[Anonymous]

I don’t claim to be very good at this stuff and hope to improve. I recommend checking out Nichole Apelian. She is an author and has a PhD in Herbs. She states that she healed herself using natural products featured at her Apothecary site. She was featured on a Wilderness Survival show. So she has survival skills and is expert at foraging. Here are a couple of links. The first one features her books. The second link is her story. The third one will be the Apothecary site.

https://nicoleapelian.com/books/

https://nicoleapelian.com/about-nicole-apelian/

https://nicolesapothecary.com/

[AeonKnight]

@Leo

Most useful/forbidden books can be found for free on z-library — they only work through TOR nowadays, and you need to create an account (please use a completely anonymous email, if you do), but they’re still my main source for material that can’t be found in stores or books I don’t want Amazon to know I bought. For a very small plot, I can recommend no-dig potato methods: a staple food, easy to do and very little work. Depending on your climate, some adjustments are needed, but still doable almost everywhere.

@Oscar

It’s true that food, especially animal products, are highly subsidised and their supermarket prices don’t reflect the labour and calories required to produce them (also cause we make the environment pay the rest of the bill), but they should still be cheaper to produce yourself, unless you are in a highly restricted space, not optimised, using highly “industrial” practices like unnecessarily expensive feed/supplements, etc. The eggs that we produce here, even with a single small coop, are virtually free. The meat from the farm also costs nearly half to produce compared to buying it (even factory-farmed stuff). In addition, the peace of mind and good health that come from clean food is priceless.

Talking to farmers is a great idea for the cultivars, but remember that even small-scale producers are stuck in industrial/corporate agriculture methods and mindsets. Apply the best of both sources of knowledge.

[Leo]

@AeonKnight How telling it is, that Mollison’s book on permaculture is unusually costly, compared to most other books out there – that must mean it contains some very valuable information! I’ve delved deep into various content producers’ guidance over the years, and even participated in some in-person foraging and gardening workshops and community gardens, but still invite resources and advice from others of the WhiteDate community. My main problem had always been the lack of property, alongside frequent travels and/or relocations, but now that I’m better positioned with a small plot of land, I can start experimenting with everything firsthand.

@Oscar That’s some great advice, buddy, and I do appreciate it. Reaching out to those in my area already doing what’s of interest is an ideal place to start – I’ll be starting with my neighbors as soon as I’m ready to plant. I imagine visiting a local farmers’ market wouldn’t be a bad idea, either. I’ve long contemplated what to grow, too, according to dietary preferences and what I’ve seen some family members of mine growing, but I suppose it’ll be more dependent on what it is that grows in my area. Lol, yeah; I have a colleague and close friend who have a chicken coop, marijuana plants (I don’t smoke but they do), and their own apothecary – and they’ve repeatedly informed how resource and time-consuming it is, but also that it’s especially rewarding, worthwhile, and they feel better about what they put into their bodies knowing it’s they themselves who produced it. I’ve also heard of something like community-supported agriculture, sometimes in connection with subscriptions to collect seasonal harvests each week or month, which is probably another great way to get into all this more meaningfully. Seems like there are a lot of ways into this, and, again, I do appreciate your and any others’ commentary here. I’m sure it’ll prove useful for referencing later, for anyone utilizing the forums.

[Oscar]

I think the first move is to turn to a local farmer/peasant and ask him what grows best depending on where you live, in accordance with the climate and the terroir.

One must then concentrate on the products for which autonomy – therefore habitual use – is most necessary: ​​producing oneself does not generate any form of economy, quite the contrary: I have hens and when I see the time and energy that I devote to their maintenance, it is obvious that on a simple economic approach, I would be better off buying eggs at the nearby supermarket.

producing oneself serves to generate one’s own autonomy, to break with the reduction of all production to their simple cost dimension according to the (((capitalist))) approach, and also in an era of individual atomization of the society by (((consumerism))) to recreate through the exchange of these productions interpersonal links and therefore solidarities escaping a commercial relationship, as was the case in any Western rural society a few decades ago only.

[AeonKnight]

There are too many things to name, so as a first introduction: Bill Mollison’s work on permaculture. After that, many channels on YouTube go over specifics on certain crops, soil, water, etc., but a good general one is “Discover Permaculture with Geoff Lawton”. I’m happy to answer any specific questions for your situation.

[Leo]

Do any of you lovely people have sufficient knowledge, firsthand experience, pro tips, or sharable resources on the matters of foraging and/or gardening at home? I have a small plot of land in my backyard, up against a nice forest, and am curious what all I could find and plant out there to grow foods or spices. I’m taking a local flora gardening class this summer, and want to establish a bed or two, to start growing this season. I also have some well-lit indoor space where I’m considering introducing some indoor plants, too. My neighbors have been growing several different species to supplement their kitchen, and I’ve an aunt who does the same, but I’m curious what else I can learn from you fine folks – who oftentimes seem to be especially informed. Obviously, it’ll be wise to reach out to those with experience in my local community and check other online resources, but it doesn’t hurt to seek additional advice here. Something as simple as a recommended heirloom seed supplier, seasonal weather impacts, growth patterns, pest management, soil and fertilizer types, harvesting concerns, watering routines, or anything of that nature would be greatly appreciated. I’m sure onlookers would also find value in what you comment!

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