Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with subsistence

What if I want a tiny farm?

zvs — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:37:05 -0800

How big is the smallest possible subsistence farm? Settle a living room bet -- what's the smallest amount of land on which a vegetable farm could feed a family of two for more than a year or two, barring famine or harsh winter or whatever? Let's say an Upstate New York-esque level of soil quality. How would I even go about solving this question?

Taken my thinking, my means of survival

generalist — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:49:36 -0800

What are some good compendiums of subsistence-level skills/resources available online? I have the army survival manual and the encyclopedia of country living, etc., and I'm interested in stuff that covers the ground between them, like tips and tricks for getting by when I'm not yet stuck under a lean-to evading the marauders, but gas is rationed, food distribution systems are slow or failing, things are falling apart but not obliterated. For example, clear descriptions of basic mechanical engineering and construction for useful applications, the kind of stuff that I'd just google unless my service provider or the powerlines go down. (I've read previous responses to similar questions, and got some good stuff, but I figure there's ever more available online) Thanks in advance.

Help me survive the coming apocalypse!

incomple — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:42:47 -0800

I'm looking for a program (in NYC, ideally) that will help me survive the coming apocalypse. I'd like to learn a wide set of survival skills (how to make water potable, first aid, self defense, scrounging/farming food, making clothes and shelter, etc.) that will help me and my loved ones escape Manhattan in a crisis situation, and then survive in the Thunderdome world that lies beyond.

Any program that incorporates swimming skills, weapons training, and so forth would be a huge plus as well (or any recommendations for practical weapons training, or swimming lessons for adults, would also be appreciated).

I'm also up for programs outside of NYC (but still ideally in the general vicinity), provided that it's just an intensive few days. Thanks for any recommendations.

What's the simplest, cheapest yet most complete diet available?

6am — Tue, 02 May 2006 16:57:38 -0800

What's the simplest, cheapest yet most complete diet available? Being the creative type I tend to exhaust my energies working on projects leaving little time to prepare food, and little money to afford it. I often end up eating junk because it's more convenient, but it adds up. So I wanna break the habit, but I can't be doing with buying masses of ingredients that I might only use once to make one dish.

I read "Passport to Survival", which says you could get by on Wheat, Honey, Salt & Powdered Milk alone. I like the idea of that, but I think I could afford to get a few extra ingredients...

Go hive mind, go!