Our homes may just feel like bunkers with Netflix at the moment, but there is a long tradition in this country of growing a “Victory Garden” during times of economic hardship and food scarcity. And beyond just beans, which of course, should be a staple for any survivalist garden, here are some overlooked additions which are beautiful and medicinal, which will nourish not just your body, but your spirit as well. So these are plants that I nominate for Stay Home Garden Joy Max status.

Borage

In ancient times, borage was thought to have the ability to bestow happiness and comfort upon a person and drive away melancholia. The herb has long been associated with courage, probably due to the fact that it contains large amounts of potassium in the form of nitrate of potash, which stimulates the adrenal glands. Known as a favorite by chefs, it’s a must grow for anyone that loves to cook or who now has tons of time to get gourmet in the kitchen. The little blue (and sometimes pink!) star-shaped flowers have a light, cucumber flavor and look beautiful sprinkled on salads or in fancy cocktails. And file under I hope I don’t need to know this but: the leaves can be dried into a tea that can be used to bring down a fever. It gets dramatically large, so try to keep in the back corner of the garden. It re-seeds so easily you will only need to plant it once. Bees absolutely love this plant. It’s Joy Max all the way.

Oregano

This commonly used kitchen spice is also a powerful, anti-viral tonic (at least anecdotally, don’t sue me.) It is perennial, easy-to-grow, beautiful, and drought-tolerant. We have been using oil of oregano for years in our household whenever we feel like we may be coming down with something. My husband discovered the remedy when filming for weeks with a small crew in a cold location. Everyone took it as soon as they started feeling a slight sore throat, and no one ever got sick.

Chives

Who knew chives contain an organic compound called quercetin, which is good for heart health and has been recommended by doctors as a wellness regimen in these time, and they are just a beautiful, easy-to-grow, must have for any kitchen garden. If your pantry is down to just potatoes, add chives and you are instantly fancypants. They have a delicate, onion flavor and bloom with the sweetest purple flowers that pollinators love. The flowers are edible too, just break up the flower heads and sprinkle over your dinner. Grow as a mass planting from seed and they’ll go on and on, in a perpetual, perennial, delicious loop. I like to grow them alongside my basil and tomatoes at the front of my garden beds, they are that pretty.

Note from JMJ

Rather than leaving it unpublished until I’m finished with this list, I’m posting it before it’s completed, and will be adding to it continually. So check back often for new recommendations for your Stay Home Garden. Thanks for understanding, this whole project is a process. ☺