@ApostateEnglishman@mastodon.world @GeofCox@climatejustice.social @junesim63@mstdn.social
Anyone got a good source on how much someone/a group really does need for self-sufficiency? (I'm assuming a bit of trade with other groups... all the more reason to learn from someone who's done their homework. So many variables - soil quality, latitude and local climate, what else?) #Foodandwaterhandbook #basicneeds
@SusiArnott@mastodon.green @ApostateEnglishman@mastodon.world @GeofCox@climatejustice.social @junesim63@mstdn.social
You're talking about re-inventing subsistence farming, which is one of the most miserable ways to live, as anyone who has actually done it will tell you. Better not to go there.
@SusiArnott@mastodon.green @ApostateEnglishman@mastodon.world @GeofCox@climatejustice.social @junesim63@mstdn.social
It's good to produce some of your own food, but the bulk (say 80%) of your Calories SHOULD come from industrial agriculture, because it requires two orders of magnitude less labour per Calorie. Anything else leads back to serfdom, because (and I don't say this often) Marx was substantially correct when he said that the form of production strongly determines the structure of social relations. Pastoralist fantasy is best left to the Far Right.
@publius@mastodon.sdf.org @SusiArnott@mastodon.green @GeofCox@climatejustice.social @junesim63@mstdn.social Recognizing that there is likely to be substantial disruption to human food supply chains in the near future isn't "pastoralist fantasy", it's basic situational awareness! While growing more of our own food isn't an option available to everyone, it's a good idea for those who are in a position to rent or buy a small plot (it's very cheap to rent an allotment here in the UK!), or those who already have large enough gardens for a vegetable patch.
@ApostateEnglishman@mastodon.world @publius@mastodon.sdf.org @SusiArnott@mastodon.green @GeofCox@climatejustice.social @junesim63@mstdn.social
The skills (let alone time & energy) aren't available to everyone, and they aren't easily acquired.
On our large allotment site in Central England I'd guess that 2/3 of the plots are like ours - barely managing to produce much more than sporadic crops that supplement mass produced food.
The quality of the fruit and veg may be generally excellent, but getting consistency and a sensible succession without gluts or famine is beyond most home producers.
@MikeFromLFE@cupoftea.social @publius@mastodon.sdf.org @SusiArnott@mastodon.green @GeofCox@climatejustice.social @junesim63@mstdn.social But no-one's talking about becoming 100% self-sufficient in some sort of prepper's "bug in" fantasy. We're talking about whole communities easing the cost of living by moving towards growing a little more of their own produce, and sharing whatever they can grow.
I had two veg patches and a herb garden. The spuds and purple broccoli did so well we were giving bucketfuls to neighbours, and they'd bring us stuff in return. Barter culture!
Dr Susi Arnott
publius
