Even if you're an expert hunter and have months of shelf-stable food reserves stockpiled for emergencies, it's important to supplement your diet with freshly-grown fruits and vegetables. Home gardening is a great way to produce spinach, peas, tomatoes, herbs, or berries right in your own backyard. These items can add an immense amount of flavor and nutrients to your meals, whether you're surviving the apocalypse or simply trying to make less trips to the grocery store.

Some people assume home gardening requires a large plot of land, complex irrigation system, and expensive equipment for tilling the fields, but it's nowhere near that difficult. In fact, one of the most effective methods for growing at home doesn't even require any soil. Hydroponics uses a water reservoir, suspended grow tray, and low-energy circulation pump to grow fruits and vegetables in a controlled environment. When paired with grow lights, it can even be done indoors or in a dark garage or shed.

The following infographic from GreenandVibrant.com explains the advantages of hydroponic gardening, the elements to a growing setup, and analyzes the pros and cons of six different growing systems. It also recommends a few types of produce to start growing. Click here to download a full-size version of this infographic.

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Once you've got the art of hydroponic growing down, you can use the fresh produce to make your own soups or as part of home-canned sauces and stews.

Written by Patrick McCarthy