Whatever diet is the most sustainable for year round food. Would rabbits, chickens (for eggs) and tilapia (aquaponics) be realistic to sustain 150 men along with miscellaneous vegetables? Also some dairy cows to help supplement the diet?
Let’s assume no trading with other communities but this community would receive outside resources and food to ensure survival as needed. Think rice, beans, flour, sugar, etc.
You might want to check out Big, Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz and Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. I'm not sure the meat options you list would provide enough fat for a group of men... possibly? Especially if the dairy is included. But you might want to research "rabbit starvation." They're just very lean animals, and fat is key to human health.
And I'm sorry, but I have experience providing just 25-35% of our food from a 1/4-acre plot, most of which is given over to native plants rather than annual vegetables. We supplement a great deal with food from local farms and still partly rely on the mainstream system. So I can't confidently answer your question. There are just too many factors to consider, and it's out of my league to speculate.
Also, I recommend ditching sugar and refined white flour entirely.
Where have you been all my life!? Found you via a post someone linked you in, (homesteading/Permaculture type website) and I loved your article! I grew up a farmer's daughter, my Stepdad had everything but sheep and cattle and donkeys. & now that I have grown up, he no longer farms, so as I yearn for my childhood of horses, goats, chickens, etc, (& my saved from the stewpot chick I watched hatch, that later turned out to be a flogging rooster!) I more and more find myself wanting more and more of the life I grew up with. So I am learning how to do it all myself. Thank you for helping 😊
Ashley, thank you for this message. It's amazing you had that childhood experience, and I'm not surprised it's stuck with you and is pulling at you now. That rooster story is a good one! I hope you get to forge a more homesteading-centric life. I hope that for us all! Thank you again.
Great blog/stack/online journal etc. I am wondering the same thing at 63 since I inherited a piece of property I love but it is mostly shade due to the mature trees I am not about to cut down. I can do more with what I have, but at some point will run into the limits of the site. Not there yet, may never get there so going to think about that when the time comes. My community lacks a viable community garden spot. That would help add more space to my growing. We tried the local one but you can't keep your plot from year to year and it was so poorly managed we quit. It was no fun battling all the issues it had. I could probably find a friend who would loan out some space but since I haven't filled up mine yet, I'm OK with waiting.
Laurel, it sounds like you're thinking things through really smartly. I wish you the best of luck with your place - and congratulations on your inheritance! Thanks also for your kind words on the 'stack! ;) Much appreciated. Keep us posted on your progress!
Build raised beds out of pallet wood you got from the metalwork shop down the road. Feel a sense of pride because you're a novice at woodworking and the beds actually held together for multiple seasons. Fail to grow tomatoes for years only to suddenly succeed beyond your wildest dreams, then panic when you don't know how you're going to store 40 lbs of tomatoes. Attend county commissioners meeting to protest proposed ordinances intended to make a backyard flock impossible to keep legally. Discover there are actual hundreds of people in your area that share your views and lifestyle. Defy the ordinance anyway when it passes. Dream about starting a food forest on a half acre then dream of starting a food forest on 40 acres.
Wow! What a "Synopsis" of your experience. I'll tell you one thing, if the apocalypse or downfall of our society hits tomorrow, you're miles ahead of the rest of us in survival skills. Keep at it!
I love this post SO MUCH!! Open, humble, cheeky, informative... I had no idea those famous chicksaws were so costly. Figures, though. I still love your logo.
Erin, that might be more an indication of how old I am, that my first car cost as much as the chickshaw, in addition to the current astronomical prices on building supplies. Thanks for the love; we need it! And I'm glad you approve of the logo. ;)
I can relate on both those references for price points; I think I paid $700 cash for my 1st car, and now I'd have to take out a home equity loan to do any builds. :)
So many people are afraid to get started, but there is so much learning through failure. And then you find yourself doing things even months after starting that you never even thought about doing. And then I REALLY relate with the body's negative responses to the SAD and having to learn how to do things just so you feel like you can live and also afford it. Once you start it's an amazing perpetual growth machine!
That is the essence of magic. Imagine the outcome, set the intention, follow each step as it is revealed. You don't need to know how, just do. Study. Research. Be diligent. You will get there.
I love that you share the successes and the learning opportunities (there are no failures!) We are planning a container garden for spring now!!! We'll see how that goes and think about the next steps.
Thank you, Stephanie. I really appreciate that you saw that intention there. Glad to hear you're trying container gardening. That's a great first step. and I wish you much success with it.
How many acres do you estimate it would take to feed a community of 150 men?
Not sure - depends on the diet and if you are trading with other communities.
Whatever diet is the most sustainable for year round food. Would rabbits, chickens (for eggs) and tilapia (aquaponics) be realistic to sustain 150 men along with miscellaneous vegetables? Also some dairy cows to help supplement the diet?
Let’s assume no trading with other communities but this community would receive outside resources and food to ensure survival as needed. Think rice, beans, flour, sugar, etc.
What is the range of acreage that could work?
Thank you for the recommendations, I will check them out. These are helpful considerations and I appreciate you taking the time to respond!
No problem, and I wish you the best of luck with your project!
You might want to check out Big, Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz and Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. I'm not sure the meat options you list would provide enough fat for a group of men... possibly? Especially if the dairy is included. But you might want to research "rabbit starvation." They're just very lean animals, and fat is key to human health.
And I'm sorry, but I have experience providing just 25-35% of our food from a 1/4-acre plot, most of which is given over to native plants rather than annual vegetables. We supplement a great deal with food from local farms and still partly rely on the mainstream system. So I can't confidently answer your question. There are just too many factors to consider, and it's out of my league to speculate.
Also, I recommend ditching sugar and refined white flour entirely.
Where have you been all my life!? Found you via a post someone linked you in, (homesteading/Permaculture type website) and I loved your article! I grew up a farmer's daughter, my Stepdad had everything but sheep and cattle and donkeys. & now that I have grown up, he no longer farms, so as I yearn for my childhood of horses, goats, chickens, etc, (& my saved from the stewpot chick I watched hatch, that later turned out to be a flogging rooster!) I more and more find myself wanting more and more of the life I grew up with. So I am learning how to do it all myself. Thank you for helping 😊
Ashley, thank you for this message. It's amazing you had that childhood experience, and I'm not surprised it's stuck with you and is pulling at you now. That rooster story is a good one! I hope you get to forge a more homesteading-centric life. I hope that for us all! Thank you again.
Great blog/stack/online journal etc. I am wondering the same thing at 63 since I inherited a piece of property I love but it is mostly shade due to the mature trees I am not about to cut down. I can do more with what I have, but at some point will run into the limits of the site. Not there yet, may never get there so going to think about that when the time comes. My community lacks a viable community garden spot. That would help add more space to my growing. We tried the local one but you can't keep your plot from year to year and it was so poorly managed we quit. It was no fun battling all the issues it had. I could probably find a friend who would loan out some space but since I haven't filled up mine yet, I'm OK with waiting.
Laurel, it sounds like you're thinking things through really smartly. I wish you the best of luck with your place - and congratulations on your inheritance! Thanks also for your kind words on the 'stack! ;) Much appreciated. Keep us posted on your progress!
Build raised beds out of pallet wood you got from the metalwork shop down the road. Feel a sense of pride because you're a novice at woodworking and the beds actually held together for multiple seasons. Fail to grow tomatoes for years only to suddenly succeed beyond your wildest dreams, then panic when you don't know how you're going to store 40 lbs of tomatoes. Attend county commissioners meeting to protest proposed ordinances intended to make a backyard flock impossible to keep legally. Discover there are actual hundreds of people in your area that share your views and lifestyle. Defy the ordinance anyway when it passes. Dream about starting a food forest on a half acre then dream of starting a food forest on 40 acres.
I love this!!
This is so great and inspiring.
Thank you, Sam!
I love the honesty in all if this!!! Thus is the journey we all struggle through. It appears you are on your way. Lol. Great post.
Thanks so much, Noemi! That really means a lot to me. I appreciate the kind words.
Wow! What a "Synopsis" of your experience. I'll tell you one thing, if the apocalypse or downfall of our society hits tomorrow, you're miles ahead of the rest of us in survival skills. Keep at it!
Ha, ha, I hope you're right about our preparedness, but not about the apocalypse hitting tomorrow. We still need chickens!
I love this post SO MUCH!! Open, humble, cheeky, informative... I had no idea those famous chicksaws were so costly. Figures, though. I still love your logo.
Erin, that might be more an indication of how old I am, that my first car cost as much as the chickshaw, in addition to the current astronomical prices on building supplies. Thanks for the love; we need it! And I'm glad you approve of the logo. ;)
I can relate on both those references for price points; I think I paid $700 cash for my 1st car, and now I'd have to take out a home equity loan to do any builds. :)
Yep, you nailed it.
So many people are afraid to get started, but there is so much learning through failure. And then you find yourself doing things even months after starting that you never even thought about doing. And then I REALLY relate with the body's negative responses to the SAD and having to learn how to do things just so you feel like you can live and also afford it. Once you start it's an amazing perpetual growth machine!
You're so right. I just realized I've been baking with sourdough for 3 1/2 years now, and I'm still learning!
Pretty awesome lady, in my humble opinion.
I love the style of this post. Entertaining and really gives a sense of how your journey has unfolded.
Thank you, Lynn! It came to me on my morning walk. I'm glad I was able to remember it when I got back to where I could write it down, LOL.
Well said. Fun.
That is the essence of magic. Imagine the outcome, set the intention, follow each step as it is revealed. You don't need to know how, just do. Study. Research. Be diligent. You will get there.
Thank you, William. You're right about the magic aspect, though I hadn't thought of that.
Magical study is also about learning how to be more creative in all things, throughout life. You've built a pretty strong foundation in that.
Thanks too for the shout out. Anger is fire and quite necessary for true creativity. 🔥
I love that you share the successes and the learning opportunities (there are no failures!) We are planning a container garden for spring now!!! We'll see how that goes and think about the next steps.
Thank you, Stephanie. I really appreciate that you saw that intention there. Glad to hear you're trying container gardening. That's a great first step. and I wish you much success with it.
I will keep you updated
Yep!
I'm not surprised you relate!
Thank you! We’re not far behind you, but I don’t think we’ll ever grow up.
Also, thanks for the restack!
Thank you! I'm glad, and flattered.