Starvation. It is right around the corner. If I was on Mars with no
re-supply I'd be in big trouble. Several days ago I picked my last
cabbage, though there is still half of it left. Last night I picked
my last beet, and although I'm hoping I can root around and find
another onion or two, I may not. Carrots: almost gone. Spinach: just
a few leaves left. Turnips: not a lot. Wheat: all gone except that
reserved for seed. Potatoes...they are the key, since 94% of my
calories comes from them. I have 6 plants left. I usually harvest 2
plants per day, though on some days I've only eaten one--and on one
day I had to pick 4 plants. So I am entering my last few days because
I think perhaps I'll exit instead of starve *grin*

More about my health problems (solved); furnace breakdown (fixed on
try #3); data tracked (tons), water usage (very low) and weather
problems (snow) plus more in the full update at:
http://isecco.org/projects/celss/marsbase/2004/update5.html

Enjoy!
Ray C.
Mars Base Zero::Out of onions :(

ps want to join? Free internet membership at:
http://isecco.org/forms/join.html
We send out project updates and meeting notices about 12 times a year.

Actually, barring any unusual health conditions, you might be able to
last for a couple of months with no food (as long as you had water) [but
likely damage your health]. In fact, current research suggests people on
reduced calorie diets live longer. In general, hours or days of fasting
(even a juice fast) may when done properly be good for your mental or
physical health.
http://www.healthy.net/library/articles/naturopathic/art.fasting.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting
Juice fasts (nothing but water or juices) for several days can be fairly
easy to do and help keep the body from burning too much muscle
(obviously check with your doctor first if there are any issues, etc.).
Some people think a prolonged fast kicks the body into scavenger mode
and causes your body to clean up junk lying around in cells. In any
case, knowing what is a needed and healthy amount of food for space
settlers may differ from either the amount of food typical US citizens
eat or the larger amount farmers or athletes eat if they do a lot of
physical labor.

By the way, I forgot to mention this before, but I think there are some
potential issues with excess nitrate production in lettuce or other
vegetables when grown in lower levels of daylight and in enclosed areas
(like a "Solviva" greenhouse). Something to consider long term. See for
example:
http://www.fuzzylu.com/greencenter/rr/rr003.htm
"During midwinter low-light conditions in many greenhouses, nitrate
accumulates in many plants as they take up nitrate but lack the light to
photosynthesize and reduce the nitrate to amino acids. Excessive nitrate
in greenhouse lettuce is a major concern in the Netherlands, and it is
possible that this biofilter configuration is unsuitable for growing
certain leafy food crops in the midwinter if levels of available nitrate
are high (Brinton 1985, Vogtmann et al. 1984)."
See also:
http://www.solviva.com/Greyburg_Greendale-BOOK.htm

Thanks for all the updates, and good luck also on your new project (your
upcoming baby!)

--Paul Fernhout

--- In ssi_list@... "Paul D. Fernhout"
> Actually, barring any unusual health conditions, you might be able to
> last for a couple of months with no food (as long as you had water)
True, but the object is to provide support, not to loose weight *grin*.

> In fact, current research suggests people on
> reduced calorie diets live longer.
True. The data on this is very solid for many animals; for man it
hasn't yet been shown but I personally feel it is likely...

> Some people think a prolonged fast kicks the body into scavenger mode
> and causes your body to clean up junk lying around in cells.
Though there isn't any evidence for this...

> case, knowing what is a needed and healthy amount of food for space
> settlers may differ from either the amount of food typical US citizens
> eat or the larger amount farmers or athletes eat if they do a lot of
> physical labor.
Very true. I had very little labor that I was doing, so a low calorie
intake didn't have much affect on productivity.

> By the way, I forgot to mention this before, but I think there are some
> potential issues with excess nitrate production in lettuce or other
> vegetables when grown in lower levels of daylight and in enclosed areas
> (like a "Solviva" greenhouse). Something to consider long term.
Actually the amount of lettuce and other crops that I ate where this
would pose a problem were pretty limited.

> Thanks for all the updates, and good luck also on your new project
(your
> upcoming baby!)
Thanks!

Ray
Mars Base Zero inhabitant no more :(