If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that society as we know it and the global food supply chain aren’t immune to change or even collapse. Would you be able to survive in the event of sudden food shortages? While we hope never to face such a situation, a little preparedness can go a long way; here are 18 essential survival skills that could help feed your family in a crisis.
Planning
The first step to surviving a food shortage is having a plan and sticking to it. Take an inventory of your current pantry and ensure you eat the most perishable supplies first while saving longer-lasting canned goods (like dried beans, canned fish, and grains) for later. Make realistic, long-term plans to get more food before your stockpile is depleted.
Resourcefulness
Think creatively about alternative food sources you might be able to access. Do you live near a body of water where there are fish? Is there a community garden nearby? Do you have edible plants near your home? Utah State University asserts that resourcefulness was a key survival skill when food was scarce during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl from 1929 to 1941.
Gardening
Even small balconies or window sills can be used to grow herbs, vegetables, and leafy greens. Basic gardening techniques like seed starting, proper watering, and pest control will help you keep your plants healthy and productive. While gardening might not provide fatty, high-calorie food, it will provide essential fresh produce, vitamins, and nutrients you’ll need for survival.
Foraging
Unless you live in a heavily urbanized area, wild edibles are a great option for adding variety and sustenance to your diet. You may find things like berries, fruits, wild garlic, asparagus, ginger, dandelion, and nettle growing in your local environment. Get to know your local area and explore the wilder places so you know the best potential foraging spots.
Food Preservation
Knowing how to preserve food will help you extend the shelf life of any food you acquire, which is especially important in cool climates when food is difficult to grow or find outside. Drying, pickling, or making preserves are great for preserving fruits and vegetables, while smoking or salting keeps meat and fish edible over time. You just need to know how to do it correctly!
Cooking Skills
Creative cooking can help prepare nutritious meals when food is scarce or lacks variety. According to CBC, “Loss of cooking skills has hurt our ability to adapt to rising food prices.” Knowing how to boil, roast, fry, bake, and steam food will help you get the most out of whatever food you have available and ensure you can benefit from a range of alternative food sources.
Trapping
While not for everyone, basic trapping skills can provide essential protein. Familiarize yourself with the local wildlife regulations and obtain any necessary permits before setting humane traps where your target prey is most likely to be caught. Ensure you know how to handle trapped animals and how to dispatch them quickly and painlessly.
Wild Plant Identification
Many resources are available online and in libraries to help you with this crucial skill, which could be the difference between eating a nutritious wild plant and poisoning yourself or others! Be certain about a plant’s identification before consuming it, as many toxic plants closely resemble edible ones. Having an up-to-date and thorough local ID guide will help.
Animal Husbandry
This is only a good option if you have animals that eat abundant local foods humans can’t thrive on, like grass. Raising small animals like chickens, rabbits, sheep, or goats can provide a sustainable source of meat and eggs. However, it does require a significant commitment. You must ensure that they are fed, watered, sheltered, clean, and comfortable.
Rationing
Imperial War Museums states that rationing was essential to human survival during the World Wars when food was scarce due to naval blockages and supply chain disruptions. To make any available food sources last as long as possible, you will need to know how to plan meals, control portion size, minimize waste, and utilize every edible part of a plant or animal.
Water Purification
While not technically food, clean water is essential for survival, and if food shortages occur alongside droughts, water contamination, or loss of water supply, you will need an alternative source. Learn how to purify water from natural sources with methods like boiling, filtration, or purification tablets, and be aware that boiling is the most effective way to kill harmful microbes.
Fishing
Humanity has been catching fish since prehistory, and they are an extremely nutritious, protein-rich food source. Understanding local fish populations and their habitats will increase your chances of success. Learn about different fishing techniques appropriate for your closest waterway, ensure you acquire all the necessary permits, and follow regulations.
Bartering
In times of food scarcity, bartering may replace money as a way to acquire goods. Work on your negotiation skills and know how to identify the items you have of value that can be exchanged for other necessities. These could include things like tools, clothing, or even handmade goods. Learn to be polite and reasonable, yet firm, to ensure you make a fair exchange.
Mushrooming
Improper mushroom identification can be deadly, so collecting wild fungus is something you should never do unless you have adequate training and are confident in your abilities. Invest in a good field guide and learn to recognize the key features of safe, edible mushrooms in your region and when and where to find them. You must also know how to clean, prepare, and cook them.
Hunting
If you choose to hunt for food, proper firearm safety, maintenance, and marksmanship are essential. Take a hunter safety course and practice regularly at a shooting range, but only use hunting as a last resort. Find out which species you’re legally allowed to hunt and their habitats and behaviors, and make sure you are permitted to hunt at a given time and location.
Butchery
If you’re going to hunt wild game, fish, or raise your own animals for meat, you’re going to need to know how to properly gut or butcher them to maximize usable meat. Survivopedia says that cleaning wild game and removing the organs is essential, and you may require tools like a sharp knife, gutting hook, or bone saw. Clearly, it’s not a skill for anyone with a weak stomach.
Food Storage
Knowing how to store food properly isn’t crucial in times of plenty, but it will be an essential survival skill during a food shortage. You’ll need to know how to store different types of fresh produce and preserved foods to maximize their shelf life and prevent spoilage. This is especially important in tropical climates, where humidity and warmth speed up decay.
Community Building
When times are tough, teamwork may be vital for survival. Learn to cooperate with others and work together to produce, gather, preserve, or cook food. Consider connecting with neighbors or forming a community group to share resources, skills, and knowledge, and aim to help out any vulnerable people (like the elderly) who might need extra help from outsiders.
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