During the 30 years war, they switched to below ground crops because they could not be burned and were less likely to be pillaged. A good idea post peak. Also, every time I think about the 30 years war, I think what a great video game that would make. Turn Based Strategy, RPG as a mercenary soldier, resource management game, the potential is endless.

Ron-
I have been scouting also. Huge amount of wild plums within walking distance, and the abandoned apples are looking good. As a former Commercial Fisherman (the last hunter gathers on a major level), and avid mushroom hunter, it astounds me how little people know about food in the wild. People are terrified of mushrooms. I spent 200 days a year in a sleeping bag, and find the new age "vision quest" hilarious! Wow 3 days by yourself alone in the "wild".

If you get the house on 5 acres, check out Gene Logsdon book All Flesh is Grass. He gives an example of a couple with 5 acres and using rotational grazing for a horse, calf, flock of chickens and a pig complete with a garden and fruit trees.

You know...all these gardens need a name...you know like "Victory Gardens"? How about "PO Gardens" or "TOD Gardens"?

Any other ideas so we can tell our neighbors why we are planting all these gardens?

They called them Beer Bongs at college.

they sell a nifty little hand powered planter at our local tracker supply co. store.

It has a hooper for seeds, a wheel and a handlebar. different plastic attactments for various seeds , all for under $100. My buddy next door bought one, I borrowed it to plant corn.

Yes, the soil was ready. It is called muck soil and part of the black dirt region of Orange County, NY (adjacent to New Jersey and Pennsylvania). All together there are 800 acres. It was purchased by a non-profit organization, Global Country Farm. 200 acres are in the CRP/CREP program. 500 acres will be planted with corn and soybeans and grown organically. (We're getting a very late start due to funding issues). I am volunteering my time in exchage for being able to use some of the land to grow vegetables for myself, friends, the Mexican family who live on the property and the rest we will sell to others. There was a cover crop grown for three years which was tilled into the soil with a tractor. The planting of seeds was done by hand. The most difficult to plant were the 500 sweet potatoe slips as those required me to plant on my hands and knees. But this black dirt (glacial soil) is like butter to work with. It's so soft and pliable with a good amount of organic mass. There are also 11 greenhouses which have not been used for years in which we will get three going by this winter and attempt to grow cold tolerant vegetables Eliot Coleman style -- low tech. I would strongly recommend anyone interested in gardening to find a local farmer and strike some type of deal. I am still growing a large home garden, fruit trees, etc. but this experience is invaluable. Plus, I'm getting to know all the farmers in the area, the John Deere people, the Tractor Supply Company people etc. etc. I'm also looking for some black dirt to buy. It would really be great to get a group together to buy it in the fashion that gun clubs pool together money to buy land for hunting.