Size of plot for subsistence farming -Reply

[Charles Willis <CAW@nrc.gov>]

Andrew,

Any number you pick will be a judgement call because there are countless
variables.  In the 1800s, the US idea of a family farm was "40 acres and a mule."  In
fact, in China, they seem to survive and there are about 4 people per arable acre
whereas in Australia there are some 6 arable acres per person.  In the US we have
about 4 or 5 acres of actual farmland per person.  People have picked various
numbers but one guess seems about as good as the next, at least in the range of
about 0.25 to 10 acres per person.

Charlie Willis
caw@nrc.gov