Rick's frustration with traditional apple and orange orchard production caused him to investigate a better way of doing things. He was tired of spending a fortune on pesticides and fertilizers. He found out that we didn't always grow our food that way.

World War II had a major effect on the way we grow food. Less individuals returned to the farms and bomb producing materials were put to work in the farms as fertilizers and pesticides. This new chemical reliance gave rise to companies like Monsanto. This new farming technique also relied upon machines to harvest rather than people and farmers started to grow plants to fit these machines.

Because he was a preparedness minded person he wanted to find a way to garden that was self sufficient. Investigation into native indigenous people around the world revealed that these individuals used to live off of perennial (plants that grow every year without planting) rather than annuals (plants that must be planted every year). They didn't plant in rows, they didn't plant year after year, they didn't weed, they didn't fertilize, they didn't irrigate, yet they survived for thousands of years. Rick set out to put these concepts to work. 

The Secret Garden of Survival was developed. This garden will provide a reliable food supply for years after your traditional food stocks run out and it is hidden as a forest rather than a garden begging to be harvested by anyone passing by. Rick calls it "Nature-Culture." It's much more than just permaculture, it's planting a "food forest" that provides food year after year. Plants are planted in groups called guilds that create a symbiotic relationship and will attract good bugs. For example a fruit tree will be surrounded by a ground cover that likes the shade. Then another type of plant will surround that. The whole garden is surrounded by blackberries to create a natural border for humans and wildlife. 

This gardening style provides fruits, veggies, nuts and berries for your family. There is no watering using Rick's system because ground water is captured in the garden. Rick shows us how to create micro-climates to extend growing seasons so you can get a better harvest and grow more by planting in 3 dimensions. Rick's book Secret Garden of Survival will teach you step by step how you can set up your own Secret Garden of Survival. You will learn how to work with nature to create your own "Garden of Eden."