4 ms·

I like gardening and have been a very small-scale gardener my whole life, but mostly flowers and a couple of tomato and bean plants. How much space would you ne

I like gardening and have been a very small-scale gardener my whole life, but mostly flowers and a couple of tomato and bean plants. How much space would you need for a true subsistence garden? Like a family of 4, producing all your own produce (or you know the vast majority of it, excluding that which cannot grow in your conditions), plus giving a small percentage to friends and neighbors. A quick search does not seem to be super helpful.

orwin 3y ago
Converting in US units, 10 to 12 acres should be enough? Maybe a bit more if you want well fed chickens (the trick is to let them go ham in your fields in between crops (my parents both farmed their peas this weekend and will probably plant salads behind next weekend, and in the meantime, the chickens enjoy the field). It's easier if you eat meat and know how to kill your chickens, as you can 'rotate' them out every 2-3 years, my mother's chickens have one egg a week max.
- orwin 3y ago
  The 12 acres figure is with trees and berries, as well as some decorative plants. Also people still steal chickens if its easy enough, so clip their wing and try to keep them on your property.
  - checkyoursudo 3y ago
    So about 4-5 ha? We do not eat meat really. Maybe at a restaurant, or some fish at home, but not really otherwise. I could handle raising some chickens for eggs or otherwise as pest control when they are infertile. I used to tend to the chickens on my grandma's farm throughout my childhood. How many chickens for 5 ha of gardens+trees+berries, do you think?
    - orwin 3y ago
      Depends on the chicken type. You ought to ask local farmers. My father have very aggressive black chickens, a rare breed named after a town 10 km north. 2 of them do the same damage as 6 factory chickens. And it depends on your needs in eggs too. 3-4 chickens for a family of 4 is enough if you only eat eggs occasionally. My grandmother bought 12 chickens every two years for a family of 3.

orwin 3y ago

Converting in US units, 10 to 12 acres should be enough? Maybe a bit more if you want well fed chickens (the trick is to let them go ham in your fields in between crops (my parents both farmed their peas this weekend and will probably plant salads behind next weekend, and in the meantime, the chickens enjoy the field). It's easier if you eat meat and know how to kill your chickens, as you can 'rotate' them out every 2-3 years, my mother's chickens have one egg a week max.

orwin 3y ago
The 12 acres figure is with trees and berries, as well as some decorative plants. Also people still steal chickens if its easy enough, so clip their wing and try to keep them on your property.
- checkyoursudo 3y ago
  So about 4-5 ha? We do not eat meat really. Maybe at a restaurant, or some fish at home, but not really otherwise. I could handle raising some chickens for eggs or otherwise as pest control when they are infertile. I used to tend to the chickens on my grandma's farm throughout my childhood. How many chickens for 5 ha of gardens+trees+berries, do you think?
  - orwin 3y ago
    Depends on the chicken type. You ought to ask local farmers. My father have very aggressive black chickens, a rare breed named after a town 10 km north. 2 of them do the same damage as 6 factory chickens. And it depends on your needs in eggs too. 3-4 chickens for a family of 4 is enough if you only eat eggs occasionally. My grandmother bought 12 chickens every two years for a family of 3.