New Article Explores Backyard Farming during a Pandemic

During the pandemic, there has been a big shift to people growing their own food. But how self-sufficient could they really be?

ACEP’s David Denkenberger is the co-author on a recently published peer-reviewed journal article that analyzes how much of the protein for a typical household in the U.S. could be produced in the backyard from soybeans, grass-fed rabbits, pellet and hay-fed rabbits, or pellet-fed chickens.

Only using the average backyard resources in the U.S., soybean cultivation can provide 80%-160% of household protein, and 0%–50% of a household’s protein needs can be provided by pasture-fed rabbits using only the yard grass as feed. If feed can be purchased, raising 52 chickens, while also harvesting the eggs, or 107 grain-fed rabbits can meet 100% of an average household’s protein requirements.

Backyard production can be lower environmental impact, especially if using local resources. These food sources could be even more important for more extreme catastrophes. Now, who is ready to raise 107 grain-fed rabbits in their backyard?