'Emergency crops'?

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 15 Aug 2007, 09:44

Just imagine that the food supply chain stops overnight .... but you have some currently unused land.

Assuming you have a few weeks "bridging" food stashed in the pantry, what fast growing food could you grown on your land?

At school I remember growing mustard & cress on a flannel in a few days ... so is there an agricultural equivalent which could produce carbohydrate & protein very quickly?

(Flavour & texture won't matter!)

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 15 Aug 2007, 10:14

Radishes? They seem to go pretty quickly . . .

Salad crops generally I think. Beans can go fairly rapidly too if in good conditions.

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 15 Aug 2007, 10:24

so is there an agricultural equivalent which could produce carbohydrate & protein very quickly?

In short - NO!

At this time of year any crops you plant (bar salad & small items which I don't count as a staple food) will not be ready until next year. (Although having said that I'm trying a few late peas.)

I reckon, in terms of calories returned for effort expended, that potatoes are pretty good value. But you plant them in March for harvest over the summer and early autumn and then store for winter.

I have Jer. artichokes in the ground now that can be dug over the winter - but I don't expect to live off them! Parsnips and leeks can also stay in the ground until required, but I started these in early spring!

So if you want to survive the winter (without being able to shop) you need to stock up. Animals of course can be culled for meat over the winter and as such are a type of living larder. (Our 2 weaner pigs will be ready Jan or so.)

Then another thing to consider is seed stock for the next year. If a catastrophe occurs there may be a run on seed for crops that are easier to manage without mechanisation. I am hoping to experiment with saving some of my own seed for next year.......

Sadly I feel that much of the knowledge that was passed from generation to generation about small scale food production is being lost as the generations that remember these things pass on. A huge proportion of the current first world population have no idea how to grow food. And the snippets of local understanding and so on are being lost.

stumuz · Post by **stumuz** » 15 Aug 2007, 10:55

I think emergency crops are a little far fetched, we have to be realistic and a few radishes just ain?t gonna cut the mustard when it comes to protein or carbohydrate.

First for protein there seems to be a plentiful supply of ?chavs? . This appeared on the news the other night as ?chav hunting on horseback? However; this is not a very efficient way of gathering protein. I have recently taken delivery of the latest PO awareness tool for when the SHTF a Landrover defender 90, which will run on biodiesel. This could have a WW2 Lewis gun mounted on the rear with Mrs Stumuz only taking as many ?chavs? as is sustainable. Remember ?chavs? have been bred on a diet of ?sunny delight? and ?pot noodle? so will not be the first choice of protein as they are a bit chewy, especially when spit roasted over a wood fire.

Now for carbohydrates.
When you have located your ?chav? do not be in too much of a hurry to get it on the spit, wait, be patient, see where the ?chav? returns to and follow it at a distance . Once it is inside its dwelling, follow it in and look at the area in which it used to watch daytime TV or by the play station, you will find packets of pickled onion flavoured monster much, Pringles and if you are lucky a pot noodle .

Remember do not be tempted to eat the fabled ?politicians tongue? they are very tough as they never stop wagging and you do not know where they have been when a promotion is on the cards.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 15 Aug 2007, 11:10

stumuz wrote:Remember do not be tempted to eat the fabled ?politicians tongue? they are very tough as they never stop wagging and you do not know where they have been when a promotion is on the cards.

As they are forked, I believe it is customary to pull them like wishbones over a meal.

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 15 Aug 2007, 11:17

LOL stumuz - very witty!

Back on topic - there must be some fast growing veg that can be put in the ground in August/September?

Hmmm, I think it is time I invested in a greenhouse!

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 15 Aug 2007, 11:23

snow hope wrote:Hmmm, I think it is time I invested in a greenhouse!

I have been amazed at just how much faster things grow even in my little glorified cold frame. I would definitely recommend getting a greenhouse for out-of-season stuff.

stumuz · Post by **stumuz** » 15 Aug 2007, 11:27

Yes, back on topic!

Years ago I had a go at spinach in a hot bed on a south facing wall Oct - Dec which worked ok-ish but cannot remember how fast it grew.

aliwood · Post by **aliwood** » 15 Aug 2007, 11:41

If you can protect them from frost, potatoes planted now will give you new ones in around 90 - 100 days, so handy for Xmas, they will be small, but if you planted enough...

I agree with Sally though the basic answer is no not really.

Ancient Chinese proverb(ish): the best time to plant a tree is ten years ago, the next best time is now.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 12 Sep 2007, 17:04

Sorrel is perennial (at least ours is, and pretty indestructible too once it's established). Not many carbs but for iron etc not too bad.

It looks as if the best advice is to buy perspex sheets and spuds + bean seeds, and stash them for such emergencies. They shouldn't take up much room. (Heck: mushrooms, there's a thought! I think they have protien in)

You could also 'do a Totnes' and plant a nut-tree now. Almond trees can be grown in containers, for if you're at all likely to move house. This is what we are going to do.

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 12 Sep 2007, 17:58

In such a scenario, you will only need 2-3 months of food at hand (and well hidden). Will be enough to outlive 95-99% of your fellow humans, and then there will be a completely new game, with rules nobody knows today.

Highly unlikely scenario though.

Edit: A starving person can smell cooking food in 5 km or more, so cook at night. Would be like a little local Ramadan I guess...

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 12 Sep 2007, 20:43

There is a time, traditionally known as 'the hungry gap'. It is in the spring, after you have finished the winter stored veg such as spuds, carrots, parsnips, jerusalem artichokes, leeks, brussel sprouts, etc. but before the new season crops are ready.

Fortunately there is Lent, so Christians have an excuse for fasting, and Pancake Day when you can eat lots of eggs because the chickens all come into lay when the day light lengthens.

hardworkinghippy · Post by **hardworkinghippy** » 12 Sep 2007, 21:46

Vortex,

I think flavour and texture matters a lot!

Growing food fast isn't the answer.

Obviously at the moment we're rolling in summer veg and eggs plus blackberries, peaches, pears, figs, grapes, etc. but in a few weeks all we'll have is corn, brassicas, onions, garlic, artichokes, stored potatoes, leeks, pumpkins and herbs.

Later on it will become more and more diffiicult to find fresh food, but there's nearly always something green to eat, plus mushrooms and chestnuts and coming up to winter you hunt, and kill some chickens and ducks, the pig

and then you have to start opening the food you've sterilised in jars.

Christmas comes and the solstice is passed then things start growing again. We had Coriander at Christmas last year

and lots of stored food like hams, potatoes, sausages and so on. Then before you know it, green things start poking through the soil.

Stashing stuff away and learning to do it so that it tastes good and keeps for a long time is very prudent and means you don't have to buy food and is the best way of assuring that you'll always have something nice to eat - at least for a year or two.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hardworkin ... ts/881202/

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 13 Sep 2007, 08:31

Brilliant series of pics HWH..

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 13 Sep 2007, 09:57

I planted a butternut squash seed quite late, and put the plant inside my greenhouse/cold frame thingy.

I didn't realise how big the plants are - in no time it has taken over the entire greenhouse, and shows no sign of slowing down.

I also have a pumpkin plant in the raised beds outside, getting to a similar size. There are some very small pumpkins on it but I'm not sure if it will survive if we get any frosts.

Got some late-planted spuds growing in pots too - one outside, one in the greenhouse to compare.