Hawaii isolated, can you survive off your garden?

[Rob Tucker]

Well there was that one homeowner in Leilani that threatened some neighbors he wasn't familiar with with a gun during the emergency. Fired a shot in the air as I recall. I think his butt is in prison right now.

[EightFingers]

The answer is no, I would not survive for long term on what I’m growing...and I have quite a lot growing. I suppose I could supplement by fishing and hunting, but I wonder if the entire island could support the current population without some pretty big changes.

[alaskyn66]

With raiding parties to other islands ,Big island would do just fine.

[Guest]

quote:

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Originally posted by randomq

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Breadfruit and 45 Long Colt ammo!!

Speaking Truth to Lies!!! / Facts to Ignorance!!!

[EightFingers]

I bet it would go a long ways to cleaning up the roosters!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

I wonder if the entire island could support the current population

It's estimated the population of Hawaii was nearly 700,000 when Capt Cook arrived in 1778. Now it's double that, at 1.4 million, mostly on Oahu. So it should be theoretically possible for current residents on Big Island to raise enough food and support themselves. Some government workers would no doubt have the greatest difficulty adjusting to a longer than 20 minute actual work day, with their new job description of digging sweet potatoes and plucking chickens.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/201...opulation/

[Seeb]

More should be done to support agriculture now. because trying to make calories to support the population year round starting from scratch ( how many farm tractors on the island that can run on biodiesel, seeds?, and breeding stocks) it would be ugly. I’m sure someone out there can do the math.
And it wouldn’t take some SciFy apocalypse. Shipping strike, the Chinese getting pissed off, matson going under, whatever
Get used to the taste of Noni

[TomK]

Seeb's sort of hit the nail on the head. It depends on the disaster. Growing crops isn't going to help if there's radiation and depending on your location, a tsunami might wipe out your whole crop. A massive earthquake might also mean your carefully grown backup supply of food might become unavailable - same with a major hurricane or, god forbid, an asteroid strike.

On the other hand, human-induced disasters such as strikes, loss of fuel supplies etc., seem something that makes it worthwhile to grow your own food. I guess it depends on which you think is more likely; grow your food anyway because you don't know what might happen next.

[KiminPL]

With avocado, orange and pineapple being seasonal, it would be feast or famine for me. Not much farming on my plot because it would result in overproduction for my household, the unharvested food attracting rats and pigs. We are so fortunate to have vibrant farmers markets selling local produce. Not a doomsday kind of planner, myself.

Back in 2014 when the lava flow was approaching, the kitchen was stocked with non-perishable food.
Most of which was not consumed, due to preferences for fresh food. The expired remaining foodstuffs recently went to the transfer station.

[glassnumbers]

stock up on Spam, everyone! shelves and shelves of Spam!

Aloha