Introduction

 

        Often in conversations the subject comes up about growing or producing our own food.  Some people want to move to the country and get into small-time farming, and some just want to have a garden.  Others want to have a few meat animals around, such as chickens or rabbits.

 

        There are also those who want to work toward producing most or all of their own food.  Some like the independence and some worry about future hardships, either from  natural disasters or man-made events.

 

        But if you're going to grow a garden or crops, what do you need to do that?  How much land?  What type of land?  How will you preserve and store the food you grow?

 

        Animals need shelter and food.  Do you have a place to put your chickens, rabbits, goats, calves, or other animals?  What will you feed them if times are hard?  How will you feed them now, if your goal is self-sufficiency?  Will your plan include buying feed, or growing it yourself?

 

        In addition to gardening and raising animals, other sources for food self-sufficiency include foraging, hunting, and fishing.  What supplies or equipment will you need to do these things?  What laws will you have to follow, and do they allow you enough plants or animals to meet your needs?

 

        This books is about the numbers.  It's not a how-to book, it's about what you need for the “how to”.  We'll look at how to figure out how much space you need for gardens or animals, how many jars you'll need if you plan to get into canning, and what other options there are for storing food.

 

        I'll talk about animals and their needs, and suggest ways to feed and shelter them  that won't break your bank account.  I'll try to point you the right direction to find out what you need to know about foraging, hunting, and fishing, plus share some tips from my own experiences.

 

        This book is geared toward those with limited funds, but will also be helpful to more prosperous readers who are considering growing or otherwise providing for most or all of their own food.  The 'how-to' may vary but the numbers are the same, whether you're rich or poor.

 

        Some people are 'preppers' and have been buying and storing food in case of hard times.  It's a great plan, but knowing how to produce your own food is real security.  Hand in hand with that is knowing what you'll need to produce, preserve, and store that food.  That is what this book is about.