Growing Your Own Food: How to Feed Your Family in Times of Food Shortage

In today's world, the idea of a food shortage may seem unlikely, but it's important to be prepared for any emergency. One way to ensure your family has access to fresh, healthy food is to grow your own! By starting a garden in your backyard, notonlycan youprovide for your family in times of need, but you can begin to enjoy the benefits of fresh produce all year round.

Why Heirloom Seeds are Important

Like your grandmother’s best china, Heirloom seeds are passed down because of their value from one generation to the next.Heirloom seeds are non-hybrid, non-GMO seeds;known for their superior taste, nutrition, and ability to adapt and thrive in various climates.

Mostly importantly,Heirloom seeds have the ability to produce new seeds. Sounds obvious doesn’t it? Did you know the majority of produce on grocery store shelves cannot produce itself from its own seed? You could buy a ripe tomato at the store, keep it’s seed, plant it, and next year it may, or may not, grow a tomato. That is because this produce has been genetically modified (GMO). Grown for its looks - beautiful, gleaming, and perfectly shaped, scientists have to genetically modify two or more seeds to create one perfect GMO item. So that firm, brilliant red and round tomato may grow a tomato next year - or something entirely different.

Heirlooms are different. Relished for their flavor and hardiness, some are beautiful, some are not, but they always produce true seeds. Which means you can grow your own food, from one seed, year-after-year!

Why Heaven’s Harvest Heirloom Seeds?

Though options abound, areliablecompany you can trust for your Heirloom seeds is Heaven's Harvest (heavensharvest.com). They offer a variety of heirloom seed kits, making it easy for you to choose the perfect mix of plants for your garden. Detailed growing instructions are available for each seed on their website; everyone, from the novice gardener to the master, willfind valuable gardening insight within the various books and gardening content offered. Uniquely, all Heaven’s Harvest Heirloom seeds are hand-packaged in a UV and waterproof,mylar-foil bag; allowing you to store the seeds for up to 5 years. Conversely, you could start seed saving immediately and use those bags again for the new seed.

What to Plant

When planning your garden, it's important to choose plants that are easy to care for and reliably produce a high yield. Some great options include:

• Tomatoes: A gardener’s staple and fan favorite. They produce a high yield andcan be used in various recipes, making them a great canning vegetable to be used in the winter months.

• Peppers: Spice up your life with a little flavor variety. Fun to grow and eat straight from the garden.

• Peas: Beautiful vine grower, and fun to pull off and snack on. Can and set aside for the winter. Good source of protein and fiber.

• Squash: Highly versatile and can be utilized in many different ways. Great for canning.

• Bush Beans: Bush Beans deliver multiple vitamins (A,B,C, etc).and can be used in many different soup recipes. Great to can or freeze.

Tips for Success

• Make sure to choose a spot in your yard that gets plenty of sunlight.

• Prepare your soil by adding compost or other organic matter to improve its fertility.

• Water your plants regularly - most important!

• Keep an eye out for pests and diseases and take action if necessary.

• Harvest your vegetables at the peak of ripeness for maximum taste and nutrition.

• Have a plan to process your produce for short-term and long-term storage.

Heaven’s Harvest Is Here To Help

With just a little planning and care, your backyard garden can becomethe valuable asset your family relies onduringhard times.Growing your own food is an important way to ensure your family has access to fresh, healthy food; not just seasonally, but in times of need. Yet the best part is, it will be a fun, rewarding experience, and a great excuse to get outside!