The actions and proposals of the leftist loonies in Washington has many of us scared for the future, and one of the results of this fear is the rise of survivalism. While I don’t think we are headed for a complete anarchy situation along the lines of “Mad Max”, I do think some common sense preparations for possible trouble ahead would be appropriate. I even discussed this idea last year when oil prices went through the roof. That post can give you some thoughts on reasonable preparations to make, the types of things that are grandparents did - not because they were scared of some threat but because they knew it made sense to prepare for a rainy day. The Survival Podcast and the forums on that site are also a great resource for a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

That said, I heard an advertisement on the radio this morning that I think is going off the deep end. During the Glenn Beck radio show this morning, there was an ad for a product called “The Survival Seed Bank“, which claims to offer enough non-hybrid seeds to plant a full acre crisis garden. But hold on to your tin foil hats, because according to the ad the “global elite” are cryogenically storing non-hybrid seeds in the Arctic. Additionally, seeds are being touted as having the potential to be better investments than gold and silver, and it is claimed that seeds have outperformed gold and silver in this country in the past. The ad ends with a reminder that in a true crisis situation seeds would be “the ultimate barter item.” 

The argument for having some seed to be able to plant a garden is a good one, however I wonder if people who buy this product are buying this for any other reason than fear and if they really know what to do with the seeds they are purchasing. A few things to think about:

1. Do you know anything about gardening so you could make the most of these seeds? Gardening isn’t as easy as just putting the seed in the ground and watching it grow. You have to know when and where to plant the seeds, and the when varies based on what part of the country you are in. It is often said that your first garden is an expensive venture as so many of your plants fail as you learn how to care for the plants.
2. Are you planning to use these seeds in the next year or two? If you are planning to store these seeds for the long term, you may be sorely disappointed. Germination rates for most seeds tend to drop off sharply after two years of storage.
3. Would your family eat all the crops from the seeds included in the package, or would all the seeds even grow? Some seeds just won’t grow in some parts of the country. And if the crop isn’t something your family likes, wouldn’t it be better to put together your own package of seeds based on your family’s tastes?
4. Do you have the tools and supplies to create and tend a garden? Those seeds won’t do you much good without basic garden tools or a place to plant the seeds.
5. Is this really the best investment you can make if a crisis is coming? The barter idea just cracks me up. Unless you have a ready supply of everything else you may need to support yourself (including tools, building supplies, hygenie items, etc.), you would be better off buying things you would actually need for yourself rather than buying seeds with the idea you can barter them later.

I’m not saying don’t buy this, but know what you are buying and think any preparations you make through. Don’t just buy this and put it in a closet so you can sleep better at night under the dilussion this will make you ready for the end of the world.