During the Great Depression, families had to be resourceful to put food on the table. Vegetable gardening became a lifeline, and the survival hacks they used are still valuable today! From growing food in small spaces to natural pest control, these timeless techniques can help you grow a thriving garden with minimal cost.
In this video, we reveal 30 incredible gardening hacks used during the Great Depression that can help you save money, maximize your harvest, and become more self-sufficient!
Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/kdGVL1xu384?sub_confirmation=1
WATCH NEXT:
20 Fine Dining Restaurants From The 1970s: https://youtu.be/a8ugvPLqko8
20 Forgotten Sandwiches That FADED From Your Family Table: https://youtu.be/XtBvCFmkIvI
20 WORST Restaurants From The 1980s: https://youtu.be/eWKEonZhOLQ
21 Old Home Features That Have Faded Into History: https://youtu.be/7Kt1g5yehGs
13 WEIRDEST Home Appliances From The 1970s: https://youtu.be/bmbgACFp1ok
20 Famous Lunches That Have Faded Into History: https://youtu.be/ujS5n8kSe7U
20 Iconic Fast Food Chains That Have Faded Into History: https://youtu.be/_IFBqAEL-KU
DISCLAIMER: All materials in these videos are used for entertainment purposes and fall within the guidelines of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. If you are, or represent, the copyright owner of materials used in this video, and have an issue with the use of said material, please contact us.
some of those who couldn’t find work began riding the rails back in the Great Depression if you wanted food you had to grow it yourself or risk going hungry there were no fancy garden centers no chemical fertilizers and definitely no online seed orders people had to get creative resourceful and straight up clever to keep their families fed and guess what a lot of their gardening tricks still work today with food prices rising and unpredictable weather making farming harder these old school packs might just be the secret to saving money and growing a better Garden without spending a fortune so whether you’re looking for ways to improve your backyard garden start growing your own food or just learn how your grandparents did it stick around these 30 Great Depression gardening hacks might just change the way you grow food forever saving seeds from heirloom vegetables all right let’s kick things off with one of the most crucial survival hacks from the Great Depression saving seeds if you think running to the store for seed packets was an option back then think again people had to be smart resourceful and make sure their Gardens could keep producing year after year enter heirloom vegetables unlike today’s hybrid varieties heirloom plants grew true to type meaning if you Sav their seeds you’d get the same crop next season this was a game Cher for families trying to stay self-sufficient they’d carefully dry store and replant seeds from Tomatoes beans squash you name it some even traded seeds with neighbors to keep things interesting and here’s the cool part these survival skills are just as useful today saving seeds doesn’t just save money it also preserves strong adaptable plant varieties that don’t rely on store-bought chemicals to thrive so next time you’re about to toss out a tomato or pepper seed maybe think twice because your grandparents sure did now let’s talk about companion planting companion planting for natural pest control you ever notice how some people just bring out the best in each other well the same goes for plants back in the Great Depression folks didn’t have fancy pesticides they had to get creative that’s where companion planting came in the idea is simple certain plants help each other grow better some repel pests some improve soil health and some even boost each other’s flavors take tomatoes and basil for example basil keeps pests away from Tomatoes while making them taste even better or the classic Trio of corn beans and squash the corn provides support for the beans the beans fix nitrogen in the soil and the Squash keeps weeds down with its big leafy Vines people in the depression didn’t just plant randomly they strategically paired crops to get the most out of their limited space this method is still one of the best ways to Garden naturally without spending a dime on chemicals but hey speaking of budget friendly gardening hacks let’s talk about coffee grounds using using coffee grounds as fertilizer all right listen up your used coffee grounds are basically free plant food and Depression era gardeners knew it instead of tossing them they sprinkled coffee grounds directly into their soil to boost plant growth improve drainage and even keep pests away see coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen phosphorus and potassium all the good stuff plants need they help make the soil more fertile while keeping it moist and well aerated plus slugs and snails they hate caffeine so if your lettuce or strawberries keep getting nibbled on coffee grounds might just be the ultimate natural pest repellent Farmers back in the day didn’t have fancy fertilizers so they used whatever they had and coffee was a gold mine just sprinkle it around your plants or mix it into compost and boom instant nutrient boost and if you think coffee grounds were just a Depression era gardening trick wait until you hear about planting by the phase of the Moon planting by the phases of the moon all right get this your grandparents didn’t just plant whenever they felt like it nope they timed their planting with the moon like it was some kind of cosmic gardening cheat code and honestly they were on to something the idea is simple the moon’s gravitational pull affects moisture levels in the soil just like it affects the tides that means certain phases of the moon are better for planting specific crops during a waxing moon when it’s getting bigger moisture Rises which is perfect for planting above ground crops like lettuce beans and tomatoes a waning moon when it’s shrinking that’s the time for root crops like carrots onions and potatoes people in the Great Depression relied on any trick they could find to get the best harvests with minimal effort and since Moon cycles were free and reliable they swore by it even today some old school Farmers won’t plant unless the Moon is right so if your garden isn’t thriving maybe take a hint from history and let the moon guide your planting schedule and speaking of planting smart let’s talk about growing pole beans on corn stocks because if you’re not using this hack you’re making extra work for yourself growing pole beans on corn stocks Three Sisters method the Great Depression wasn’t a time for wasting resources and people who grew corn knew they could get more food out of the same space with this genius hack using corn stalks as natural trellises for pole beans this method known as the three sisters method came from indigenous farming traditions and was an absolute game changer for struggling families here’s how it works corn grows tall and sturdy no need for expensive trellises beans climb up the corn saving space while fixing nitrogen into the soil which corn desperately needs squash spreads out at the base shading the soil to keep weeds down and moisture in it’s basically Nature’s version of teamwork and the best part it works in almost any backyard garden no wasted space no need for store-bought supports just three crops helping each other Thrive while feeding an entire family and if you think this was the only way people used natural fertilizers back in the day wait until you hear about making liquid fertilizer from manure because yeah even poop had a purpose making liquid fertilizer from manure or compost tea back in the Great Depression store-bought fertilizer izers weren’t an option so people had to get creative enter manure tea and compost tea two budget friendly allnatural fertilizers that kept plants thriving for free manure tea was exactly what it sounds like a bucket of water infused with manure from cows chickens or rabbits the nutrients would seep into the water creating a powerful liquid fertilizer that people used to give their plants an extra boost it was basically a DIY Miracle Grow if you didn’t have livestock no problem people compost tea instead soaking vegetable scraps eggshells and plant waste in water to create a nutrient-rich brew it worked wonders for tomatoes leafy greens and fruiting plants this was gardening at its most resourceful no chemicals no wasted food just free fertilizer made from whatever was on hand and the best part it helped keep soil healthy long term so crops kept producing season after season so if you’re tired of spending money on expensive plant food take a lesson from the past manure and compost tea might just be the budget friendly secret your garden needs and speaking of keeping plants healthy let’s talk about mulching mulching with newspaper or straw to retain moisture water was a precious resource during the Great Depression if you wasted it you might not get more for a while that’s why gardeners got smart with mulching and not with the fancy store-bought stuff we have today nope they used whatever they had newspaper straw old hay even leaves mulch worked like a natural water saving blanket for garden beds by covering the soil it kept moisture in blocked weeds and prevented soil from baking in the hot sun less watering healthier plants and fewer weeds a total win newspaper was a GameChanger because it was free broke down over time and added organic matter to the soil farmers and gardeners would layer sheets of newspaper around plants then weigh them down with straw or leaves straw was even better it insulated plants in Winter and kept the soil cool in summer today this hack still works like magic if you’re tired of constantly Watering your plants or battling weeds just grab some old newspapers or a bail of straw and let nature do the work and speaking of soil hacks let’s talk about using wood ash to enrich soil with potassium using wood ash to enrich soil with potassium imagine tossing out something that could supercharge your garden for free yeah that wasn’t happening during the Great Depression if you had a wood burning stove or fireplace you had a valuable fertilizer right at your fingertips wood ash wood ash is loaded with potassium and calcium two nutrients plants absolutely love gardeners would sprinkle Ash directly into garden beds or mix it into compost piles to balance soil acidity and boost plant Health it was especially great for tomatoes root vegetables and fruit trees all things that were essential for survival gardening but hold up not all Ash is created equal only pure wood ash was useful no charcoal no treated wood no chemicals too much could make the soil too alkaline so people used it sparingly like a natural slow release fertilizer the best part it also repelled pests like slugs and snails just a Sprinkle around plants created a natural barrier that kept those slimy Invaders away so next time you clean out the fireplace don’t trash the ash your plants will thank you and if you think wood ash was a smart gardening hack just wait until you hear about collecting rainwater for irrigation collecting rainwater for irrigation when you’re growing food to survive wasting water is not an option during the Great Depression people collected every drop they could using rainwater to keep their Gardens alive without relying on Wells or city water they’d Place barrels buckets and even old metal tubs under gutters or roofs to catch rain then use it to water their vegetables when things got dry some folks even dug small trenches to direct rainwater toward their plants ensuring nothing went to waste and here’s the kicker rainwater is better for plants than tap water it’s soft free of chemicals like chlorine and naturally packed with nitrogen hello free fertilizer Depression era gardeners knew this which is why every home had some kind of rain collection system today rain barrels might seem old school but they’re still one of the best ways to save money and keep Gardens thriving Plus in places where water restrictions exist using collected rain can be the difference between a dead garden and a full Harvest so if you’re not already saving rainwater take a page from the past and start because when the next drought hits you’ll be glad you did and speaking of survival gardening let’s talk about digging root cellers for vegetable storage digging root sellers for vegetable storage back in the Great Depression Refrigeration wasn’t an option for most folks if you wanted fresh vegetables in the Deb of winter you had two choices can it or store it in a root seller and let me tell you root sellers were a lifesaver a root seller is exactly what it sounds like a cool underground storage space where vegetables like potatoes carrots beets onions and cabbage could stay fresh for months the Earth naturally kept the temperature and humidity stable preventing food from spoiling boing too quickly people dug simple pits lined them with straw or sawdust and covered them with a wooden lid or tarp others built more elaborate underground rooms with shelves and ventilation some even used old barrels buried in the ground talk about resourcefulness why did this work because root crops don’t need a fancy fridge they just need a dark cool slightly humid place to slow down rot and here’s the kicker this method still works today if you’ve got a basement garage or backyard you can easily recreate a mini Root Cellar and store veggies for months without electricity and speaking of using every resource wisely let’s talk about using fish scraps using fish scraps as fertilizer imagine tossing out something that could supercharge your garden for free yeah that wasn’t happening during the Great Depression if you caught fish you used every part of it including the scraps because fish remains were packed with nutrients that plants loved instead of buying fancy fertilizer which wasn’t an option anyway people buried fish heads bones and guts directly in their garden beds as the fish decomposed it released nitrogen phosphorus and calcium all essential for plant growth corn Farmers especially swore by this trick to get bigger healthier crops this wasn’t a new idea either indigenous peoples had been using fish as fertilizer for centuries the method worked so well that some people still use it today except now it’s called organic gardening of course fish scraps smell big time so smart gardeners buried them deep to avoid attracting unwanted Critters some even fermented the scraps in water for a few weeks creating a liquid fertilizer that could be poured around plants so if you ever find yourself with leftover fish Parts don’t toss them your Tomatoes will thank you and if you think that was smart just wait until you hear about burying kitchen scraps directly in garden beds burying kitchen scraps directly in garden beds before compost bins were a thing people still composted they just did it straight in their Gardens instead of tossing food scraps in the trash they buried them directly in the soil creating a nutrient-rich environment for plants to thrive this method called trench composting was as easy as it gets you dug a hole dumped in things like vegetable peels eggshells coffee grounds and even old bread then covered it up with dirt over time the scraps broke down naturally feeding the soil without the need for expensive fertilizers people were careful not to bury anything too greasy or meat-based because well raccoons exist but outside of that everything biodegradable went right back into the Earth this method improved soil texture retained moisture and helped plants grow bigger and stronger the best part it was free and effortless you didn’t need a fancy compost bin just a shovel and a few minutes of effort and honestly it’s still one of the simplest most effective gardening hacks today so next time you’re about to throw away carrot peels or coffee grounds consider giving your garden a boost instead and speaking of growing food in creative ways let’s talk about growing potatoes in barrels or boxes because space saving was a survival skill back then growing potatoes in barrels or boxes all right picture this you’re living through the Great Depression and food is scarce you don’t have a massive Garden fancy tools or time to fuss over finicky crops but you still need to eat the solution potatoes grown in barrels boxes or even sacks this method was a GameChanger for families with limited space because it let them grow a huge harvest in a tiny footprint instead of spreading potatoes out in rows people layered soil and potato starts in tall containers gradually adding more soil as the plants grew by the time they were ready to harvest the entire Barrel or box would be full of potatoes from top to bottom this wasn’t just efficient it also protected potatoes from pests and harsh weather plus harvesting was as easy as tipping the container over and grabbing armfuls of fresh spuds instead of digging for hours if you’ve got a barrel a bag or even an old laundry basket you can grow a ridiculous amount of potatoes in almost no space who needs a whole farm when you can grow dinner on your back porch now let’s let’s talk about creating shade with old sheets creating shade with old sheets to prevent sunscorch ever had your garden fried to a crisp in the summer heat yeah people in the Great Depression dealt with that too but instead of expensive shade cloth they got creative with old sheets burlap sacks and even tattered curtains when temperature soared farmers and home gardeners draped lightweight fabric over plants or strung it up between wooden Stakes to block the harsh midday Sun this simple trick prevented delicate crops from wilting stopped soil from drying out too fast and kept fruits and vegetables from scorching some even dunked the fabric in water before hanging it up turning it into a DIY evaporative cooling system what’s Wild is that this hack is still genius today if you’re dealing with a brutal Heat Wave don’t let your plants suffer grab an old bed sheet and make some shade no need for fancy gardening stores when you’ve got Depression era wisdom on your side and speaking of repurposing everyday items let’s get into using eggshells to deter slugs and snails using eggshells to deter slugs and snails slugs and snails might be small but they can wipe out an entire Garden overnight back in the Great Depression people weren’t buying fancy Pest Control they used what they had and what they had was eggshells instead of tossing them out gardeners crushed eggshells into sharp little pieces and sprinkled them around their plants the broken shells formed a jagged barrier that slugs and snails hated crawling over saving crops from being eaten alive bonus as the shells broke down they added calcium to the soil which was great for crops like tomatoes and peppers that needed a little extra boost so next time you make scrambled eggs don’t toss the shells your plants will thank you for it and if you thought this was a smart Pest Control trick wait until you hear about interplanting strong smelling herbs interplanting strong smelling herbs to repel pest Garden pests were a nightmare during the Great Depression with no money for store-bought pesticides people had to get creative and that’s where herbs came in turns out some plants are natural pest repellents and planting them alongside veggies was like installing an all natural security system marigolds basil rosemary mint and chives all pest fighting powerhouses people would tuck basil next to their tomatoes to keep aphids away grow rosemary around cabbage to ward off moths and plant mint near carrots to scare off hungry insects not only did this protect their crops but they also got fresh herbs for cooking at the same time and here’s the kicker this method actually made the vegetables taste better some herbs like basil enhanced the flavor of their plant neighbors proving that companion planting wasn’t just practical it was genius so if bugs are munching through your garden don’t reach for chemicals just plant some herbs and let nature handle the problem speaking of natural gardening hacks let’s talk about staking tomatoes with old wooden branches staking tomatoes with old wooden branches tomatoes are notorious drama queens without support they flop over rot on the ground and attract pests but during the Great Depression people weren’t running to the store for metal cages or plastic staks nope they used old wooden branches from their own backyards it was a simple free and genius solution instead of letting their tomato plants collapse gardeners would scavenge sturdy sticks from fallen tree branches sharpen one end and drive them into the soil next to their plants then they’d tie the vines Loosely with strips of cloth or twine keeping them upright and healthy this wasn’t just about looks staking Tomatoes meant better air circulation fewer diseases and bigger juicier harvests and since they weren’t spending a dime on supplies it was a win-win the best part this trick still works today next time you need tomato steaks skip the garden center and go grab some branches instead and if you think that’s a smart DIY solution wait until you hear about making natural insecticide from soap and water making natural insecticide from soap and water when pests invaded Great Depression Gardens people didn’t waste money on Commercial Bug Killers they fought back with soap and water that’s right something as simple as a mild soap solution was enough to wipe out aphids spidermites and other plant- destroying insects the recipe 1 tbsp of natural soap mixed into a quart of water spray it on the leaves and boom bugs gone the soap messed with their outer shells dehydrating them without harming the plants and here’s the cool part people didn’t just use this trick on vegetables they sprayed it on rose bushes fruit trees and even indoor plants keeping their crops pest free without chemicals of course they weren’t out here dumping laundry detergent on their Gardens only mild non-toxic soaps work like Castile or homemade lie soap anything stronger could damage the plants this trick was so effective that modern organic gardeners still swear by it so next time you see aphids throwing a party in your garden grab some soap and shut it down Great Depression style and speaking of battling pests let’s move on to trapping cabbage worms with a vinegar spray trapping cabbage worms with a vinegar spray if you’ve ever grown cabbage you know the struggle one day it’s fine the next it’s swiss cheese thanks to those sneaky cabbage worms but during the Great Depression people weren’t about to lose their crops to a bunch of hungry caterpillars their secret weapon vinegar this simple homemade spray was the ultimate budget friendly Pest Control just mix one part vinegar to three parts water add a few drops of soap and spray it right onto the leaves the vinegar acidity disrupted the worms digestive systems while the soap helped it stick to their bodies the result no more cabbage munching Invaders gardeners use this trick not just on cabbage but also kale broccoli and other leafy greens it was safe effective and best of all cheap plus unlike modern pesticides it didn’t introduce harmful chemicals into the soil but cabbage wasn’t the only plant that needed help next let’s talk about planting deep rooted crops to break up hard soil because sometimes plants had to do the heavy lifting themselves planting deep rooted crops to break up hard soil back in the Great Depression Farmers didn’t have fancy tillers or expensive soil treatments instead they let their crops do the hard work for them when soil got too compacted for planting people didn’t break their backs trying to fix it they just planted Dee rooted crops like daon radishes turnips or parsnips to naturally loosen the ground these plants sent their long tap rout straight down into the tough soil breaking it apart as they grew once har vested the loose soil was perfectly aerated and ready for the next crop this trick was a lifesaver for struggling Farmers with dry clay packed land that wouldn’t hold water properly instead of wasting time digging they planted crops that did the job for them while also providing food speaking of giving plants a boost let’s talk about using Epsom salt for magnesium deficient plants using epom salt for magnesium deficient plants when plants looked sickly and stunted during the Great Depression people didn’t rush to the store for fancy fertilizers they reached for something cheap and easy Epsom salt Epsom salt isn’t actually salt it’s magnesium sulfate and plants love it magnesium helps with chlorophyll production meaning Greener leaves stronger stems and better fruit production tomatoes peppers and Roses in particular thrived when given an Epsom salt boost the trick gardeners dissolved a tablespoon of Epsom salt in a gallon of water and used it as a foler spray or soil drench once a month the results Lush Vibrant Plants that produced more food even in poor soil some Farmers even sprinkled it directly into planting holes giving seeds An Early Head Start and since Epsom salt was Dirt Cheap it became a Depression era gardening staple even today this hack still works wonders if your plants look pale weak or just off a little Epsom salt might be the secret ingredient they need and speaking of working smarter not harder let’s move on to growing gr vertically to maximize small spaces growing vertically to maximize small spaces if you didn’t have Acres of Farmland during the Great Depression you had to get creative that’s why vertical gardening became a lifesaver for families working with tiny yards back alleys or even just a few pots on a porch instead of planting everything in flat rows people grew beans cucumbers squash and tomatoes up trellises fences and even repurposed furniture anything with a frame old ladders wooden pallets spare wire became a DIY plant support the benefits huge more food in less space better air circulation and fewer pests since crops weren’t sitting on the ground some people even trained Vining plants up the sides of their homes to save space while keeping their walls shaded and cool and let’s be real this method is just as smart today if you’re working with a small yard or a cramped balcony grow up instead of out you’ll be shocked if at how much food you can produce when you start thinking vertically and speaking of working with nature instead of against it let’s talk about rotating crops to prevent soil depletion rotating crops to prevent soil depletion in the Great Depression every bit of soil mattered people couldn’t afford to let their Gardens turn into nutrient depleted wastelands so they relied on crop rotation a simple trick that kept the land productive year after year the concept never plant the same crop in the same spot 2 years in a row if you grew corn in one bed you followed it up the next year with beans which restored nitrogen then maybe leafy greens or root vegetables before returning to Corn this natural cycle replenished the soil cut down on pests and boosted overall plant Health all without chemical fertilizers this trick wasn’t just for big farms even backyard gardens benefited people mapped out their plantings ensuring each season’s crops improve the soil for the next the result healthier plants bigger harvests and soil that stayed fertile without extra costs it’s a trick that still works today if your garden isn’t thriving maybe it just needs a break and a little strategic crop rotation and while we’re on the subject of soil Health let’s talk about creating hot beds with decomposing manure for early planting creating hot beds with decomposing manure for early planting waiting for spring to warm up the soil that wasn’t an option during the Great Depression people needed food ASAP so they used hot beds an old school trick that let them start planting weeks earlier by harnessing the natural heat of decomposing manure the process was simple they dig a shallow pit fill it with a thick layer of fresh manure then cover it with a few inches of soil as the manure broke down it released heat warming the soil above and allowing gardeners to plant sooner than their neighbors some built wooden cold frames or glass covers over the hot beds trapping even more warmth and creating a mini greenhouse effect this meant they could start lettuce carrots radishes and other early crops long before their fields were ready and guess what this still works if you want a head start on your spring planting consider using an old school hot bed it’s Nature’s original heating pad for plants but speaking of turning waste into gold let’s move on to fermenting weeds into a nutrient-rich compass tea because even the useless plants had a job to do fermenting weeds into a nutrient-rich compost tea most people see weeds as a nuisance but during the Great Depression they were free fertilizer instead of yanking them out and tossing them aside people turned them into compost tea a liquid gold for their Gardens the process was ridiculously simple they take weeds like dandelions Clover and chickweed shove them into a barrel or bucket fill it with water and let it sit for a few weeks as the plant broke down they released valuable nutrients especially nitrogen into the water the result a powerful allnatural fertilizer that cost nothing and worked wonders once the tea was ready gardeners diluted it with water and poured it around their plants giving them an instant nutrient boost Tomatoes corn and leafy greens thrived on this stuff and because it was made from local weeds it naturally contain the exact nutrients the soil was missing and if you think that was clever wait until you hear about preser presing seeds in jars with dry rice for longevity preserving seeds in jars with dry rice for longevity imagine growing a perfect tomato one summer then realizing you couldn’t afford seeds for next year that wasn’t happening during the Great Depression people saved their own seeds and they had a genius way of keeping them fresh dry rice here’s how it worked after carefully drying seeds from Tomatoes beans squash or corn people would store them in glass jars with a handful of uncooked rice why because rice absorbs moisture keeping seeds dry and viable for years this trick prevented mold rot and early sprouting meaning families had a reliable seed supply season after season some even labeled their jars with the date and plant variety creating their own mini seed banks it wasn’t just about saving money it was about survival if you lost your seeds you lost next year’s food supply so people treated them like gold now let’s talk about using cardboard or old rugs as weed barriers because back then people found a use for everything using cardboard or old rugs as weed barriers weeding is every Gardener’s worst nightmare but during the Great Depression people didn’t have time to pull weeds all day their solution smother them using whatever they had cardboard old rugs even worn out blankets the method was simple but brilliant lay down a thick layer of cardboard or fabric over the garden bed then cover it with a bit of dirt straw or compost with no sunlight getting through weeds couldn’t Sprout meanwhile the cardboard and fabric slowly broke down enriching the soil underneath this trick saved time saved water since bare soil dries out faster and made gardening way easier plus it gave old materials a second life instead of sending them to the trash people use this method for Pathways vegetable rows and even flower beds some even repurposed old carpet scraps though they had to make sure they weren’t made of synthetic materials and you know what this hack still slaps today if you’re tired of weeding skip the chemicals grab some cardboard and let nature do the work and speaking of making things easier let’s move on to making hand pollinators from feathers or cotton swabs making hand pollinators from feathers or cotton swabs imagine working hard to grow food only to realize your plants aren’t producing because there aren’t enough bees around that was a real problem during the Great Depression so gardeners found a way to pollinate crops by hand the trick using feathers or cotton swabs to transfer pollen from one flower to another it was basically DIY B work people would gently brush the inside of one flower picking up pollen then dusted onto another Blossom just like nature intended this was a lifesaver for plants like tomatoes squash cucumbers and fruit trees that rely on pollinators it also guaranteed better yields which meant more food on the table and because not everyone had access to bees or butterflies this method gave gardeners more control over their Harvest even today this technique is used in green houses small Urban Gardens and places where pollinators are scarce so if you ever notice your plants flowering but not producing fruit grab a feather Channel your inner bee and make it happen and speaking of smart gardening tricks let’s talk about spreading crushed charcoal to improve soil drainage because back then even ashes had a purpose spreading crushed charcoal to improve soil drainage soil that holds too much water can drown plant roots and ruin an entire crop but during the Great Depression people didn’t have fancy soil mixes they had wood stoves and from those stoves they got charcoal crushed charcoal wasn’t just a waste product it was a secret weapon for improving drainage by mixing small pieces into the soil gardeners kept the dirt loose and aerated preventing water from pooling around delicate Roots it was especially useful for root vegetables herbs and fruit trees that needed well- draining soil but that’s not all charcoal also helped balance soil PH absorb toxins and retain nutrients some gardeners even used it in compost piles to keep odors down and boost decomposition the best part it was free if you burned wood for heat or cooking you already had a natural soil conditioner ready to go and guess what charcoal is still used today in biochar one of the hottest Trends in sustainable gardening so next time you clean out a fire pit don’t throw away those ashes your garden will love them now let’s talk about timing planting with the first and last frost dates because guessing when to plant could mean the difference between a feast and a failure timing planting with the first and last frost dates plant too early Frost kills everything plant too late you miss the growing season back in the Great Depression people didn’t have weather apps or fancy almanacs so they had to learn Nature’s signals for planting they watched for signs like tree buds swelling Birds migrating and frogs coming out of hibernation some even used old sayings like plant corn when oak leaves are the size of a squirrel’s ear these weren’t just superstitions they were practical wisdom based on generations of farming experience knowing the first and last frost dates was critical because one wrong move could mean a ruined crop and an empty Pantry family kept records of frost patterns from year to year passing that knowledge down so future Generations could plant with confidence and honestly this hack still works today instead of relying solely on a calendar pay attention to Nature it might just tell you everything you need to know about when to start planting and with that we’ve covered 30 survival gardening tricks that kept families fed during the Great Depression these weren’t just cool ideas or helpful tips they were the difference between a full pantry and going hungry what’s is that so many of these tricks still work today so next time you’re planting a garden think like a Great Depression Survivor use what you have work with nature don’t waste a single resource who knows these gardening hacks might just save you money help your plants Thrive and even make you feel a little more connected to history if you found these tips helpful don’t forget to like subscribe and hit that Bell so you never miss another Deep dive into forgotten survival skills thanks for watching and happy plan planting
1 Comment
ai garbage script