“Survival Gardening: Grow your own emergency food supply from seed to root cellar” by Sam Coffman. Story Pub. 2025.
Review by Josephine Norton
Curiosity led me to read this book but I had decided it was too far out in its recommendations for a community organization like ours. Then came a discussion with a friend who has just retired as head of food security for the United Nations, in which he forecast difficult times ahead for Canada. Afterwards on the news this morning I heard that Loblaws are reporting pre-tariff stocks of food in their warehouses are quickly being depleted! So maybe we should, after all, take a look at the recommendations of this author.
Firstly, he takes a look at crops that can be grown and harvested quickly. Like micro greens and food that can be harvested in 5-6 weeks. Fortunately for us living in Canada this can be grown on a windowsill. Water harvesting systems are a main feature as is composting. The latter includes a section composting toilets and urine harvesting, as well has the more commonplace methods like compost bins and vermiculture. I’m sure you get the picture. This in the end if a very interesting read and I hope that we never have to take such action, but there is still a lot we can learn that we can apply to our current gardening methods.
Order online at biblioottawalibrary.ca or by calling your local library.
