City foraging

Is foraging in a city a viable option for finding really available food?

I've seen berry bushes in some cities but am very ignorant of what plants etc are edible that we just don't eat.

 

Seeing as most everybody has headed for the hills those few left will be able to salvage from others veggie gardens
You can even check garages and sheds for tools and seeds and work that garden somewhat!
Potatoes would be the go as they hide themselves well!

 

The only thing I thought of when I saw your post about city foraging was the concept of dumpster diving that I've heard people talk about. I don't know that it would work in a life or death kind of survival situation though - but if you want information about it, look up "freeganism" and you should be able to find a lot online. It's rather fascinating about how people will find perfectly good food in dumpsters that companies just throw out.

 

I do think that foraging in a city in order to survive is definitely doable, but my main concern would be how many others would actually be doing the same? In another post it was mentioned about other people running away from the city into the hills and if that happens and you've got the city to yourself then you'd have no problems surviving. The major problem would come if people stayed where they are and then it would be a straight fight to use whatever you could find in that city before you'd all then move on to the next one and do the same again.

 

^ Dumpster diving was my first thought, too. I know plenty of people who forage like this right now.
I would leave the city, but on my way out I would try to check in dumpsters, grocery stores, gas stations, etc. if they were not already being looted, emptied, or claimed by other people. I would gather up as much food as I could. I would also eventually try to plant any seeds I found in the looted fruits and vegetables around my new dwelling.

 

As said above, city foraging is definitely a viable option because there are so many edible options that people overlook or don't think about. From the plants to stuff that you can get from trees, people right now eat some of the stuff that's available. Only thing would be to make sure that even though it might be edible, it won't make you worse off than you are. So do your best to protect yourself from contamination. I know people consider dumpster diving a great alternative, but there are some things in the dumpster I would never touch. Like one of the members also posted above, you can be sure that if it is a SHTF moment, most will leave behind good supplies that you can use to help with your survival. Whatever is gained, you should be able to effectively use to guide you in the right direction whether it's first aid tools, a basement full of items that you can pack up and take or even weapons for protection.

 

I like your idea of thinking outside the box, and you'r right in saying the first place people ill head for will be the supermarkets. As for the filling stations though, you may also find that they're one of the first places people will go as petrol and diesel will be in high demand also, so while people are syphoning as much fuel as they can, the store will also be one of the first places to be targeted as well I would have though.