On 7 Jan, 09:11, Tim Lamb  wrote:
> In article , Oz
>  writes
>
> >Jim Webster  writes
>
> >>which is why agriculture developed in the first place, it is far faster and
> >>easier to plant the crop you want to eat where it is easy to get at than
> >>wander round the countryside trying to find odd plants here and there
>
> >The same applies to animals.
>
> >More importantly, when resources become scarce (due population
> >explosion) you can own and protect your bit of food on your bit of land
> >from other people.
>
> Just supposing there was some factual element in the assertion that more
> (quantity) life sustaining produce can be achieved by permanent
> planting.....
>
> Are there any studies to support this? Pearl is not usually reticent in
> posting sources.
>
> I assume fruit and nuts must form a significant part of this production
> and wonder if Pearl has any direct knowledge of yield fluctuations
> caused by weather, time from planting to full yield, need to replace as
> trees age, pest and disease impact.....

I probably know more about this than anyone in the UK. When we started
living self-sufficiently, I never thought that we would become the
most self-sufficient couple in the country.

This was no stunt, it was the real thing. No faked up TV shots.

Five acres of reasonable lowland can produce a perfectly normal
British diet together with heating for about half a dozen people. That
will include all the normal meat and dairy produce including
processing into the end product eg butter and sausages, all vegetables
and fruit. It will include some exotics eg lemons and passion fruit,
but exclude tea and coffee.

There will be a large excess of some products eg pork and fruit in
season.

If you make the assumption that people can live well on a vegetarian
diet (my wife actually is more or less veggie) than as they claim, you
could feed twenty. I know too little about vegan food, but suspect
that they rely heavily on imported base products than veggies.

You will work very hard indeed, not just physically but mentally too.
You need good records.

You will need very little income, but the investment will be massive.
If you take a run down cottage and horse sick land, as we did, aside
from renovations to the living accommodation, you will need maybe 200K
to kick start.That will mostly be buildings for stock and storage,
fencing, orchards, walled garden, greenhouses and tunnels.

I did not think Britain could feed its population. I took what was
said by free-traders, of which I'm one as gospel, but it can be done.

Every calculation that I make based on experience, suggests it is
quite possible. Cheap imports are an important element on comfort
items and virtually all the necessary mechanical and electrical items,
such as pick-up trucks, freezers etc. They cut the setting up costs,
and reduce the need for cash.

Britain does not need barley barons and factory farms. It chose to
allow them to develop

I was very surprised to preside over something as successful as this.
It worked.

The main difference between us and others that try it, was that I had
cash and did not try to make a business. In fact, we sold nothing,
just gave it away.

But also I had health problems and for most of the time had to "buy"
in help for the more physical jobs.

It would take an earthquake to chnge but it is possible. It might be
more difficult especially in Scotand and the West or Ireland, where
the range of crops might be narrower and the land worse.

The locals would get bored with the diet and start leaving for
England ;o) You can prove that from history.


>
> regards
>
>
>
> --
> Tim Lamb