtag #IWantFreedomOfSpeech on Mandarin language social media. But the Chinese government censored that too.

Are Wengui’s Crematorium Claims Credible?

Watch VICE’s 2017 profile on Guo Wengui. At the time, he published bombshell documents alleging corruption in the Chinese government. He got the attention of the media and reportedly the U.S. State Department.

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