Snow peas in a casual survival garden!

 Snow peas, as pictured here make a wonderful addition to any garden. They are a legume and in so being, add nitrogen to the soil that will enrich crops that come after. Each 100 gram serving yields about 40 calories of energy. Just ten plants, which were seeded in late February, have now yielded close to half a pound of edible pods in late May which makes this plant a good producer in my book! Just make sure to supply a trellis that’s at least five feet high to give them some support! Also, make sure to use heirloom seed and allow a few pods to fully mature so that you have seed to sow in fall or during the early spring!

The case for cherry tomatoes!

Every casual survival garden needs to have one or more cherry tomato plants planted somewhere on their grounds. These plants are prolific and sprawling if given plenty of sun, good soil and water! And, because the plants will produce all summer and fall, you’re assured of  great tasting and nutritious additions to your salads.

Pictured above is a spot I prepared in about 15 minutes using material I had on hand. These tomatoes were originally seeded in starter pots on April the 5^th , and so are about a month old. (That odd tomato in the pot is going to a friend).

While I’ve never figured out how many fruits one plant can make over the course of the summer, I can testify that it’s enough where you can easily share them with neighbors. A true ‘barter item’ that could be exchanged for other fruit grown by other gardeners, especially in difficult times.

In addition to using them in salads, I’ve used these little vitamin C cherry bombs on hamburgers and as part of a delicious salsa. Heck, they’re great all by themselves! I grow some every spring starting in March so their ready for the garden as soon as the weather warms, usually about the end of April or in early May.