When cities die. (Part 2)

Seeds and Shotguns

This can be unthinkable. No meat. It may be hard to find any big game in the suburbs. Rats and ground squirrels should not be eaten unless it's a last dying effort to survive. You should plan to trap these beasts though as they can ruin a garden. A garden will be what you live on. Thank goodness you stashed away a years worth of food in airtight buckets and foil packs but what happens when that stuff is gone? And do you really want to live just on that stuff? Some fresh veggies should lift your spirits.

You will need seeds for a garden. Get ones that generate more seeds, not the hybrid seeds people buy every season. You will not be able to go to home depot and get more seeds. You will harvest your own. Avoid crops like corn that are low yield, high maintenance. Corn takes so much fertilizer and water that it becomes a burden instead of a gift.

You will need to defend your garden. Get a shotgun and a corn-cob pipe and sit on your rocking chair all day making comments about the weather. That should scare off any would-be pillager. If that doesn't work I don't know what will.

You would do well to get a goat if possible. A goat will eat all the weeds in your yard and behind your house. This will reduce fire risks by a lot. The goats can give you milk and their poop will be a good byproduct.

Get a tall fence or wall. Preferably you would get a fireproof barrier with spikes to keep out high winds, bullets, and thieves. Sandbags are cheap to reinforce your fence, wall, or to mark off garden areas.

Get a set of tools and a few packs of silica. Wrap them in dark plastic and tape it shut. You will have fresh brand new tools when the city falls and you need to produce your own food. Put this in your shed with a dozen rolls of plastic, tape, fertilizer, and anything else you can think of. The tools should not require electricity or gas.

The most important thing is practice. Practice having a garden. Let some of it go to seed. Use rain traps, underground water bins, and other methods of getting water. You will have fun, exercise, and reduce your grocery bill.

Also think about getting a root cellar and burying items to prevent theft, degradation, or spoiling. In 2003 in my city a time capsule from the early 80s was found with honey, candy, playing cards, toys, notes, and other items still in perfect condition. What do you want to protect?