Get started with emergency gardening

War in Europe, natural disasters, and an unstable global economy. Many now have a small emergency supply at home in case something unexpected happens. But what if the crisis becomes prolonged? By growing vegetables at home, you take preparedness to a new level.

Emergency gardening has existed for as long as time and was especially important during the World Wars, both the first and the second. It was grown on balconies, in gardens, in parks and school yards, even down in the trenches. Home-grown produce was called "Victory Gardens" or "Gardens for Defense" in the USA and England, and in New York alone they accounted for about forty percent of all food during the second World War. Also here in the Nordic countries, it was grown, including in city parks, and posters encouraged the population to grow at home, with messages like "Grow in the spring - avoid hunger in the fall." In recent years, emergency gardening has once again become a topic of conversation in Norway, thanks in part to the book "Beredskapshagen" by Anders, Maria, and Barbro Nordrum, and the blog datsja.no, where the same authors write about the kitchen garden as a pantry.

Why emergency cultivation and emergency garden?

By growing our own food, we can have an extra food supply - just in case something should happen. There are several vegetables you can become self-sufficient with, but of course you don't need to become completely self-sufficient - even small-scale gardening on the balcony or indoor gardening improves preparedness.

Smart choices of vegetables for emergency cultivation

In emergency gardening, it is wise to focus on simple vegetables that provide a lot of energy and a guaranteed harvest. Perennial vegetables, fruit trees, and berry bushes are a good foundation that provides food with minimal effort. These can then be combined with easy-to-grow one and two-year vegetables, such as potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, beans, and peas. Potatoes provide a lot of energy and legumes provide necessary protein.

Think about which vegetables and fruits can be stored to provide food even during the winter. Consider focusing on varieties of apples and potatoes that can be stored. Also, try to plan so that there is something to harvest for as long as possible, such as by planting continuously throughout the summer and engaging in winter gardening.

Perennial plants for emergency cultivation

Berry bushes
Fruit trees, preferably of storage varieties
Perennial herbs like chives and mint
Spring onions and other perennial varieties of onions
Horseradish
Rhubarb
Asparagus
Perennial leafy greens like some types of spinach and arugula
Jerusalem artichoke (not technically perennial, but often spreads and becomes perennial)

Annual plants for emergency cultivation

Potatoes
Beans
Peas

But what about everything else, like squash, tomatoes, basil, and cucumber? Of course, you can also grow those, but in a crisis, it might be wise to prioritize plants that provide a lot of energy first.

Earth in crisis situations

In a crisis, it may be harder to get ready-made soil and fertilizer, so it's good to have some bags in stock. It's also wise to think long-term by improving the soil in advance and preparing it for cultivation, such as by creating your own soil from leaves and grass clippingsreusing the soil in plant boxes and potsimproving hard clay and nutrient-poor soil.

Water in crisis situations

Crises can sometimes lead to periods of drought and water scarcity. Think about how you can collect rainwater. Do you have a water tank or barrel that collects water from the roof? Mulching is also wise, as this can save up to 70 percent on watering by keeping moisture better in the soil.

Cultivation equipment in the emergency stockpile

Getting hold of what you need to cultivate can be a challenge if the crisis has already struck. Make sure you have the essentials at home, so you are prepared.

Seeds that are suitable for the climate and hardiness zone where you are cultivating (in a prolonged crisis, you can then collect your own seeds from autumn harvests).

Soil, fertilizer, pots, slug control, watering can, landscape fabric, growing tunnel, and other cultivation accessories you may need.

Plant lighting - if you have electricity, you can grow indoors, even in apartments.

Water tanks or rain barrels to collect rainwater from the roof.Cultivation books or printouts of cultivation advice that you can benefit from if the internet fails.