A seed vault is only as good as its records. Document every packet with variety name, source, pack date, expected germination rate, and storage method. Note which varieties are heirloom/open-pollinated (can be saved year to year) vs hybrid (cannot). Calculate how many plants each packet will produce and cross-reference with your garden layout to ensure you have enough seed for your planned beds.

Elevation is as important as USDA zone for timing. Every 1,000 feet of elevation delays the season by approximately 2 weeks. Document your first and last frost dates for your specific location, then build a planting calendar that accounts for both zone and elevation. Include direct-sow dates, transplant dates, and fall planting windows for cool-season crops.

Never plant the same family in the same bed two years in a row. The four main rotation families are: nightshades (tomato, pepper, potato), brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale), legumes (beans, peas — fix nitrogen), and roots (carrot, beet, onion). A four-bed rotation cycle is the minimum. Document your rotation here — who goes where this year and the plan for the next three years.

Livestock multiply your food production capacity significantly. Document what you have, what it produces, and what it requires. Feed requirements during a grid-down scenario must be pre-planned — you cannot rely on commercial feed deliveries. Calculate how much pasture, hay, and grain you need per animal per year and cross-reference with what you can produce or store.