Hello all.

For the last few years i've made a local wild food map of my area. I think this is a great resource for anyone out there. Not just in a sit x scenario, but just a general happy feeling from finding wild crops and harvesting them.

On my map are various berries including blackberries, rasberries, even a wild cherry!. I have wild garlic, horseradish, bullaces etc. I harvest every year and make all sorts of things with what i collect. It saves me money and the taste is amazing from wild products.

When harvesting however you should always remember not to take it all. Every time i harvest i spread seeds around, leave some berries on teh bush etc. This way i guarentee my supply.

In the last few years i've started to mark down medicinal plants. By medicinal i mean plants that have been scientifically tested to show their benefits. My local map is massive now and of course i won't be sharing it with anyone because if i do then it will be overused every year.

So i'm trying to encourage everyone on ATS to make a local food map. Whilst it's easy enough to find food when in the wild, having a map makes life far easier. It's also safer.

Of course it doens't have to be a local map, it can be a map of your favorite bug out spot.

Great post IR. Can you show an example of somewhere else, perhaps with names rubbed out, given you would want to preserve the location of your own area? Do you use a topo or just sketch your own hand maps?

Excellent suggestion. While I know of a few blackberry picking spots around my area, I hadn't even thought about being this organized about it.
Even just as a fun project, it is a great way to get back in touch with your local area and it promotes environmental consciousness as well.
Besides...why let all this natural bounty go to waste?

Originally posted by 4N6310
Besides...why let all this natural bounty go to waste?

That's my view, it has nothing to do with sit x tbh it's just i save a lot of money and wild food tastes so lovely.

This is a very good idea, never thought to do it. How many times do you sit back and think, now where was that berry patch I hit last year? Was it by x lake or maybe y lake? Especially if you are in "back-country" areas a map to quickly referance or jot notes onto.

Ill certainly be picking up topo maps dedicated to this purpose, suppose I could program places into my GPS, but Im a little too lazy to bring that thing out with me everytime.

Agreed, safety first. Dont take anything you arent 100% certain of, especially mushrooms.

Fortunately the area I am in, there really arent alot of roads. Good and bad I guess. Most of what I harvest from the wild comes well off the beaten track, 4 wheelers and long hikes.

The other reason I like the map idea over GPS is the ability to add notes, and should power suddenly go away, you are okay. Really, how many times would I want to type into a GPS "Blueberries Here" A good topo map, will give a person the ability to personalize it. Maybe even a map with markings and a small pocket notebook for detail?

Anyways, a good idea is a good idea. Happy hunting.

Originally posted by salchanra
The other reason I like the map idea over GPS is the ability to add notes, and should power suddenly go away, you are okay. Really, how many times would I want to type into a GPS "Blueberries Here" A good topo map, will give a person the ability to personalize it. Maybe even a map with markings and a small pocket notebook for detail?

Actually my map does have some extra notes on the back, for example.

"Wild garlic patch low this year, leave it alone next year and use the other one".

I know that seems silly but the one patch of garlic has been eaten by something or other and so it's nearly non existant. There are bulbs in the ground but as it was like that in summer they probably won't have m,uch time to recuperate the loss of stores in the bulb before the years out.

So this year and next year i leave it alone, use the other patch and hope it grows back. Being able to make notes like that really is useful. The added advantage is that if there ever were some kind of sit x scenario, then charging up a GPS just takes time and might even be impossible.

Sometimes paper is better

Hi all,

Just saw this thread and thought I'd upload one of my old food maps of my region. The map key is the second image. I used this when I first got into local foods, and have updated it heaps now with all the locations of places I go to get consumables.

Rather then go on and on here, I've included the link to a thread I made about my experience with the local food movement.

If anyone wants the latest version of my map, I'm converting it over to Google Earth tonight, so I can zoom in and see every one of my contacts. Will post up when finished.

Food Map:



Map Key:



It's a very rough map, but should give you some idea about the resources available in my area.

Thanks
Shane

This is why I like this site.
I'm fairly adept at survival and can honestly say I've never heard of a food map.
It's a great idea.
Thanks IR



[edit on 29-5-2009 by badgerprints]

Good point! S&F for you.

I have always kept myself aware of my surroundings, but it has brought up a good reminder (at least for me).. if and when the SHTF, my mind will be overloaded with everything that I've learned. I always keep maps of where I live, but I realize now what a great idea that I have overlooked.

Thanks/

True, without food you can't do anything. After water it's has top priority over everything else. Food, water, shelter.

Everything else can be developed if you have the basics.

Going to add local freshwater sources tonight to my map. Totally forgot about them!

Originally posted by shamus78
Going to add local freshwater sources tonight to my map. Totally forgot about them!

You know i've had these maps for ages now, adding to them each year. I made them simply for finding food to reduce my living costs and the fact that wild stuff tastes so much better. I've even made money selling bits and pieces.

I never thought to add water sources because it wasn't about survival but now i'm going to. A great idea.


Oh and shamus i like your map but i'd advise making it slightly more accurate instead of large areas just coloured in. I used little dots on mine, colour coded as you have done. That way i can get within a few hundred meters of everything at the most and find it quickly. You don't want to waste energy walking around for ages.

[edit on 29-5-2009 by ImaginaryReality1984]

Oh and shamus i like your map but i'd advise making it slightly more accurate instead of large areas just coloured in. I used little dots on mine, colour coded as you have done. That way i can get within a few hundred meters of everything at the most and find it quickly. You don't want to waste energy walking around for ages.

Yup, my non-digital map has everything color coded with little dots for locations, what grows there and when. The one here was only to give a basic overview of the area. I also have hunting areas for 'roo and other common animals.

Cheers
Shane

Originally posted by shamus78

Yup, my non-digital map has everything color coded with little dots for locations, what grows there and when. The one here was only to give a basic overview of the area. I also have hunting areas for 'roo and other common animals.

Cheers
Shane

Ahh fair enough. I will be adding water to my map when i can, can't believe i overlooked that one! Although living in England we have plenty falling from the sky