On average, you want enough food stored away to feed your family for NINE MONTHS (some places twelve). You need enough food to keep you alive until you can grow your own.
So basically, you need to be ready with short-term fixes (like food storage) and long-term sustainable solutions (like survival gardening).

How would you feed your family if the food system completely collapses with no hope of return in our lifetime?

Although Storing Food is important, but you can’t live off beans and dried rice forever. You’re gonna run out eventually.

Fortunately, there’s a simpler, healthier and tastier solution: Plant a garden with Heirloom seeds.

Sounds simple. It is. Or at least… it was. It still can be simple, but you have to know how to avoid the pitfalls of modern agricultural and profit-driven home garden suppliers.

Done right, your backyard can feed your entire family, year after year after year.

The economic state of our country is not the greatest, the unemployment rate is increasing greatly. For some families planting a vegetable garden would help financially. If families were to be able to grow a good portion of their own vegetables, it would save them money that could be spent elsewhere. Gardening can give you back a few extra dollars. As you plant flowers and rose bushes, your gardening passion is also helping out nature.

While you glance around at your garden you can notice humming birds and bumble bees moving from one flower to another. The nectar is their food and they pollenize as they go. Hummingbirds will come back year after year if you have a flower garden, they know where the dependable food is. They must appreciate your gardening interest; you’ve created an annual buffet and rest stop for them. The most popular method of gardening today is organic gardening.

This type of gardening requires no harmful pesticides or chemicals which contribute to soil and water pollution. So you are contributing to a better environment when you garden organically. Use carrot peels, eggshells, other food waste as fertilizers your soil will be enriched without being polluted. Everyone should go green. You can obtain more information on vegetable garden layout here.

There are many benefits to gardening including all the above, not to mention good exercise and fresh air. Wear light clothing and sunscreen to protect yourself from the suns rays. Do not overexert yourself. Have fun while enjoying your hobby of gardening. You can get more tips on vegetable seeds here.

You can specialize your herb garden to focus on any of these uses or grow a variety to broaden it’s appeal.  They can also be grown in a garden with other species of plants or in containers indoors. A small plot of four feet by six feet is a large enough area to support a small family. Most of us think of cooking applications for our herbs but they can also be cultivated for their aroma or the beauty of their flower. Use them fresh or dried.

With certain types of herbs you can use them to brighten up salads as a decoration or to add flavor to menus. As with most plant species, herbs grow in a variety of forms like shrubs, trees, annuals and perennials. It’s important to use a well drained soil when planting your herbs. If the soil is dense try adding organic matter. And you don’t need to use fertilizers. You will find that while some herbs are happy in the shade, most prefer a sunny position. That said, many like locations with afternoon shade. Amazingly, very few diseases or insects attack herbs. For more visit our blog: Herb Garden Blog

Sometimes in dry, hot weather red spider mites can be found on low-growing plants and aphids may attack dill, caraway, anise, or fennel. Mint may be affected by rust. Herbs can be grown from seeds or purchased and planted into your herb garden directly. It is an honor and a joy to be able to see a plant be grown from a single seed. You are able to enjoy every step of the process from birth to death in a respect. By growing herbs in this way it is even more fulfilling as they are so very useful. Almost all herbs can be grown from a seed. Seeds should be placed in a shallow pot or box in the late winter. Use a light, well-drained soil to grown your seeds in.As herbs don’t have deep roots don’t bury them too deep. So plant them shallow.

Follow the rule: the finer the seed, the shallower it should be sown. You can transplant the seedlings to the outdoors in the spring.  Although most herbs can be grown from seeds, some herbs do not transplant well. Herbs like dill, fennel, anise, and coriander should be planted directly into the garden. Although growing herbs in a home garden is extremely easy and worthwhile, there is a lot of information you need to know and understand about herbs. I hope this article has encouraged you to take action. And you can find all of the information you need right here!  Good Luck!

Click here to learn more and signup for our Herb Garden Mini Course: Herb Garden Guide

Garden hand tool kits are a popular gift for the gardener in your life. These are a great low cost way to get a jump on your own set of garden tools.  You can find garden tool sets that cover the whole range of options for garden hand tools.  Here are some things to look for when buying tools for gardening.

The number of tools can vary a bit. The smaller tool sets will have just 3 tools or so, but the options go up, and some will have twelve to fifteen tools included.  Of course the price varies with the number of tools, so set a budget to start with and that will help narrow the field somewhat.

Look at the handles of the tools. This is a reasonable good indicator of the workmanship of the tool set being considered.  Plastic handles tend to be cheaper, and often the other construction of the tools will be cheaper as well (for example, stamped tool bodies instead of cast). Nothing beats a well tooled wooden handle as they will last a long time and is comfortable to use. Some of these tools come with modern foams and other sculpted handles which can feel almost like they are shaped to the hand and are great for older gardeners or those who have chronic joint pains.

The tools that come with a garden set vary, but there are a few included in almost all sets.  One is the garden trowel. Looking like a smaller version of a shovel, it’s one of the more versatile tools in the garden, used to dig up root crops like garlic, or to prepare a bed for transplanting smaller vegetables. Make sure that the tool body is not a stamped sheet of metal, as this type of tool is not as rugged and will easily bend and eventually break.

A bulb planter looks like a narrow trowel, and is used in much the same way as a trowel, but is used to plant items that are smaller but still need a deep hole like flower bulbs.

A garden fork, sometimes known as a cultivator, has hooked tines on it and is used to work the surface of the soil. Good for cultivating or weeding a smaller area, they are good for preparing a smaller bed area for smaller seeds like carrots and radishes.

Pruners are popular in garden tool sets. Usually a set will have a bypass pruner, since these are smaller and more useful for things like trimming flowers and some vegetables such as cucumbers.

A garden tool set will come with a variety of holders.  Some are simple plastic holders, others included a leather holster, and some included a carrying case. These cases will sometimes have molded inserts for the tools, and the best cases are made of wood.

Finally, a garden utility cart can be a good gift. They are especially good for the older gardener who has more trouble stooping or carrying tools. A favorite part of some garden carts is the small seat that’s a part of the top cover that lets you work without bending a lot.

So, what’s this book guide that I’m talking about? The name is “Organic Tomato Magic”. It is a downloadable e-book guide that contains tips and advice on how to grow perfectly healthy, beautiful, juicy and tasty tomatoes in your own garden. Actually the tips you will learn here are as old as time but many people have already forgotten how or they simply don’t have any idea of this age-old tips on how to grow tomatoes. Now, these amazing tips are found on this guide and once you have included this in your library of information and knowledge, you will for sure be learning the best well-kept secrets in tomato growing.

Just like any other people today, I’m also would like to help save the environment, actually, me and my wife. I am now trying to learn how to make my own Biodiesel kit and she is trying to learn in growing tomato plants and she’s doing good at it and she knows how much I love tomato-based food like spaghetti or baked macaroni and pizza. So, in order to have the freshest tomatoes, she finally decided to learn how to grow them right in our own backyard and guess what? She’s holding that guide that I have mentioned here and by the way, we really need lots of fresh tomatoes because my mother needs to drink them daily in order to keep her heart healthy.

You will have the answers to all your questions when you get to buy an herb garden kit.  Herb garden kits contain all the information you need on the different kinds of herbs categorized into Italian herbs, culinary herbs, international herbs, German herbs, herbal tea herbs, salsa herbs and many more.

Every herb kit is unique but all of them contain similar items with which you can get started.  And all of them will always contain seeds.  Some herb garden kits even contain a dome that will ensure consistent temperature and humidity for the plants to grow a healthy root system.  They will also contain an instructional guide.  This will give the herb grower easy to follow instructions to succeed with their herbs.

Some kits also contain recipes that use those different kinds of herbs.  Other websites that sell herb garden kits will offer a newsletter you can sign up for which will provide recipes and additional useful information.  Kits will also provide the planter in which the herbs will be grown in.  Most kits also contain either soil samples or pellets where you can properly grow the seeds.  And most of them recommend the use of either soil or pellets.

Growing herbs indoors from an indoor herb garden kit has many benefits.  First off it is easier to enjoy the herbs because they are right at your finger tips.  You don’t have to go to the garden just to add spice to your recipe.  It is also just as easy to harvest herbs and freeze them for future use.

Plus, with the constant growing conditions that is provided to plants in indoor conditions, you don’t have to worry about winterizing herb plants or herbs that don’t survive the winter weather conditions.  The herbs have a constant temperature in which to thrive.  In addition, most herb garden kits are small and compact which is great for small areas like flats or apartments.  And besides, if you grow herbs outdoors, it is difficult to determine which part of the garden will give them the best amount of sunlight.  It is easier to water the plants outdoors but too much rain can also be harmful to them.

By growing herbs indoors with a complete instructional guide, you are able to take the guesswork out of this hobby.  This way, there is greater success in growing your herbs indoors.

There is probably a better feeling of accomplishment when you become an herb expert and can grow any kind of herb in your garden.  This involves a lot of hard work though, but everything will be easy with the help of herb garden kits where you will be able to fully enjoy your garden herbs.  Once you become familiar with the herbs and have planted them to your garden you can now be called an herb expert.

Gardeners find growing herbs in an herb garden extremely beneficial for a number of different reasons.  Herbs may be used to flavor food, for potpourri, for tea, for medical purposes or to even control pests in the garden.

You can specialize in one particular type or a combination of different kinds of herbs in your herb garden.  They can also be grown in a garden with other species of plants or in containers indoors.  Herb gardens can be grown in different ways such as an indoor herb garden in the kitchen or a small plot in the garden.  A four feet by six feet size of garden is enough to support a small family.

Although a popular use for herbs are for cooking known as culinary herbs, they are also grown for their aromatic foliage and some for the beauty of their flowers.  Fresh or dried, herbs can be used either way.  Some herbs are used as garnish for plates or salads while other types of herbs can be used to perk up the flavor of a dish.

Like all other plants, herbs grow as annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.  You can use well-drained soil when growing herbs in an herb garden.  If you find that your soil is heavy or compacted, you can add organic matter to it.  Fertilizers are not necessary either.  Most herbs prefer a sunny location although a few prefer full shade.  Many herbs will grow well with afternoon shade.

Amazingly, very few diseases or insects attack herbs.  Sometimes in dry, hot weather, red spider mites can be found on low-growing plants and aphids may attach dill, caraway, anise, or fennel.  Mint is also attacked by rust.

Herbs can be grown from seeds or they can be bought and planted into a home herb garden.  It is an honor and a joy to be able to see a plant be grown from a single seed.  You will appreciate every step of the process from sowing to reaping.  When growing a plant like an herb from a seed the experience is all the more rewarding because herbs are so useful.

Almost all herbs can be grown from a seed.  In the late winter, seeds should be placed in a shallow pot or box.  Use a light, well-drained soil to grow your seeds in.

Since herbs do not have a deep root base, make sure not to cover the seeds too much with the soil.  They should be planted shallow.  The rule is to plant the finer seeds in a shallow soil.

The seedlings can be transferred in an outdoor garden in the spring.  Although most herbs can be grown from seeds, some herbs do not transplant well.  Herbs like dill, fennel, anise, and coriander should be planted directly into the herb garden.

Growing herbs in a home herb garden may seem very easy, but you need to have the right information to grow them successfully.  You’ve started with the tips in this article, so now you should complete your knowledge with more detailed information.  And you can find all of the information you need right here! Good luck!

All plants need three main things in order to grow successfully; sunlight, soil and water.  And this includes herbs.

Sunlight is key to growing any type of plant including herbs whether they are grown indoors or in a garden.  To grow herbs in pots, you should place herbs grown in a kitchen or any other room in a south or west facing window to get the best kind of sunlight.  Different types of herbs have different light requirements but, for the most part, all need a sunny location.  Some indoor herb growers supplement their light source with “grow lamps” or fluorescent lamps.

A well-drained, not too rich soil is what herbs need to grow in.  Add two parts of sterilized potting soil with one part coarse sand or perlite for herbs that are grown in containers.  You will also need about an inch of gravel at the bottom of each pot to ensure that the plant has good drainage.  Herbs grown in pots indoors can also be fertilized with one teaspoon of lime per 5-inch pot to ensure that the soil is rich enough for the herbs.

Herbs grown in pots also need water.  Misting the plants and moistening the pebbles will help to keep the herbs within humid conditions.  Since they are being grown in containers they do need to have more water than herbs that are grown in a garden but, you should avoid getting the roots of the herbs drenched or soggy.

The freedom to move the herb is one advantage in growing herbs in pots.  Annual herbs can spend all of their time indoors but, perennial herbs do better if they were to be placed outside during the summer.  To avoid the loss of their foliage however, herbs should be placed indoors before the first snow.

This rule is overlooked when it comes to mint, chives, and tarragon.  After experiencing their first frost, they go into hibernation to form a firmer and fresher growth.

All herbs will grow in containers but only a few of them will survive.  Mint can take over the garden if it is not properly contained.

Over all it is fairly easy to grow herbs in pots and maintain an indoor herb garden.  Anytime you need them for cooking, an indoor garden makes the herbs handy and just within reach.

You will be able to grow your herbs and ensure a healthy plant with the tips listed above.

You should also include periodic light feeding and yearly repotting for optimum health of the herbs.  Remember to replant annuals each year and move perennials outdoors when needed.  You can harvest your herbs occasionally and use them as much as you want to.  Pruning plants does encourage new growth.  This rule also applies to herbs.  Grow herbs in pots, store them, give them away to friends, and most of all, use them in your cooking.

Buy Non-Hybrid Heirloom Seeds for healthy, good tasting, and continuous harvesting of your favorite herbs for many years to come.

For Food Storage Secrets for All you favorite herbs, click here.

In order to use the herbs you will need to harvest them first.  Timing is a huge factor.  Wind and sunlight deprives the herbs of their essential oils.  You should choose a calm and dry morning during midsummer to harvest your home herb garden.  Herbs produce little oil during the wet season.

Harvest the herbs just after the dew has dried form the leaves right before the flowers open.  Harvesting the herb does not mean removing the entire plant.  Remember that you are only taking a small amount of the plant for domestic use.

You don’t necessarily have to use the herbs right after you have harvested them from your home herb garden.  You can store them for future use.   Be careful not to take more than one third of the plant’s foliage at one time.  It needs a healthy foliage for the plant to replenish its lost nutrients.  You should also check the plants for pests and rotten leaves before you harvest them.

There are three ways you can preserve your herbs after harvesting your home herb garden: by drying, freezing or preserving them in salt or vinegar.  In order to dry herbs you need to bundle six to twelve stems together and remove any foliage near the base of the stems.  You can secure the bundle with string.  Hang the bundle in a cool location away from sunlight.

If you are looking to dry individual leaves you can place them on a screen or a rack.  Remember to turn them often in order for them to dry properly.  Some people have even used artificial ways like dehydrators, ovens or microwaves to dry their herbs.

Freezing is another simple way to preserve herbs.  Cut them into ¼ inch pieces and place them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.  Once the herbs are frozen, you can place them together in a bag and store them in the freezer until use.

The third way to preserve your herbs is by using a growth medium.  Herbs like chopped mint, basil or tarragon, for example, can be stored for several months using vinegar.  Or you can make a flavored salt to preserve herbs by alternating layers of fresh herbs between salt.  When completely dry, separate the brown herb from the salt then place it in an airtight container.

Of course, people often use herbs fresh right out of their home herb garden.  Take care cleaning the herbs before they are placed fresh in recipes.  In order to clean fresh herbs place them in a bowl filled with cool water.  If there is a large quantity of herbs you can use the sink.  Place about two tablespoons of salt in the water.  The salt in the water will drive away insects without damaging the plant.  Remove the herbs from the water and dry them in a salad spinner.

Different kinds of herbs in a home herb garden are used for many different purposes.  Each different type of herb has their own list of instructions on how to use, harvest, and chop them.  Make sure to research the specific type of herb you are using to use it correctly.

Buy Non-Hybrid Heirloom Seeds for healthy, good tasting, and continuous harvesting of your favorite herbs for many years to come.

For Food Storage Secrets for All you favorite herbs, click here.

Basil is a well know Italian herb and useful in many Italian recipes.  Basil not only enhances the flavor of many Italian cuisines but also helps other plants in the garden.  The flavor of peppers and tomatoes will greatly improve if they are planted right next to basil.  Basil is also an insect repellent that will help your Italian herb garden.

Parsley is a relatively hard herb to grow in an Italian herb garden but it is very useful in both Italian and other types of cuisines.  Many generations ago before there were breath mints, it was found that eating fresh, raw parsley after a meal eradicated the bad breath left over from enjoying a flavorful cuisine.  It became a common practice to serve parsley on a small dish after every meal.  This practice of using parsley as a garnish on a variety of meals lives on to this day.

Besides being flavorful, oregano is also used as decoration.  When it is fully mature it will sprout pretty little purple flowers.  Oregano should be harvested after it blooms because this is when the plant is tastiest.

Fennel is famous for its seeds that grace and enhance the flavors of Italian
sausage.  The interesting thing about fennel is that the plant loses its flavor as it matures.  It is a perennial plant that should be divided and replanted in an Italian herb garden every few years to savor its flavor.

Like basil, rosemary is an Italian herb that is beneficial to the garden.  It grows into a big shrub that produces pretty little blue flowers.  It attracts bees, which in turn helps the Italian herb garden.  Although known for being a tough evergreen, it is extremely sensitive to frost.

Probably the most used herb in Italian cuisines is garlic.  An Italian herb garden is not complete without this very versatile herb.  Garlic gloves can be planted and will thrive in just about any garden with very little attention.  They can be stored to be used at a later time after they are harvested by freezing them or pickling them to store in the refrigerator.

Sage is used to flavor a variety of Italian meat and salad dishes.  New shoots of the plant contain the most flavor so it is recommended not to let sage plants to get to woody by keeping them trim.  Young shoots will begin to sprout.  The best time to harvest sage is after it has fully bloomed.

Although there are so many more herbs that can be included in an Italian herb garden, you really should consider which herbs you will use.  You need to determine whether or not you can provide the conditions necessary to grow these plants.

Italian herbs should be considered as more than something that just improves the flavor of food.  They also make amazing additions to landscape designs.  They can be displayed for color and their aroma.  By planting Italian herbs amongst other plants, you will be graced with the sweet aromas straight from Italy.  Having an Italian herb gardenwill be just like strolling along an Italian hillside.

Buy Non-Hybrid Heirloom Seeds for healthy, good tasting, and continuous harvesting of your favorite herbs for many years to come.

For Food Storage Secrets for All you favorite herbs, click here.