Concepts for survival gardening

The world is a troubled place. It always has been, but sometimes it seems worse. We are in one of those seems worse times. Prices for produce of all varieties are rising. Grocery store quality is falling. Many people find they can no longer afford enough fresh fruits and vegetables. Chemical and biological scares are increasing.

So what is the solution to get fresh produce? There are many solutions, such as wild foraging, trading with friends and acquaintances and going to food banks. But if you have a bit of space, even as small as a high rise balcony, you can grow a survival garden.

You say you have a brown thumb? Nonsense! There is one main key and one minor key to convert from a brown thumb to a green thumb. The first key is simple: Check and maintain your plants every day! This means looking for pests, checking for proper watering and looking to the general health of the plant.
If you do this one thing right, your plants will thrive. Now remember, I said it was simple, not easy. It does take some time and dedication, but if done right, it should be no more than an hour a day during the growing season, perhaps much less time.

The second key is also simple, but requires a little study before planting anything. This key is that every plant has a preferred habitat. A habitat is simply the growing conditions the plant likes. These are the type of soil, the temperature range, the amount of sunlight and water and other factors. Plants are just like people, they like to be comfortable. Just as people have a range of comfort, as in heat level, so do plants. Provide the proper habitat and the plant will grow. If you can't provide the proper habitat for a plant, don't grow it.
Next: some ideas for small spaces and a few plant suggestions.

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