Grow a crisis garden: start small with food you actually want to eat
As global uncertainty rises, growing your own food has become a practical skill—and now is the time to start. Whether for self-sufficiency or simple enjoyment, a well-planned “crisis garden” can provide both security and fresh produce, says gardening enthusiast Sigrid Sopel.
“For me, it’s about feeling capable, not fear,” Sopel explains. “Knowing my family could manage if times got tough gives me peace of mind.” A trained chemist, she inherited her passion for gardening from her grandfather and now shares tips daily on social media. Her core advice? “You only need seeds, soil, and the will to begin—no matter how small your space.”
Three key tips for success
1. Keep it simple. Sopel emphasizes that perfection isn’t the goal. “It’s okay to experiment and make mistakes. A pallet planter, a balcony box, or even a repurposed cardboard crate for potatoes can yield great results.” For potatoes, she suggests layering soil in a sturdy box, adding seed potatoes, then topping up with more soil as they grow—a method that works even on balconies.
2. Grow what you’ll eat. “Don’t waste effort on crops you won’t enjoy,” she advises. Her own garden includes spinach, sugar snap peas, carrots, and kale—nutritious, easy-to-grow staples. “Kale is especially valuable: it’s hardy, packed with nutrients, and even kids will eat it if prepared well.”
3. Start now. March is ideal for sowing seeds indoors in Norway. Sopel recommends beginning with hardy greens or herbs, which can later be transplanted outside. “The key is to act—whether you have a sprawling yard or just a windowsill.”
Preparation gaps among young and urban residents
A recent survey by Norway’s Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) reveals that while 47% of pensioners have a one-week emergency supply, only 17% of young adults do. Urban residents are also less prepared: 23% in cities say they could manage a week without resupply, compared to 31% outside cities.
Tore Kamfjord, DSB’s director of expertise, welcomes the trend of home gardening as part of broader preparedness. “Skills like food growing aren’t in our official guidelines, but they’re undeniably useful in a crisis. Preserving your harvest also builds a better emergency stockpile.”
For Sopel, the garden is both a practical resource and a source of joy. “Even in tough times, there’s comfort in watching something grow—and in knowing you can feed yourself.”