Which to you put the most confidence in for your long term survival. You can choose more than one.
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Which to you put the most confidence in for your long term survival. You can choose more than one.
All but gardening. I would hate take all the time to start one and have to leave it in a hurry. The food storage you could cache in different locations.
I haven't voted, because I would use all of the above methods, among other things, depending on time of year.
Same here. Long term survival would mean using every available resource. from fish and muscles to game animals; cultivated plants and wild plants, and what we would be able to store. It would be a combination of all of the above, much like it is now. I already use all the above and with the exclusion of the grocery store, only the "imports" would be missed.. like pumpkin pie!
It's really amazing what we save on our groceries. What used to be $250 a month is now about $50 and that's mostly for "junk food". It wouldn't be too hard to live without that. This year might be a little different since I didn't get to harvest as many deer as usual this year (or I chose not to, I should say). Gonna be doing more fishing this year to make up for it. I should also be starting to eat more wild plants this year as I've committed many to memory.
I don't have confidence the same resources will be available in the future. All wildlife will suffer and climate changes will affect even my own crops. Government is becoming more authoritive each day with regulations affecting even gardening. I also think food production will need to be controlled to feed the masses thereby making it illegal for you and I to do it so much of my decision was based on what I think I can get away with.
Even if you are going to do it all voting in the poll will confirm a larger sampling and indicate pressure on the resource more than not voting.
Who, knows.. Me and crash might be living at the west pole soon.. climate change is definately a factor, but it's such a long process, I doubt it'll happen in our lifetime. Govt regulations are far more of a concern for myself, which is why I plan on going deep-woods if things get that bad. I understand that in AK your resources and growing season are already very limited, but here in the south it is a much different story. Pollution is a bigger concern to me than fishing regulations. I have absolutely no concern for "feeding the masses". Should we reach that point, I will still do everything I can to keep living.. including everything on that list that is feasible. Should the south suddenly become Alaska.. I'm moving someplace warmer! That is no place for warm-blooded rednecks like myself!!
I think it depends on circumstances and time of year. I don't see any of those things happening, just my opinion, with the exception of a possible climate change. We have an awful lot of land sitting idle in the land bank. Tens of thousands of acres that would be put back in farming if the demand and price were strong enough. You also have to calculate in the advances science makes in food production as well as packaging to extend the life of processed foods and the near term doesn't look quite so bleak to me.
I put most confidence in all of the above. They're what I use now and I don't see that changing regardless of the situation, save breaking my neck or dying.
Alaska Is ground Zero for climate change so I am seeing more of the changes. I am not a finatic about it or believe any side of the issue because I have caught both sides in enough lies I don't know what to believe but I have seen some big changes over my life and especially in the last 3 years. I would think being closer to Mexico illegal imigration would be factor down south and I keep hearing about droughts in the news.
If the majority had to make due for themselves over an extended period of time I think hunting and foraging would be out of the question. That resource would be depleted almost immediately for many folks.
I'm putting food storage store bought and home canned at the top of the list. I will be relying on all of the choices. Any surplus from hunting, fishing, foraging, and gardening will require food storage.
Like Clay mentioned, our local natural resources by hunting and fishing could be depleted quickly. A lot of hunters around here.
Foraging plants is seasonal as is gardening. There are a few who know wild edibles so that resource may last longer until folks catch on.
Gardening will be a challenge to keep your harvest, your harvest. We started a community garden last year. Three people participated, and the community helped themselves. :angry:
Not quite rural enough I guess.
I think this is a good question, and could be useful information. I am surprised at the evasiveness and reluctance to just give a straight answer.
For me I have about six months food for ONE person, and I will kill to protect it.
As the food runs out, I would hunt more. And fish in the summers.
The ugly truth is after about one year, I would kill myself. I have had a wonderful life.
Most certainly food storage. None of the other options will do you any good without it in a long term survival situation.
I also think it depends on your skill. I can't hunt very well so if I had to rely on it I would certainly suffer.
I don't think it is reluctence as much as redundent. The poll reflects our choices. In my case I voted for fishing because I can catch more fish in a day than I can eat in a year. Gardening and again because of the sheer volume of food I can produce and my food stores because I have a ton of it.
Interesting question. I guess it would really depend on what the situation was and how long it lasts.
I've had the same experiences with community gardening that Karl has had. And unless something quickly drops the population down, I doubt even in rural areas that people who live on a lake are going to share their fish and anyone out hunting may be viewed as competition by someone else who is hungrier. I sincerely doubt that a crisis would bring out the best in people. Look at the looters and thugs shooting at assistance workers after Katrina. Incidents like that leave no doubt in my mind what will happen "if".
I'd have to rely on hunting and fishing myself. I don't have the facility to mass an adequate food storage, not in my current living situation, and not without ridicule from the relatives I live with who think the Government will provide for them. I have the means to grow a garden but keeping it from the roving hungry could be an issue.
If food storage means putting up what can be gathered in whatever fashion, that would have to be my vote.
What I rely on now is food storage and gardening. I do some fishing, but mostly for enjoyment. If things "got worse" I would fish a lot more, hunt some, but more probably - and not on the list is raise animals for food.
My first choice, long term is gardening.
Secondary and at least important is raising livedstock
Raising live stock could fall into gardening, growing your own food more or less.
If it weren't for the illegal mexicans that come here you wouldn't have corn, tomatoes, or many of the other hand-picked vegetables that you buy at the supermarket. And that's right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alaskan Survivalist
I never see a white boy out in the corn field.
Never see a black man out picking weed from the cotton rows.
If it weren't for illegal immigration you can bet your sweet a**.... bottom dollar food prices would already be sky high.
I was thinking more in terms of global disaster that may have hoards of Mexicans coming over the border escaping what is bound to be a worse situation in Mexico.Quote:
Originally Posted by your_comforting_company
AS, I think it already happened....Quote:
Originally Posted by Alaskan Survivalist
I chose all of the above if it comes to a tough time. One must be able to use every thing in the bag to make it and take care of those around them.
I see no reason to rely only only one stratagem for food accumulation. I would do answer 6) All of the above. Decisions based on season, weather, and any number of other parameters.
The question is which one you would rely on the MOST. Unless you are dividing all your time equally between them. I will be doing them all but I know which ones will be much more productive for me.
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Originally Posted by Alaskan Survivalist
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Originally Posted by Alaskan Survivalist
I guess I misunderstood the poll. From the OP I thought you were asking what we currently do regarding food for our long term survival. From the other two posts I cited from you, I guess I misunderstood what you were asking. My apologies.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alaskan Survivalist
As many creeks, ponds, and lakes as there are here, it'd be silly not to rely on fishing, and with the long growing season and wide variety of veggies year-round, foraging would be a sure source of food.
Gardening will fall in there somewhere, but it's gonna be kinda hard to get adequate sunshine in the woods. trapping is feasible but hunting would require bullets or bows and arrows, so that'll be later.
Food storage will be an integral part of it all.
Everything I say is coming from the perspective of a tin foil hatted full blown DOOMER seeing the end of the world happening! Anything less than total collapse is just a bad day. My only hope for the future is that decline is slow enough to see me through the rest of my days in relative comfort or that I belong to a minority of the very stupidest people on the planet that see things this way.Quote:
Originally Posted by crashdive123
I marked all that I mostly use.......If asked for only one, it would be long term food storage.....no matter what the source.
Thanks for the clarification so that I can tailor my future responses accordingly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alaskan Survivalist
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Originally Posted by Alaskan Survivalist
That is my wish also. My being 10 years older than you, I have a better chance of having completed my life before TEOTWAWKI.
Color me crazy but I pretty sure no matter when you go it will be the end of the world as you know it. Just sayin'.
Yep, 100% correct.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
Just a thought really.... for those who say that gardening is not a viable option. Why couldn't you use the same tactics that the growers of illegal crops use? What is referred to as "Guerrilla Farming". If Heirloom seeds were used, what was not collected this harvest would replant itself for the next season. Site selection would be the most crucial part of this type of "gardening". Using "main crops" would provide plenty more than just foraging for food. A small corn field would at the very least provide seeds for the next season......
I would do all of those, personally.
I once read that Indians did more farming than is commonly known. It was a passive kind of farming done by just enhancing the natural habitat of existing native plants they ate. Things like diverting a creek to supply water or cutting branches that were shading plants they ate. I have never found much info on this but I wonder if any of the foragers on this forum do similar.
Yes. One in particular.dilligaf2u2. He hasn't been on in quite a while.
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...=river+bottoms
I never picked hunting and harvesting, and left them both as opportunistic. Last numbers for population density of my province are 28 people per square mile. Non arable land bumps it up even more. That many starving people could clean’er out in no time. I can see weir nets and greenhouse plastic being a valuable asset. Ammunition? I’d save that for my defence............. I’m feeling depressed.
I've heard it said that "90 percent of the game is taken by 10 percent of the hunters". I believe this to be an accurate statement. I know my hunting trips have been unsuccessful more times than not. The best hunting these days is in areas with limited access and the time, effort, regulation, expense has put me in the 90 percent catagory.
The same is said of fishing but I slay them and almost always catch fish and lots of them. Access to deep water is a factor same as hunting but I have that access and even when in public areas with fisherman lining the banks I will limit out when no one else is catching fish. I include crab, shrimp and clams as fishing and anytime I am near the ocean I eat like a king and now a days I just trade Halibut for my meat. The trading factor puts it way ahead of other methods for what I rely on.
Foraging is very seasonal here and we do it but I would say it provides less than 1 percent of our food.
I've had some crop failures due to frost but always been able to grow potatoes even in the worst years and know I can live off potatoes. Growing potatoes should be part of everybodies survival plan.
I am doing good with food storage and set for several years. Most my other methods I am using just to offset costs to build up food stores. As I slow down with age I will be rely on food storage more and more.
This is what my experience has been and I realize climate, location and abilty will affect methods used. I am surprized at some of the results of this poll so far. Since most don't have access to the ocean the fishing result surprizes me. Hunting is big in Alaska but driving truck I see how many hunters come back every season empty handed so I am surprized by that result as well. I know people that can't grow anything either. The numbers just seem high to me and some may be based on speculation. That in itself is enlightening.
All the above.
This is kind of what I meant in post #33. What Marijuana growers do with small scattered plots. By planting a dozen or so plants in one location, then the same in another spot and so on until almost all my seeds are planted. This way I feel that chance encounters and loss to people who stumble on them would be reduced. In a worse case scenario a 5 acre plot of corn would almost certainly have to be guarded all the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alaskan Survivalist
If you think of it in terms of a "Trap line" of vegetables, I think you could see the potential value of this. True you might not harvest as much as if it were an ordinary garden, but more than if you didn't plant anything at all. Site selection and crop type would be the most important aspects of this. Squash and Gourds family(Like Pumpkins) figure high in this I would think. Even Gourds would be a beneficial crop... utensils and such made from them could be used in trade too. Another benefit would be in running a trap line in the same areas as this "Trap line Garden". The animals would also be attracted to these veggies, increasing chances of hunting while harvesting/tending plants.
I've often thought about planting Jerusalem artichokes here and there and yonder. Figured plots of artichokes spread around could come in handy. It could be taken to another level by trimming fruit trees and such. there is a large number of wild apple trees around my area that could use a good trimming. Perhaps backwaters and sloughs could be seeded with wild rice. Groves of wild plants and trees could be mapped out. I had located a wintergreen birch years ago and I'll be darned they logged off that area and it got cut. In my area maples are in a abundant supply perhaps in a quiet area a little syrup operation could be developed. there's probably lots of good ideas.