SecondTalon wrote:Grain will keep if stored properly.
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Do you know how to store it properly without power? I sure as hell don't. In a quick lookup, it seems that it's not a big deal if you have stuff set up ahead of time, but doing it alone may be troublesome. Then again, that's for storing for years. If you're storing for months, then it's probably not going to be as big of a problem. Coffee Cans will work for that.
A very quick Youtube search turned up
this video. Not likely to last more than a few years, but it certainly gives you storage in case something happens to your farm. Not to mention past civilizations used to store grain for decades, so that is something worth looking at as well. There's also self-canning. Honestly, if you're someone who is concerned at all with self-sufficiency, you should at least read up on canning and gardening.
I'm also planning on having a source of power anyway. Though, would refrigeration affect the shelf life of canned foods?
SecondTalon wrote:Canned food lasts 1-3 years, apparently, depending on a number of factors. There was some argument on the definition of "lasts" in a few various forum threads in other places.. some were arguing you shouldn't eat it at all, some others were saying that, as long as the can wasn't bulging or leaking or whatever and was intact, the contents wouldn't kill or even cause discomfort, they just were no longer nutritionally sound.
Still, either way, after about two or three years, it would appear a more permanent reoccurring food supply would need to be established. So might as well make it a priority to get to a comfortable climate if you aren't already in one, and get a farm set up and running while you didn't necessarily need it so you'd know what you were doing when you did need it.
Only one human being needing to feed himself should be able to do so just with hunting/gathering, throw in fishing, and you're set. I'd probably have a vegetable garden and some fruit trees to give myself variety.
Something that was touched on earlier is the psychological effect such an event would have on someone. I'm talking about more than just the initial shock of waking up to find every human being dead. I'm talking about year after year after year of being alone. I'd probably cope with pets; in addition to the practical use of dogs and cats, the psychological comfort and companionship they would provide would be invaluable. If I had some way to care for them I might also keep some smaller animals like gerbils and turtles. Even so, I don't know if I would wind up like the guy in Castaway, talking to a volleyball or something, or if the animals would provide a suitable outlet for that. I can imagine some periods of depression, though, especially in the times of the year when there is not a lot to keep myself active, such as winter. Yet another reason to find a warmer place.