If you could only have 5 plants?

earthbound · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:05 pm

This is a question my friends and I have discussed many times. If you were stuck on an island, with the same climate as where you live now, and could only have 5 different plants to grow and survive on, what would they be?

With a Mediterranean climate like here in Perth the choices are fairly limited because there's not much rainfall.

Mine would be something like:

Fig
Olive
Pomegranate
Avocado
Potato

mitch · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:17 pm

Mine would have to be. .

Grape
Fig
Mulberry
Sweet Potato
Passionfruit

They seem to be the ideal plants for our mediterranean climate here in perth. I don't have to do much and they grow incredibly fast and produce heaps of fruit.

Jaymie · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:24 pm

oh, most of these are so seasonal. Are there lots of trees on the island? But just 5 different types?

mango
coconut
sweetleaf
lemon tree
sweet potato

earthbound · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:33 pm

Yeah I think that's the general idea. Well established colonies of only 5 different plants.

Then of course if you could have one animal what would it be..? I'm still undecided between chickens or goats.

mitch · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:42 pm

Figured some pics would be good.

curnow · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:09 am

G'Day Mitch,
I would be up for 6 or so cuttings.

Give me a call if you still have some. 0427586940

I didn't see a PM button anywhere. :dunno:

Is there one?

Cheers
Dennis

chillidude · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:27 am

Yep - have had this discussion with a few people too, so, here's my list;

Banana
Potato
Garlic
Lemon
Pepper vine

The animal would have to be small cows - I need my milk and the extra meat can be cured using salt from the sea and some pepper.

earthbound · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 3:12 am

Hahaha... Nice Chillidude, steak with a creamy pepper sauce... :thumb:

Simo · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:16 am

Ive got to go for what I already know grows well in my area/climate and trying to have a balanced diet.

Oats - high energy grain with a lower yeild than wheat but requires less processing and will store well, plus the left over straw/hay is higher in energy for feeding stock (got to have meat)

Fig - loves our climate and produces massive quantity of fruit for very little effort

Grapes - wine, enough said :drink:

Broad bean - taste yuck IMO but grow well with high yeilds, can be stored and a supplimentary source of protien

Potatoes - ok would require effort but a very versitle veg.

This is hard, I would have liked a citrus aswell.

chillidude · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:03 am

earthbound wrote:

Hahaha... Nice Chillidude, steak with a creamy pepper sauce... :thumb:

Yep - and don't forget the fish and shellfish from the sea around the island.

Simo wrote:

Grapes - wine, enough said

With you there Simo - was planning on making some moonshine with the potatoes. Not very gourmet, but I could flavour it with some of the other plants and you don't have to wait for it to age like wine.

Simo wrote:

Broad bean - taste yuck IMO but grow well with high yeilds, can be stored and a supplimentary source of protien

Mate, boil them till just cooked, peel them down to the bean and then fry them for a few minutes with some prosciutto (or bacon), pepper and lime juice and serve them on toasted bread. I even got my dad to say he liked broad beans when he tried that and he has detested them for over 60 years.

Simo · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:42 pm

Ok, you talked me into it, shame not to eat something that grows so easity in our climate.

earthbound · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 1:06 pm

Anything is good if you put bacon with it..... Even liver...

chillidude · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 1:13 pm

earthbound wrote:

Anything is good if you put bacon with it..... Even liver...

Ssssshhhh !

dufflight · **Posted:** Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:45 am

Tomato
Garlic
onion
potato
pumkin

Simo · **Posted:** Thu Jan 14, 2010 12:38 pm

Actually I change my mind

Barley
Hops
Sugarcane
Potatoes
Grapes
:drink1:

I can live off beer, vodka, wine and meat, Whoo hoo BBQ every night

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