Some folks just have natural green thumbs, for the rest of us however that is not the case, so it's time to take charge and learn how to do grow without soil. Your success rate is incredibly higher in a Hydroponic or Aquaponics environment, than it is in soil. And you don't have spend a fortune to get started either.
Yes, playing in the dirt is always fun, but it can be quite challenging when there is an emergency and the real need to grow some food to survive, is at hand. You cant run down to the local big box store and get all those crazy expensive soil amendments to deal with the horrible soil you likely have. So what can you do? You can go soil-less! It's a lot easier than you think.
I'm going to cover 3 areas in this article: Indoor Hydroponics, Outdoor Hydroponics and Aquaponics.
SEEDS
Whether or not you choose heirloom seeds or not is your personal decision and choice. I've had both good luck and non germination with both heirlooms and non heirlooms.
I've purchased seeds from big box stores, Ebay and from private growers and found the germination rate or lack of it, to be approximately the same. Generally speaking, I have had about 90% or better germination and full harvest yield.
If seeds are kept in an air tight, waterproof container and kept cool, most will last at least 2 years. This not true of all seeds, but true of many. Lettuce or leafy green seeds are going to be at the lower end of this. Many of your herbs, will not last past about 12 to 18 months. What you'll find is that the germination rate drops off significantly. So you'll spend time, and resources (like water/nutrients) attempting to germinate seeds that will yield a small crop.
INDOOR VS OUTDOOR HYDROPONICS
First, let me say "I'm not against soil gardening". Given the right conditions it's pretty fun.
There are some instances that you can have all 3, but you have to decide how your available resources will best serve your needs, in an emergency.
Obviously the conditions for indoors vs outdoors are likely to be quite different depending upon the situation. In a grid down scenario this will mean that you are unlikely to produce enough synthetic light, and keep the temperature controlled, unless you have a well endowed solar system or other means to produce electricity. Running lights for indoor hydroponics will require a substantial amount of solar electricity, which may be better used for other things, in a grid down scenario.
Based on a "Grid Down" scenario, I'm going only speak to outdoor hydroponics. First and foremost you will need to have some type of green house - period! It can come in a lot of different styles and shapes, but you absolutely will need to be able to provide some type of shelter from winds, and ability filtered or diffused light through sun screens, or the translucent covering that are typically used in greenhouse construction.
There are tons of free DIY plans out there to build a fairly good greenhouse structure to accommodate your needs. You can find materials anywhere from free to relatively in expensive to build a basic greenhouse. But make sure your structure is strong and sound.
Here is a list resources, that I'm constantly adding to.
CHOOSING YOUR GROWING CONTAINERS FOR HYDROPOINCS
YIKES! There are so many to choose from..some much better than others, but in a grid down scenario you may not have as many choices and will have take what you can get. However, I'd recommend start this project now and get what you need and build your knowledge now, and not when it's in an emergency.
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