the most important thing to have if SHTF - my opinion

in the event of SHTF - we need a stockpile of food. we need weapons. we need ammo. we need skills. we need BOL's. or we need to have a plan for bugging-in. we need a community. we need a variety of things. and the experts will tell you all of the most important things that we need.

but to me, since becoming a "prepper", a "semi-survivalist", a "homesteader" - the most important thing that i believe that jambaloney and i need is a very dependable amount of stored seeds, of every variety and kind that we can get our hands on. all of which must be heirloom, organic and GMO-free. we need to learn how to plant those seeds, grow those seeds, and learn how to save those seeds.

if we are willing to store one year's worth of food - then we need to store 1 year's worth of seeds. that's my creed. every time you add to your stockpile of store-bought food, freeze-dried food or whatever - you need to spend the equivalent on seeds that will grow well in your area. in my area, for example, potatoes thrive. last winter, i spent $15 for a 5lb bag of 3 different kinds of potatoes. and i spent that money because the 5 varieties of potatoe seed that i had been saving for 4 years ended up being flooded in the basement! so i paid for more potatoe seed, grew those potatoes and i will save some of those potatoes for seed for next year. and next year - i will pay $0 to replant and grow potatoes - you see where i am going with this?

last year i spent about $4 on 4 different types of radish seeds. again, although i had lovingly coaxed and grew about 6 different kinds over 4 years - those too were lost in the flood. so this year i purchased more and i planted 2 varieties. i let some go to seed and next year i will spend $0 on buying radish seeds.

and the same goes for cabbage, turnip, brussell sprouts, kale, carrot, onion and swiss chard - to name just a few. and these are just examples.

there are companies out there selling "survival seed vaults" and "seed stores" and whatnot - and i cannot speak to whether they are just cashing in on the latest trend or if they are indeed reputable.

i recommend that you find a local source for your seeds - that way you know that those seeds can grow in your area. we are fortunate to have several seed suppliers here in the maritimes.

i may need to purchase some additional seeds in the future - and i will. but right now - instead of investing all of our extra money in food stores - i would prefer to invest our money into seeds. i spent 4 years learning how to grow a variety of seeds and saving seeds, while living in the city, before we were able to move to our BOL - and that was an excellent use of mine and jambaloney's time.

if i could pass on one piece of advice to all of my friends out there - get seeds. another weapon or another package of MH freeze-dried food, in addition to the 5-400 that you already own, does not make any real difference. spend that $300-$500 dollars on investing in seeds that will grow well in your area. and do it now! and learn to grow them and save them! and learn to freeze, can, dry and smoke all of those beautiful veggies, fruits and herbs that come from those seeds.

it is a one or two-time investment. and if you do it right - instead of stockpiling store-bought food - you can start stockpiling your own, homegrown food! and the sooner you learn to do this - the better!

i am not a fan of freeze-dried food, nor am i a fan of MRE's or any of that. i am also not a fan of having 200 cans of campbell's tomatoe soup all marked with purchase dates and expiry dates filling up my pantry. i am a fan of having my own delicious cream of tomatoe soup with basil and parmesan, made from my tomatoes and basil and with local farm-produced parmesan and cream that, after i cook it all together - i can it in my canner. and then line my pantry shelves with that!

and i can do that by saving seed from my heirloom, organic GMO-free seeds from my tomatoes and basil every year. and by having local sources of dairy and meat here less than 20 miles away - i am smooth sailing. and saving a ton of money - a ton!!!

please put some investment into seeds. please.