The Hardiness Zone is based on prior years data and could change in a short time, it can only give a rough estimate of what MIGHT happen with the temp and frost dates.  With this in mind there are ways to make “micro climate zones” that can better guarantee our over all success and survival.

With the recent drastic changes in climate, having a controllable constant growing environment, would be quite beneficial to our over all survival garden.

When the climate changes drastically from Hot to Cold, Wet to dry, Windy to calm it can be a real daily problem of keeping plants cool enough, warm enough to mature and out of damaging winds.  We can help regulate these fluctuations to some degree with natural occurring  rocks and stones to help regulate temperatures, bamboo and cane for shade from the hot sun and for wind breaks, mulch from tree leaves to help conserve moisture,  and inter plantings of insect repelling plants.

If we can learn to use these procedures now, we will be ahead of the game when all the hardware stores are gone and there is NOT anymore plastic sheeting, glass, bags of manure, mulch and potting soil and all the other things we can run and buy now for our mini greenhouses.

Our greenhouses after a major disaster, would be made from natural occurring building materials such as: cane/bamboo bent over to form a frame, branches added/removed to form a shelter from sun/wind/pests and rocks to cool and warm the soil with.

If even a small percentage of the current predictions were to come true, we need to be mentally prepared to know what will work and what our options are.  Time wasted “trying to find out” IF it will work is spending less time on growing food successfully. This could lead to some major hunger pains.

As you look at your Hardiness zone, consider ways to make “mirco climate zones” that will extend your zone up and down now.  If you plant on the south side of a structure, what would the zone be?  North side of structure?  Pay attention to where the heavy frost settles in low areas.  While also keeping in mind the added wind factor on hills…

No matter where you choose to “rough it out” after a disaster, your survival will be totally dependent on what you know/learn now.

I believe when we get to our “experimental in ground earth box” section that we can add/subtract several numbers on our hardiness zone…coming soon.