Bug out land prepping

[Scythe13]

Okay, this isn't going to be glitzy, glamorous, sexy, or anything like that. So no sparkly thongs, no feather-boas, and certainly no medal ceremony.

This is a post about something I've greatly considered, and am starting to actually put things into place.

A little while ago someone (I really wish I could remember who and in what thread) spoke about going out and looking at the 'weeds' that were edible and considering helping them grow.

Well this post is kind of based on that, and on other thoughts that I've had personally, and ideas, concepts, and the alike that I've been informed of.

Firstly, this please do not look at this as being just for prepping a bug out location. It's actually really good for bug out routes as well.

Okay, time for the fun.

Let's say you have a 50 mile bug out route. Nothing amazing, but it's not the easiest thing to do. You'll need food, right? Have you looked into planting edible plants, trees, and the alike, along that route? I remember talking to Terry and he said he planted apple trees in certain areas. Brilliant thinking. They'll not attract a huge amount of attention, but you'll know where they are and what's available in that area.

Have you considered a bug out practice and taking some plants into that area to plant? Let's say for example on our next Dartmoor trip, a handful of apple seeds thrown around. No guarantee they'll grow, but it's a start. What about looking at plants already in the area that you can use, instead of just caching items directly, like food. What about prepping the area with some extra Birch for fire starting? How about a bit of Hawthorn for vitamin C and firewood? You can eat stinging nettles, and they grow like weeds...ever thought about dropping some seeds? What about other crops?

Obviously you'll not want to be lugging a 12 foot cherry tree to your next camping session, but taking things like packets of seeds and the alike might well be worth considering.

What about grafting a small branch of a super hardy species of apple? A rotting log with a specific fungus, e.g. Steak Fungus?

This might seem even weirder, but what about spreading ash from a fire, or other fertiliser style stuff in an area to encourage more growth of useful bushcraft plants? Easy enough to do, and it will add a little more fertility to the plants in the area. Slow release fertilisers can go a very long way, and even release nutrients for up to 6 months (but the super slow release is pretty expensive). That makes maintenance pretty simple.

Speaking of maintenance, you could consider a little pruning, adding cutting from the 'prunings', and things like that. What about a little weeding, or even trimming the plant to make it bushier, taller, or whatever you want the plant to do?

You could even start a basic coppice style shelter. You could plant some willow (very quick growing), or something like that, that you'll later use for if you bug out to that area. Or you could plant them into certain locations that you'll use for shelter, or a basha layout, or anything at all like that.

When you bug out, wouldn't it be lovely to bug out to an area full of nutritional, useful plants, ready for you to enjoy? What about walking along your bug out route and being bombarded with a plethora of year round edible plants? That would sure make bugging out much easier and less hassle. As would food acquisition, and the alike, be much less effort too.

Just an idea for you to mull round in your head.