Food Planning Guide
This guide explains how to use CVTas's food production planning features to model self-sufficiency for your community.
Quick Start
- Go to Food Planning in the navigation menu
- Click Create New Plan
- Set your population size and land available
- Select crops and set quantities
- Watch the live calorie calculator show your progress toward self-sufficiency
- Click Create Plan to generate a multi-year forecast
Understanding the Calorie Calculator
When creating a food plan, the sidebar shows a live calorie forecast:
What It Shows
- Calories Produced: Annual calories from your selected crops at full maturity
- Calories Needed: Based on your target population and activity level (see Activity Levels below)
- Progress Bar: Visual indicator of self-sufficiency percentage
- Category Breakdown: Calories from Tree Crops, Annuals, Perennials, and Livestock
Activity Levels
Daily calorie requirements vary by activity level. Select the appropriate level when creating a plan:
| Activity Level | Calories/Day | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Sedentary | 2,000 kcal | Desk work, minimal physical activity |
| Light Activity | 2,400 kcal | Some walking, light exercise |
| Moderate/Farming | 2,800 kcal | Regular farm work, moderate physical activity |
| Active Labor | 3,000 kcal | Full-time farming, active physical work |
| Heavy Labor | 3,500 kcal | Construction, intensive farm labor |
The calorie calculator updates in real-time as you change the activity level.
How It's Calculated
For each crop:
Annual Calories = Quantity x Yield(kg) x Calories/kg x (1 - Yield Reduction%)
For example, 50 layer hens:
50 birds x 16kg eggs/year x 1,510 cal/kg x 0.8 (20% reduction) = 966,400 calories
Progress Colors
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Less than 50% of calorie needs met |
| Yellow | 50-99% of calorie needs met |
| Green | 100%+ self-sufficiency achieved |
Crop Types
Tree Crops
Long-term investments that take years to reach full production but provide decades of yield.
| Crop | Yield at Maturity | Calories/kg | Years to Full |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | 50 kg/tree | 520 cal | 5 years |
| Pear | 40 kg/tree | 570 cal | 5 years |
| Plum | 30 kg/tree | 460 cal | 4 years |
| Chestnut | 30 kg/tree | 2,130 cal | 7 years |
| Walnut | 20 kg/tree | 6,540 cal | 8 years |
| Hazelnut | 5 kg/tree | 6,280 cal | 5 years |
Note: Tree crops use an S-curve (logistic) growth model - production starts slowly, accelerates, then plateaus at full maturity.
Annual Crops
Planted and harvested within a single year. Fastest path to calories.
| Crop | Yield | Calories/kg |
|---|---|---|
| Potato | 1.12 kg/sqm | 800 cal |
| Pumpkin | 4.5 kg/sqm | 260 cal |
| Corn | 0.8 kg/sqm | 860 cal |
Perennial Crops
Crops that return year after year without replanting.
| Crop | Yield | Calories/kg | Years to Full |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | 1.5 kg/plant | 200 cal | 3 years |
| Rhubarb | 3 kg/plant | 210 cal | 2 years |
| Globe Artichoke | 2 kg/plant | 470 cal | 2 years |
Livestock
Poultry
| Type | Yield | Calories/kg | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layer Hen (Eggs) | 16 kg/bird/year | 1,510 cal | ~270 eggs x 60g |
| Chicken Australorp (Meat) | 1.9 kg/bird | 2,390 cal | Dressed carcass |
| Chicken Orpington (Meat) | 3.35 kg/bird | 2,390 cal | Larger breed |
| Duck Muscovy | 2.85 kg/bird | 3,370 cal | Meat; eggs bonus |
Tip: Layer hens provide continuous calorie production. 50 layers can produce nearly 1 million calories per year!
Sheep (Grazing Livestock)
Sheep require pasture land and winter feeding. The system calculates land requirements automatically.
| Breed | Meat Yield | Grazing Land | Winter Feed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorper | 20-25 kg | 0.4 ha/head | 216 kg/winter | Hair sheep, no shearing needed |
| Merino | 18-22 kg | 0.5 ha/head | 240 kg/winter | Dual-purpose: meat + 4.5 kg wool/year |
Grazing Requirements: - Each animal needs dedicated pasture land (0.4-0.5 ha) - Winter feeding requires hay/fodder storage or additional land for hay production - System calculates total grazing land and fodder requirements - Hay yield: ~4,000 kg/ha (used for winter feed calculations)
The Yield Reduction Factor
The Yield Reduction % setting (default 20%) accounts for real-world losses:
- Pest damage
- Weather events
- Disease
- Storage losses
- Learning curve for new farmers
A 20% reduction means you only count 80% of theoretical maximum yield. Adjust this based on your experience level and local conditions:
| Setting | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 10% | Experienced farmer, good conditions |
| 20% | Default - cautious planning |
| 30% | Beginner farmer or challenging climate |
| 40% | Very conservative / worst-case scenario |
Planning Strategies
Strategy 1: Fast Start with Livestock + Annuals
Get to partial self-sufficiency quickly: - 50+ layer hens (immediate eggs) - Potatoes, corn, pumpkin (year 1 calories) - Add trees for long-term
Strategy 2: Balanced Portfolio
Mix of quick wins and long-term investments: - 20 layer hens - 1000 sqm potatoes - 20 apple trees - 10 chestnut trees - 5 walnut trees
Strategy 3: Calorie-Dense Focus
Maximize calories per hectare: - Chestnuts and walnuts (highest cal/kg) - Potatoes (reliable, storable) - Layer hens
Understanding the Forecast
After creating a plan, the detail page shows a year-by-year forecast:
| Year | Calories Produced | % Self-Sufficient | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 500,000 | 12% | Only annuals + livestock producing |
| 2 | 800,000 | 19% | Perennials starting |
| 3 | 1,500,000 | 36% | Early tree production |
| 5 | 3,500,000 | 84% | Trees reaching maturity |
| 7 | 4,200,000 | 100% | Full self-sufficiency! |
Key Metrics
- Years to 100%: When you first achieve full self-sufficiency
- Final Self-Sufficiency: Percentage at end of planning horizon
- Total Cost: Cumulative setup and operating costs
Speculative vs. Confirmed Plans
Plans show badges indicating their status:
- Speculative (yellow): No confirmed property purchase linked
- Over-allocated (red): Land allocated exceeds available land
Link a plan to a confirmed property purchase to remove the speculative badge.
Tips for Realistic Planning
- Start small: Plan for 10-20 people before scaling to 100
- Include variety: Don't rely on a single crop
- Plan for storage: Some crops (nuts, potatoes) store well; others don't
- Consider labor: 1000 fruit trees need significant harvest labor
- Think about protein: Eggs and nuts provide protein; most crops are carbs
- Build in buffer: 100% self-sufficiency is the minimum; aim for 120%+
Data Sources and Assumptions
All yield and calorie data comes from agricultural research and is documented in the system. Key assumptions:
- Calories per person: Variable by activity level (2,000-3,500 kcal/day)
- Yield data: Based on commercial production in temperate climates
- Calorie content: USDA food composition database values, FAO food composition tables
- Grazing requirements: Australian agricultural extension services
Viewing Assumptions
Click the Assumptions button on the Food Planning page to see: - All calorie and yield data sources - Key modeling assumptions - Known limitations - Complete crop database by category - Production module details
You can also view crop data in the Admin panel: Food > Crop Types
Common Questions
Q: Why does my forecast show 0% in year 1? A: If you only selected tree crops, they don't produce until year 3-5. Add annuals or livestock for early production.
Q: Can I edit a plan after creating it? A: Currently, edit via Admin panel. A direct edit feature is planned.
Q: Why is my calorie count different from what I calculated? A: Remember the yield reduction factor (default 20%) reduces all production.
Q: What about meat from egg-laying hens? A: The model separates layer hens (eggs) from meat chickens. Culled layers provide bonus protein not counted in forecasts.
Next Steps
- Create your first plan: Start with a small population (10 people)
- Experiment: Try different crop combinations
- Compare scenarios: Create multiple plans with different strategies
- Link to properties: Connect food plans to specific property evaluations
Last updated: January 2026 | CVTas v0.8.0