Climate change, nuclear war, asteroid, solar superstorm, extraterrestrial attack, zombie invasion. Choose whichever flavor you want, but one thing is certain: the possibility of an apocalyptic event compatible with the extinction of the human species will never completely disappear. There are many people out there who believe they are prepared for the end of modern civilization, however, they usually overlook a very important detail: plant cultivation. The plant world offers us food, medicine, and basic resources for survival, but the question is: where do we begin?
The British company The Greenhouse People (which sells greenhouses) shared an infographic with data based on recommendations from the Royal Horticultural Society, and other sources across the Web. These recommendations are divided into four categories: Food, with a selection of fruits and vegetables; Medicine, mainly to relieve pain and disinfect; Air Purification to keep certain chemicals at bay; and Other Uses, with slightly more versatile options than normal.
Some of the plants mentioned here raise many doubts, but others seem to be heading in the right direction. Take what you need, compare with other similar works, gather information, and the rest... you know.
Food
- Potato, rich in carbohydrates, versatile, and can be stored during winter
- Tomato, can be grown year-round in a greenhouse, space efficient
- Bean, rich in protein, restores nitrogen in soil, can be dried and stored during winter
- Cabbage, can be grown in winter, very valuable nutritionally
- Pumpkin, can be grown in winter
- Broccoli, can be grown in winter, high yield, great nutritional value, efficient
- Avocado, rich in fats (Editor's note: its water consumption is enormous)
- Apple, high yield, nutritional value (Editor's note: you need the tree)
Medicine
- Cinchona/Quinine, treatment and prevention of malaria
- Willow, its bark creates salicin, and by extension salicylic acid (aspirin)
- Thyme, contains thymol, antiseptic and fungicide
- Dandelion, diuretic, antidiscratic (combats constipation)
- Cannabis, relieves chronic pain and migraines, has anticancer properties, and more
Air Purification
- Peace Lily, filters benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia. Toxic to pets.
- Chrysanthemums, alternative to peace lily, same toxicity to pets.
- Liriope, its filtration is less potent, but not toxic to pets.
- Gerbera, with similar filtration properties to peace lily.
Other Uses
- Onion, edible, insect repellent, combats pests on other plants
- Nettle, its stem is used to make thread, its leaves are edible, prepared as tea, and end up as fertilizer
- Mullein (Verbascum), its dry stem can be used to make fire by friction, other sources suggest using its leaves as "toilet paper"
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