Raven and Alara followed Momma Jean through the winding underground halls, the sound of restored power echoing faintly in the background of the lights above their heads. They walked into a massive underground hydroponics farm, a large cement room that stretched out in front of them like a hidden small football field. Momma Jean gestured around, her voice echoing slightly against the high walls.
"This hydroponics farm was in terrible shape when we first found it," Momma Jean began saying. "There was discarded couches, broken beds, trash piled up everywhere… It looks like the local gangs and teenagers used it for whatever they wanted. The girls and I spent days clearing everything out of here. In the levels below, we discovered a massive stash of MRE meals and freeze-dried food, good for at least twenty more years. While living in the mall, I also secured a stash of seeds corn, soybeans, wheat, and other crops."
Alara stepped forward, her blue eyes looking over the room. "When you send out scavenging teams, prioritize raiding grocery stores for beans. Most people overlook them, but beans actually put nutrients back into the soil while corn sucks them out. That's why farmers rotate crops with beans. Beans carry as much protein as meat sometimes even more. Even dried beans can be planted again with a bit of water and soil. Raiders and looters won't even bother taking them because they don't realize their true value."
Momma Jean frowned in thought. "If that's true… then how come most Americans don't know about this? I've never heard of soybeans having more protein than meat."
Raven interjected before Alara could speak again, her tone amused. "You've never been poor, that's why. In the U.S., poor families rely on beans as a cheap protein source since they can't afford meat. It's like rice in Japan, though rice doesn't carry nearly as much protein. Any serious gym enthusiast or bodybuilder can tell you that beans are an affordable way to stock up on protein without spending money on expensive protein powders."
As Raven spoke, Momma Jean reached into her pocket and pulled out a plastic bag, munching loudly on bright orange, carrot-shaped cheese sticks the bag was labeled "Cheetiz Stiks. Taste The Cheeterz" She eat while nodding in agreement, saying. "Right… prioritize beans and other overlooked supplies. We also found a big stash of wheat seeds. We got lucky on our way here, we passed a community garden in a small suburban town near here. Their were no crops, but the local idiots didn't check the locked shed nearby, which was full of seeds for the spring planting season, probably because the door was locked."
Alara scoffed as she crossed her arms disdanfuly against her chest. "The stupidity of you humans never ceases to amaze me… Just break down the damn door. It's not that hard. However you like to overlook the most obvious solutions every single time."
Momma Jean winced at these words but forced out a nervous laugh, choosing to ignore Alara's slip of the tongue about "you humans." She nodded quickly to Alara. "You're absolutely right. People really can be that stupid. They don't think about breaking into sheds or storerooms. We also grabbed a lot of gardening tools. The girls will start planting the wheat and bean seeds down here now that power and water has been restored. Now we can use the grow lights to grow crops.
Raven raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised at the mention of growing lights. "I'm amazed the government left behind functional plant growing lights… But if you need more, just let me know. I can manufacture as many as you need. We might even dedicate another large room for animal farming with rabbits, for example. People underestimate how fast rabbits can breed. Ten rabbits can turn into a hundred in a few weeks time. I already have a decent supply of them ready to go for your use."
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