How many people can land support?

[MaryN]

Well said, SS. Personally I think survival is a human instinct that becomes very well developed in some people. I had a eureka moment myself and decided I need to get my family on track to look out for ourselves. It is not the easy path by any means. Gardening by pottering around nipping off rose heads is fun, but is nothing like the efforts needed to actually grow enough food to provide a standard of "eating". Add livestock to that equation and you are looking at a minimum of 14-16 hours a day in very busy times. Most people who think they could buy a bit of land and it just looks after itself would be in for one hell of a shock. I couldn't think of doing anything else now. I like being able to produce food for the table. We are also great recyclers and have a whole field shelter full of "useful" things, and it is amazing how often we dip into them; not just for our own use but to help out neighbours as well. Deadwood from our hedges and dropped branches are tucked away for burning in winter. It's actually very satisfying.