If you had to live off the land, could you?

Seeing my home is in the forest, I hunt , fish, gather ginseng, paw paws, mushrooms, and am trained in survival techniques from my military days, yes.

Warren, the things that matter now will cease to have any importance then. My worst failings are in not achieving financial success- but there are many city survival sklills that only poverty and being n the streets can teach you. Therein is my talent. I could survive either in the wild or zombie apocapalooza, I can shoot a weapon and hit a target from a reasonable distance, I can grow food in the Las Vegas Soil with my own elbow grease, compost and ash; I can identify edible plants in the southwesr deserts and mountains, and I know how to filter water effectively using several methods- though some REALLY do not taste good.I know how to care for wounds and could probably stitch one up with a little assistance. I am good at keeping aggressive creatures calmed and or off guard and hesitant...I can mediate between arguments to help sides come to an agreement...I know how to tell stories that I can make up on the spot, and get others aduts as well as children to be interactive.

But I am small and my bones are thin, and I would have a hard time hauling stuff or building shelters or going in hand-to-hand combat with an aggressor. I could not work with too large a weapon.

That's why I gladly step up to ask a man to do those things, though it is not the scenario described in your question, but opening jars, carrying large items, weilding the bigger weapons from their more well-stockedarsenal!! Oh and tools. Though I got power tools of my own the first birthday after I was married.

Good food for thought

I would be OK anywhere except a desert. Finding food and making shelter would be the easiest parts of surviving. . The big troubles would start when my boots wear out or I break the handle of my knife. There are very few days where part of my diet isn't something a grew, hunted or foraged.

Actually the way I see; the first month is when you find out if you could survive. Once you survive a month there is no reason why you couldn't survive forever. I don't know if I could do it if I was just dropped there with nothing. In order to survive I would probably need at least a hatchet, a bow with arrows and a lighter or some matches until I can figure out how to make fire by myself.

Cavemen or nomadic people never had to do these things on their own, they always had a group to rely on.

Seacoast would be the easiest if you don't tired of fish. However, you will have to find a nice source for water. If you can survive fourteen days alone, over six weeks in a group, then you could possibly survive for a few years or longer, depending how you manage and grow your resources for water and food. However, you will need a wide knowledge for plan foods or other plants for medicinal purposes.

That's one tough Question there! I recently moved to new quarters at Byron, CA, USA, and the front yard has a mini-orchard. A strong knife from Cold Steel®, specifically an SRK™ in Carbon V® (Vendor's current versions are in SK-5 carbon steel and VG-1 SAN MAI Ξ®), is definitely useful for a variety of important tasks with plants, in addition to cleaning and dressing flesh to supplement a probably vegetarian diet. I'm still on the hunt for a suitable composite bow, which would come in handy for taking small game, and a suitable short sword for dispatching intermediate game and livestock (I've heard of boar swords but could use some hard information on dimensions, construction, &c. thereof).

Honestly, given both lack of sufficient land for crops (farms aren't the desirable they once were) and scarcity of game and livestock in a semi-suburban area, it's hard to say.

A lot would depend on the environment and what I had with me. The zone of perpetual snow and ice would probably be the toughest; I'd need a large knife for carving snow-blocks for my igloo and a .22 with plenty of ammunition for hunting. A net would be nice to have too. In contrast, tropical rain-forest would be a piece of cake. I could probably handle that with just a sheath-knife.

If you are wondering about it, FATHER GOD is telling you something. Grow a garden and can it in jars. Kill rabbits and deer to eat. Look back at how people lived 50 years ago before we became dependent on large stores. There's no guarantee they'll be here forever.

That would also include those of us who wish to be alone, without the community. But a warm, cozy friend's home is always a welcome relief.

I could live off the land very easily down here. But would soon turn to a vegetarian. Exept for fish.

Love to catch fish!

Now you got me daydreaming about fishing for a living.

If I was within walking distance of Walmart....no problem.

Seriously though, most people could not live off the land. If you had a gun, lots of ammo, and knife, you would have a chance. I hope I never find out the hard way.

Good question for Thanksgiving weekend.