How to Start a Survival Garden in 30 Days

The 30-Day Sprint

Most people procrastinate because they think they need a "perfect" plan. In a survival scenario, speed matters more than perfection.

Week 1: Site Selection & Prep

• Analyze Sun: You need 6-8 hours of direct light for calories (potatoes/corn). Leafy greens can take shade, but they won't keep you alive.
• Kill the Grass: Don't till. Tilling wakes up weed seeds. Use "sheet mulching": lay down cardboard over the grass, wet it, and cover with 4 inches of compost/soil.
• Secure Water: Locate your spigots. Buy two 50ft hoses. If the grid is down, where is the water coming from? (See our Off-Grid Watering guide).

Week 2: Soil & Fertility

• Import Calories: If your soil is poor, buy bulk compost. It's the only shortcut that works.
• Amendments: Add bone meal (phosphorus) for roots and blood meal (nitrogen) for growth.
• Build Beds: If using raised beds, construct them now. 4ft wide by 8ft long is standard.

Week 3: Planting the Core

• Potatoes: Plant them deep (6 inches).
• Beans: Direct sow pole beans.
• Corn: Plant in blocks (3x3 minimum), not long rows, for pollination.
• Squash: Mounds of 3 seeds each.

Week 4: Systems Check

• Fencing: If you don't fence it, the deer will eat it. Wireless electric fences or 7ft deer netting.
• Pest Patrol: Start your daily walk. Look for beetle eggs under leaves.
• Log It: Start a notebook. Record what you planted and where.

Next Step: Download the Free Blueprint for the detailed daily checklist.