If you’re going to survive the upcoming apocalypse, you’re going to need food.

Lots of food.

And if you need a lot of food, you have to know how to grow it. Once you’ve mastered this, you can sit back, safe in the knowledge that you can survive decades of international turmoil and societal breakdown.

Grow or Die: The Good Guide to Survival Gardening by David the Good will give you all the knowledge and metaphorical tools to survive even the most serious economic meltdown.

David the Good is a well known published author, blogger and survival gardening expert.

His blog The Survival Gardener is one of the most popular on self sufficiency and small holding while his YouTube channel has nearly 2000 subscribers.

The author is one of these guys who’s knowledge on his subject should be measured in libraries. But you can buy Grow or Die on Kindle for a few quid – a good investment given the uncertain times we live in.

By the time you’ve finished you’ll have the tools to:

  • Grow high calorie foods which store easily
  • Preserve your crops through the winter
  • Make your own fertiliser and compost
  • Improve irrigation and control pests

There’s also a useful ‘post-Event’ Emergency Quick Start Guide for when you pick up David’s book a little too late in the post-apocalyptic future.

The book is a lot of fun and is a mix of fantasy and practical gardening advice. Even if you’re not a Doomsday Prepper, you’ll find a lot of useful knowledge to get started on your survival garden.

I don’t want to go into details about all of the techniques and tips in this book so here are my highlights.

 

Grow Food to be More Self-Sufficient

Most modern gardens aren’t set up for growing food but this is a recent trend. For 4000 years (or more) leading up to the industrial revolution, most people in Europe were engaged in agriculture in some way. But growing your own produce is hard work and when food in the shops is so cheap, why would you?

When I lived overseas, growing your own food was an everyday part of life. Everyone did it, me included. There were no such things as supermarkets. But there was plenty of land and time. When I left I had nearly four acres under agriculture.

Food prices were high whereas labour was cheap and time bountiful. So it made sense to grow as much as I could. By the end of one year, I was able to grow enough to only need to buy cassava flour, tea, coffee and sugar for me and my house staff.

So imagine if food prices were to rise  country to the point where small holding and allotments became a necessity for comfortable living again?

How would we cope having lost so much of the knowledge that our fathers and grandfathers built up living through rationing and times of hardship and war?

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You’ll read Grow or Die: The Good Guide to Survival Gardening in a few hours and learn what you need to get started on your own survival garden. And when you’re done, you’ll have a head start on your neighbours when the time comes…

 

Even a Small Garden Can Produce a Large Amount of Food

Let’s be honest, not many of us have a spare four acres (or live in a tropical climate). But it is possible to grow nutritious and healthy food in a limited space.

How?

Good focuses on efficiency to maximise the use of your land. He also recommends going for high calorie, starchy carbohydrates such as roots, tubers and curcubits (pumpkins and squash).

Normally I’d tell you to limit these in your diet, but if the world is ending then all bets are off!

In a temperate climate like the UK, it’s relatively easy to grow things like potatoes and other roots. Although I now live in Scotland, I have figs growing in my garden. The further south you are, the more variety and choice you have on what to grow.

this dad does david the good grow or die review

Most people have access to a garden or can get an allotment. You can even grow vegetables in a flat or apartment. I once grew a pumpkin that fruited. When it ripened, I made pumpkin pie and gave some to the people who’d said it wasn’t possible

Once you start to view your garden as a place capable of growing food and supporting crops, you find inspiration easy to come by. You’ll also save money, get some exercise and teach your children about where their food comes from.

Some Conclusions

 

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I read Grow or Die in a few hours. Good’s style is witty and easy to digest.

 

Already having an interest in gardening and self sufficiency, I knew this would be a book I would enjoy. It’s written in a fun and friendly style and will give you a few laughs as well as some great ideas and knowledge.

You can read this book through and then use it as a reference guide as you grow your own survival garden, ready for when the worst happens.

Order on Amazon

P.S. If you have an unusual garden or tips on how to get your kids interested in food growing, leave a comment or send me a message.

About Neil M White

Neil has been writing for a number of years. He has worked as a freelance writer both in the UK and internationally and has worked on a number of high profile media projects. Neil spends his spare time hiking, in the gym or hanging out with his family.

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