Sovereignty Module: Feed the Many
Feed the Many
Complete Food Production: From Soil to Table
Complete Food Production: From Soil to Table
Food security is the foundation of all civilization. This campaign covers soil building, crop planning, planting, harvest, preservation, and year-round food supply.
Chapter 1: Caloric Crops by Yield
| Crop | Calories/Acre | Growing Season | Storage Life | Difficulty | Climate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | 15-20 million | 90-120 days | 4-8 months (root cellar) | Low | Cool-temperate |
| Sweet potatoes | 12-18 million | 100-150 days | 4-6 months | Low | Warm-temperate to tropical |
| Corn (maize) | 8-12 million | 80-120 days | Years (dried) | Low-moderate | Warm-temperate |
| Wheat | 6-8 million | 90-130 days | Years (dried grain) | Moderate | Temperate |
| Rice | 8-12 million | 120-180 days | Years (dried) | Moderate-high | Warm + water |
| Beans (dry) | 4-6 million | 80-120 days | Years (dried) | Low | Most climates |
| Squash (winter) | 3-5 million | 90-120 days | 3-6 months | Low | Warm-temperate |
| Oats | 5-7 million | 80-100 days | Years (dried) | Low | Cool-temperate |
| Turnips/rutabaga | 4-6 million | 60-90 days | 4-6 months (root cellar) | Very low | Cool-temperate |
| Jerusalem artichoke | 8-12 million | 120-150 days | Leave in ground (harvest as needed) | Very low | Most climates |
Chapter 2: Garden Planning
| Season | Activity | Crops | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late winter | Start seeds indoors, plan garden | Tomatoes, peppers, brassicas (indoor) | 6-8 weeks before last frost |
| Early spring | Cold-hardy crops direct sow | Peas, lettuce, spinach, radish, onions | As soon as soil workable |
| Mid spring | Transplant starts, sow warm crops | Tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, corn | After last frost |
| Summer | Maintain, harvest, succession plant | All crops producing | Water, weed, pest management |
| Late summer | Fall crop planting | Brassicas, root crops, greens | 60-90 days before first frost |
| Fall | Harvest, preserve, store | Root crops, winter squash, dry beans | Process and store before hard freeze |
| Winter | Plan, repair tools, start seeds | Indoor sprouts, stored food consumption | Maintain root cellar, plan next year |
Chapter 3: Soil Building
| Amendment | Nutrient Content | Application Rate | Source | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compost | Balanced (N-P-K + micronutrients) | 2-4 inches/year | Kitchen/garden waste + manure | Improves all soil properties |
| Aged manure (cow) | Moderate N, moderate P, low K | 1-2 inches/year | Cattle | Builds organic matter, feeds soil life |
| Chicken manure | High N, high P, moderate K | 1/2-1 inch (composted) | Poultry | Hot — must compost first or burn plants |
| Wood ash | High K, high Ca, raises pH | 5-10 lbs per 100 sq ft | Hardwood fires | Raises pH (for acidic soils only) |
| Bone meal | High P, high Ca | 5-10 lbs per 100 sq ft | Ground bones | Promotes root growth, flowering |
| Green manure (cover crop) | Varies (legumes fix N) | Sow entire bed, turn under | Clover, vetch, rye, buckwheat | Prevents erosion, adds organic matter |
| Biochar | Carbon storage, nutrient retention | 5-10% by volume (mix into soil) | Charcoal (crushed) | Improves water/nutrient retention permanently |
| Lime (calcium carbonate) | Calcium, raises pH | Per soil test (typically 5-10 lbs/100 sq ft) | Ground limestone | Corrects acidic soil |
Chapter 4: Preservation Methods
| Method | Shelf Life | Equipment | Energy | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root cellar (cold storage) | 3-8 months | Underground room (cool, humid, dark) | None (passive) | Root crops, apples, cabbage, squash |
| Drying/dehydrating | 1-5 years | Sun, fire, or dehydrator | Low-moderate | Fruits, vegetables, herbs, meat (jerky) |
| Smoking | 3-12 months | Smokehouse | Moderate (sustained fire) | Meat, fish |
| Salt curing | 6-24 months | Salt (large quantity) | None | Meat, fish, vegetables |
| Fermentation (lacto) | 6-18 months | Crocks, salt, vegetables | None | Cabbage (sauerkraut), cucumbers, kimchi |
| Canning (water bath) | 1-5 years | Jars, lids, large pot | Moderate (boiling) | High-acid foods (fruits, pickles, tomatoes) |
| Canning (pressure) | 1-5 years | Pressure canner, jars, lids | Moderate | Low-acid foods (meat, vegetables, beans) |
| Sugar preservation (jam) | 1-3 years | Sugar, jars, pot | Low | Fruits (jams, jellies, preserves) |
| Vinegar pickling | 1-3 years | Vinegar, jars, spices | Low | Vegetables, eggs |
| Freezing | 6-12 months | Freezer (requires electricity) | High (continuous) | All foods (if power available) |
Chapter 5: Year-Round Food Supply (Family of 4)
| Category | Annual Need | Storage Method | Acres Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain (wheat/corn/oats) | 1,000-1,500 lbs | Dry storage (sealed bins) | 0.5-1.0 acre | Staple calories |
| Potatoes/roots | 500-800 lbs | Root cellar | 0.1-0.2 acre | Staple calories + vitamins |
| Dry beans/legumes | 100-200 lbs | Dry storage | 0.1-0.2 acre | Protein + calories |
| Preserved vegetables | 200-400 quarts | Canned/fermented/dried | 0.1-0.3 acre | Vitamins + variety |
| Preserved fruit | 100-200 quarts | Canned/dried/jammed | Orchard (5-10 trees) | Vitamins + sugar |
| Meat/fish | 200-400 lbs | Smoked/salted/canned | Livestock or hunting | Protein + fat |
| Dairy (if available) | 300-500 gallons milk/year | Fresh + cheese + butter | 1 cow or 2-3 goats | Protein + fat + calcium |
| Fats/oils | 50-100 lbs | Rendered lard/tallow, pressed oil | From livestock or oil crops | Essential for cooking + calories |
| Eggs | 500-1,000/year | Fresh (daily) or preserved | 5-10 hens | Protein + nutrition |
| Honey/sweetener | 30-60 lbs | Sealed jars (indefinite) | 1-2 hives | Energy + preservation |
Total land: approximately 2-5 acres per family of 4 (depending on climate, soil, and livestock).
Chapter 6: Pest and Disease Management
| Strategy | Method | Effectiveness | Labor | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crop rotation | Change crop family each year per bed | High (breaks disease cycles) | Low | None |
| Companion planting | Beneficial plant combinations | Moderate | Low | None |
| Physical barriers | Row cover, netting, fencing | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| Hand picking | Remove pests manually | High (small scale) | High | None |
| Beneficial insects | Attract/release predators (ladybugs, wasps) | Moderate-high | Low | Low |
| Neem oil spray | Botanical insecticide | Moderate | Low | Low |
| Diatomaceous earth | Physical insecticide (desiccates) | Moderate | Low | Low |
| Trap crops | Sacrifice plants to lure pests away | Moderate | Low | Low |
| Sanitation | Remove diseased plants immediately | High (prevents spread) | Moderate | None |
| Resistant varieties | Plant disease-resistant cultivars | High | None | None (seed selection) |
Reference Card
- Potatoes: highest calories per acre. Easy to grow. Store 4-8 months in root cellar. Plant eyes 12 inches apart, 4 inches deep.
- Three Sisters: corn + beans + squash together. Corn = structure for beans. Beans = nitrogen for all. Squash = ground cover (suppresses weeds).
- Compost: the foundation of fertility. Layer green (nitrogen) + brown (carbon). Turn weekly. Ready in 2-4 months.
- Root cellar: 32-40°F, 85-95% humidity. Underground or bermed. Stores root crops, apples, cabbage for months.
- Fermentation: salt + vegetables + time = preserved food + probiotics. Sauerkraut: 2% salt by weight, pack tight, submerge.
- Seed saving: let best plants go to seed. Dry thoroughly. Store cool and dark. Label with year. Test germination before planting.
- 2-5 acres feeds a family of 4. Grain + potatoes + beans + garden + livestock + orchard = complete nutrition year-round.
- Crop rotation: never plant same family in same spot two years running. Prevents disease buildup and nutrient depletion.
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