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    Hidden: Prepper's Secret Edible Garden: SHTF, #3
    Hidden: Prepper's Secret Edible Garden: SHTF, #3
    Hidden: Prepper's Secret Edible Garden: SHTF, #3
    Ebook193 pages1 hour

    Hidden: Prepper's Secret Edible Garden: SHTF, #3

    By Jill b.

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    About this ebook

    Do you need to hide your edible garden from the prying eyes of neighbors?
    How do you hide food growing in plain sight?
    In this book, you will learn about 10 plants that are not only ornamental but are edible as well. Supplement your prepper food stash with fresh, renewable food sources while beautifying your garden with plants that will grow in most of North America!
    But, there's no need to wait until SHTF. Learn how to enjoy eating these plants today with almost 40 recipes that are included in this book. Buy this book to learn how you can start growing "hidden" food today!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAbundant Publishing
    Release dateJul 4, 2016
    ISBN9781533790095
    Hidden: Prepper's Secret Edible Garden: SHTF, #3
    Author

    Jill b.

    Self-Reliance -- One Step at a Time Get free e-books at http://byjillb.com Reliance on one job. Reliance on the agri-industrial food system. Are you ready to break free, take control and to rely on yourself? With a no-nonsense style,  Jill Bong draws from her own homesteading experiences and mistakes, and writes books focusing on maximizing output with minimal input to save you time and money. Jill was born and raised in a country with one of highest population densities in the world. Dreaming of chickens and fruit trees, she left the trappings of the big city and is setting up her homestead in an American town with a population of less than 300. Jill writes under the pen name Jill b. She is an author, entrepreneur, homesteader and is the co-inventor and co-founder of Chicken Armor (http://chickenarmor.com), an affordable, low maintenance chicken saddle. She has also written over a dozen books on homesteading and self-reliance. Jill has been mentioned/quoted in various publications including The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Denver Post and ABC News. She has written for various magazines including Countryside and Small Stock Journal, Molly Green, Farm Show Magazine and Backyard Poultry Magazine. She holds an Engineering degree from an Ivy League from a previous life. At its height, her previous homestead included over 100 chickens, geese and ducks, as well as cats, a dog, bees and a donkey named Elvis. She currently learning permaculture techniques to apply to her homestead in rural Oregon. Learn more by visiting her site http://byjillb.com.

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      Book preview

      Hidden - Jill b.

      The statements in this book have not been evaluated by the FDA. This book not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

      CAUTION:

      PURCHASE EDIBLE VARIETIES FROM REPUTABLE COMPANIES TO PLANT IN YOUR PREPPER GARDEN. It is important to note that certain species of the plant are edible while others are toxic. In other cases, some plants may be entirely edible while only certain parts of others are edible.

      Ensure that you are harvesting the correct portion of the plant, at the correct time and preparing it correctly before consuming. This book for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a professional healthcare provider before trying any form of therapy or if you have any questions or concerns about a medical condition. Natural and edible products can be toxic if misused. When suitably used, certain individuals could have adverse reactions. Please be mindful when consuming new foods, especially if you have sensitivities.

      Introduction

      Need to hide some edible plants in plain sight? This book offers some suggestions.

      Unfortunately, most Americans have become so far removed from food sources that many would probably not recognize food in its original form. The plus side to this is that you can take advantage of this ignorance.

      This book is written in the same vein as the previous books in this SHTF series, Foraging—A Beginner’s Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants and Medicinal Herb Gardening—10 Plants for the Self-Reliant Homestead Prepper (http://byjillb.com).

      Instead of trying to cover a wide range of edible plants that can be disguised as landscaping plants, I have chosen ten plants for these traits: ease of cultivation in most of the Continental US (because who wants to tend to fussy plants when SHTF?), the low risk of the plant being recognized as a food crop, versatility as a food crop and visual appeal.

      There are many good books written on edible plants but I can’t think of any that have curated plants in this manner. Why only focus on ten plants? Because if you’re like me, you’re probably not going to plant 500 edible plants in your yard. Ten is a nice round number which hopefully, will help to prevent analysis paralysis.

      These plant suggestions may also help preppers and/or homesteaders wish to grow some food in their front yard but need to stay compliant with their Homeowner’s Association (HOA) covenants or city ordinances. City ordinances or HOA covenants vary and can change over time. I do not know any of them so please do your own due diligence before planting any of these plants on your property.

      Of course, in a dire SHTF situation, none of these plants would likely adequately feed someone. These plants should be seen as supplemental food than can provide a more variety to your other food prep.

      Amaranth

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      Amaranth

      Native to the Americas, Amaranth has dozens of species which fall under botanical genus name, Amaranthus. The name comes from the Greek word amarantos, which means unfading flowers for its long-lasting blooms. Amaranth is also known as Love-Lies-Bleeding.

      Because of the many varieties that exist, Amaranth can be wild or cultivated, bushy or spindly, ranging in heights from 3 to 10 feet. There are weed varieties, showy ornamental varieties, vegetable varieties and grain varieties. The grains can vary in color from green to red to orange to deep yellow. The plant will grow under a variety of conditions and climates and is one of the few plants that will tolerate drought, high heat and humidity. While there are no poisonous varieties, their palatability will vary so I recommend planting varieties bred for their edibility.

      For ease, I will refer to it as a grain, although Amaranth is technically a pseudograin. An annual or short-lived perennial, it is an ancient, nutritious crop that can be used as both a leafy vegetable as well as a high-protein grain. It may be used as a forage crop and has even been used to treat toothache and fevers.

      Choose the variety that will suit your needs and climate. Most varieties require a long growing season and may not mature completely in climates with a shorter season. There are at least two varieties though, Love-Lies-Bleeding Red Amaranth and Opopeo-Amaranth, that have a shorter maturity time of 60 days.

      In more temperate climates, where maximum temperatures do not exceed 90°F, you might want to consider growing Quinoa, which is also part of the Amaranth family, instead. Amaranth is not frost-tolerant while Quinoa resists light frosts, especially if the soil is dry. However, high heat and warm nights will inhibit the fruit from setting. Cultivars like Cherry Vanilla and Brightest Brilliant have pretty, colorful edible seed as well as edible greens which taste similar to its close relative, Lamb’s Quarters. 

      According to Alternative Field Crops Manual by the University of Wisconsin and University of Minnesota Extension Service, Amaranth can produce over 1000 pounds of grain per acre in the upper Midwest, though a portion of this grain yield may be lost in harvesting. Amaranth’s rapid growth, high rate of seed production, reproductive prowess, relative ease of cultivation, high nutritive properties, culinary versatility, visual appeal and the relatively low risk of it being identified as a food crop make it an excellent addition to your secret prepper food garden.

      Cultivation

      Because Amaranthus is a widely adapted genus, it can be grown in most of the US as long as the growing season is long enough. In regions with a shorter growing season, the Amaranth may not be able to reach complete maturity before killing frosts arrive. In such cases, Amaranth can still be harvested for their greens.

      Amaranth is adapted to slightly acidic to slightly basic (pH 6.5 to 7.5) soils. It prefers to grow in full sun and in rich, well-drained loamy soil but will grow in average soil. It will not, however, perform well in heavy clay and/or poorly aerated soils.

      It’s best to direct sow your seeds but in areas with shorter growing seasons, start them indoors because Amaranth is susceptible to frost. Start your seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. For direct sowing, plant the seeds after danger of frost has passed and when the soil has began to warm up (around 65°F).

      The planting bed should be weeded before planting. If the soil is dry, water it before planting the seeds. Because the seeds are very small, you will need to have a firm, fine seedbed. Depending on the soil texture and moisture during planting, the seeds should be planted at no deeper than 1/4 inch deep. Cover lightly with soil. Another way to simplify the sowing process and to avoid having to thin seedlings considerably is to mix the seeds with sand before sowing.

      Be sure to keep the planting bed weed free, especially in the beginning. Amaranth will tolerate some crowding so thin the seedlings to about 10-12" apart. Continue to discourage weed by mulching. If the soil is moist enough, do not water until the seedlings have reached the 2-3 leaf stage. Growth is slow in the first few weeks but once the Amaranth reaches about a foot tall, it starts to grow quickly, crowding weeds out.

      Potential Problems

      Amaranth suffers from few major diseases. However,  young seedlings may suffer from damping-off in overcrowded conditions or in instances where the soil is high in water content and low in temperature. You can prevent this problem but removing these environmental conditions.

      Flea beetles, Amaranth weevils, leafrollers and tarnished plant bugs are all potential insect pests. Flea beetles and adult Amaranth weevils will damage the leaves, while larval amaranth weevils will cause the stems and roots to rot. Tarnished plant bugs affect the Amaranth seed-fill. Use Pyrethrin to kill these pests.

      Harvesting

      You can harvest the Amaranth leaves at any time, preferably before the plant flowers. The young leaves are milder and more tender while the older leaves are better cooked. They can be prepared in the same manner as you would prepare spinach leaves. The stems are also edible although the older stems need to be peeled, which is not necessarily worth the effort.

      Amaranth buds are edible but if you are looking to harvest the grain, let the plant flower. The leaves are can still be eaten but the

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