Some, or most, of you may have long-term plans in place, which is great, and mightily encouraging. For those that have been actively preparing years ahead of time, I commend your foresight. Sadly, some of us aren’t that prepared at this stage in the game. Finding the right property/shelter/fuel/food sources is ideal, but until now I haven’t had the disposable income to invest in things of value. That being said, here’s one thing that keeps me motivated. Food is going to be the main scarcity out here and, in a pinch, I can harvest foods on my way out of town. I’m not worried about water, weather, or where I’m going to live, at least for the short term. But my ultimate goal is to migrate to the rural outskirts, and I make it my business to remember, geographically, where natural food sources are located. Regardless of what route I’m forced to take, I can think of multiple detours that will help replenish my food supplies, at least for weeks.
Possible food sources:
- Fruit orchards and fields (much of my city area used to be orchard, so many private homes have acres of trees)
- Vegetable gardens or vegetable orchards
- Poultry farms (you can smell the factory farms from miles away)
- Ranches and dairy farms
- Native plants
Once you have located possible food items, the next question is “How can I obtain it?” Stealing has never crossed my mind, but I have developed a very thrifty mentality, and my constant thought is “What can I get for free?” If we’re talking about a time when dollars are still good, buying is always an option, and that’s fine for some. If not, bartering with farmers and landowners is the next best thing, which I would say its an even better alternative. Finally, I expect some (though not all) properties to be abandoned, and for certain foods to be readily available. This may sound like pie-in-the-sky optimism, but my motto is “free or cheap,” and I’ve been told more than once, “you don’t get it if you don’t ask.” On my travels, I’ve been happily surprised to find a number of orchard owners who can’t spare the time or the money to invest in their trees. Water has gotten so expensive in recent years that the costs of maintenance outweigh the benefits for these people; I have no qualms about cruising by these homes and picking produce, and they don’t care anyway. When possible, I keep in contact with these owners for just that reason. The plan is to visit farms growing a variety of things, of course; a large quantity of one food won’t be a balanced diet in itself, but if all else fails, this can sustain you for a worthwhile amount of time. The same may go for protein sources, like with livestock and poultry/egg ranches. Like with any investment, when feed becomes scarce or expensive, bartering away some eggs or a whole animal will look better and better to the rancher. We have farmed food and neglected orchards, but you should also consider native plants. For example, here in the southwest we have an abundance of Indian Fig plants, growing what you would call Cactus Apples or Cactus Pears. I could hike into the hills and come back with multiple buckets in a single day. These are usually made into preserves or beverages. Of course, with any wild plant, you still want to be somewhat cautious; try a little at first and continue if all is well.
Lastly, inconvenience will work in your favor. In the event of panic or rapid exodus, places that are out of the way (or hard to get to) will be less likely to be stripped clean. If I have to hike up a 30 degree hillside for 1/2 a mile to reach my target, or pass any number of security gates, or brave the desert elements to pick cactus apples, the odds are more in my favor than if the food source is next to a major road. That’s one reason why I stay in touch with those private individuals who happen to have fruit trees; it puts me in a small category of people who will be welcomed past their gates.
Is it a foolproof scenario? By no means. I stock what little storable food I can, with the plan to accumulate more, and become self-sufficient. However, every survivor knows that you don’t consume your best resource when there are more (and renewable ones, to boot) available. I could say that I work well under pressure, but I think a more truthful answer would be that adversity breeds innovation, and I hope that becomes true for all of you. It definitely develops a hardier spirit and conditions your eye to see opportunity where others do not. Those of us facing the coming breakdown with few resources must be diligent and think outside the box, especially if there is no one close by with which to join forces. So if you have a local farmer’s market, maybe its time to visit occasionally, and make some friends. I value the connections that I’ve made more than gold. For those in the same situation as me, let this be an encouragement.