Food Production Assumptions

Data sources and modeling assumptions for food planning

Back to Plans
Key Assumptions
Baseline Values
  • Daily Calorie Target: 2000 kcal/person
  • Default Yield Reduction: 20%
  • Default Planning Horizon: 10 years
Modeling Assumptions
  • Yield figures assume good soil, adequate water, and appropriate climate
  • Calorie values are averages; actual values vary by variety and growing conditions
  • Time to production assumes healthy, well-cared-for plants
  • Storage months assume appropriate storage conditions (cool, dark, dry)
  • Livestock yields assume humane, pasture-based management
Calorie Data Sources
Tree crops
FAO food composition tables, regional agricultural data
Annual crops
USDA FoodData Central, local extension services
Livestock
Australian meat industry standards
Perennial vegetables
Permaculture literature, trial data
Yield Data Sources
Tree crops
Local nursery data, agricultural extension publications
Annual crops
Regional agricultural statistics, home gardener reports
Livestock
Industry standards adjusted for small-scale production
Known Limitations
  • Does not account for crop failures, pests, or disease
  • Labor requirements not quantified
  • Water requirements not included in calculations
  • Seasonal availability not modeled
  • Processing/preservation losses not included

Crop Database

All crops and their production data used in calculations

Annual Crop
Name Yield Calories (kcal/kg) Time to Production Full Production Storage
Potato 1.12 kg/sqm 740-860 Immediate Year 1 6 months
Pumpkin 6.00 kg/plant 460-470 Immediate Year 1 6 months
Sunflower 0.18 kg/plant 58200-61900 Immediate Year 1 -
Tomato 8.00 kg/plant 170-180 Immediate Year 1 -
Livestock
Name Yield Calories (kcal/kg) Time to Production Full Production Storage
Chicken Australorp 1.90 kg/animal 2390-2390 Immediate Year 1 -
Chicken Orpington 3.35 kg/animal 2390-2390 Immediate Year 1 -
Duck Muscovy 2.85 kg/animal 3370-3370 Immediate Year 1 -
Sheep Dorper 22.50 kg/animal 2500-2500 Immediate Year 1 -
Sheep Merino 20.00 kg/animal 2500-2500 Immediate Year 1 -
Perennial Crop
Name Yield Calories (kcal/kg) Time to Production Full Production Storage
Artichoke 1.50 kg/plant 700-800 1.0 years 2.0 years -
Asparagus 0.30 kg/plant 200-250 2.0 years 4.0 years -
Blackberry 5.00 kg/plant 430-470 1.0 years 2.0 years -
Blackcurrant 4.00 kg/plant 680-710 2.0 years 3.0 years -
Blueberry 3.50 kg/plant 560-570 2.0 years 4.0 years -
Elderberry 10.00 kg/plant 700-730 1.0 years 2.0 years -
Pepperberry 1.10 kg/plant 256-385 2.0 years 3.0 years -
Raspberry 1.20 kg/plant 520-530 1.0 years 2.0 years -
Rhubarb 3.50 kg/plant 200-210 1.0 years 3.0 years -
Tree Crop
Name Yield Calories (kcal/kg) Time to Production Full Production Storage
Apple 100.00 kg/tree 510-670 3.0 years 5.0 years -
Apricot 35.00 kg/tree 385-480 3.0 years 5.0 years -
Avocado 75.00 kg/tree 375-417 4.0 years 7.0 years -
Grapefruit 110.00 kg/tree 380-520 4.0 years 6.0 years -
Hazelnut 3.50 kg/tree 630-630 3.0 years 5.0 years -
Lemon 110.00 kg/tree 280-300 3.0 years 5.0 years -
Lime 40.00 kg/tree 300-400 3.0 years 5.0 years -
Orange 110.00 kg/tree 300-350 4.0 years 6.0 years -
Pear 90.00 kg/tree 500-600 3.0 years 5.0 years -
Plum 40.00 kg/tree 400-460 3.0 years 5.0 years -
Quince 60.00 kg/tree 550-660 3.0 years 5.0 years -

Production Modules

Pre-designed permaculture modules for food security planning

Orchard with integrated poultry and bees
10% calories

Area: 0.8 ha

Components:

fruit_trees chickens ducks bees understory
Berry fruits traditional hedgerow
4% calories

Area: 0.4 ha

Components:

berries understory
Greenhouse external rotation crops
11% calories

Area: 472 m2

Components:

citrus_espalier sunflower pumpkin tomato
Greenhouse internal fixed trees
2% calories

Area: 2023 m2

Components:

avocado orange
Hazelnuts with perennials and bees
15% calories

Area: 1.0 ha

Components:

hazelnuts asparagus rhubarb artichoke bees
Large scale potato production
30% calories

Area: 3.16 ha

Components:

potato
Market garden rotation crops

Components:

carrot garlic onion swede turnip parsnip legumes brassicas beetroot
High intensity vegetable production

Components:

lettuce spinach silverbeet kale leek spring_onion zucchini peas beans
Land Requirements (100 person baseline)
Productive Cropping:

8.38 ha

Fruit Orchard + Poultry:

2.0 ha

Dairy Pasture:

12.0 ha

Fodder/Hay:

6.0 ha

Recommended Total (with 20% buffer):

34.0 ha

Typical Range:

30-40 ha