Most cities have landscaping that includes edible and useful plants. Daylily tubers, pine needle tea, etcetera could stretch out your resources in a pinch.

I'm sure Blast and others will direct you to information sources (like his website).

Yeah, they may be heavily treated with pesticides, herbicides, and enjoy a nice coat of "smog" but in a survival emergency ....

How are the docks treating you?

I gotta tell ya, in the urban environment, if it gets to that point, I will likely be making more use of my glass breaking and lock picking skills rather than plant identification. YMMV.

Craig.

And after you and the other looters have cleaned out the food...?

With his mentality... people next? You never know... *shocking*

I know how you feel, even with the books, and little "guides" i have... it's still hard. I mean I can't even locate 50%+ of the items they say I should be able to find.

Hey, Todd, take a look at the Sacramento Tracker Yahoo Group. Plant ID and lots of other survival skill stuff near you. No fees or formalities.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Sacramento_Tracking_And_Wilderness_Traing_Group/

Really. Consider this scenario: Trapped in your office building for days with no electricity and no potential rescue anytime soon. Your co-workers are starving and the only food is inside a vending machine that won't operate because the electricity is out. What do you do?

I'll gladly pay the guy for the food and damages after everyone makes it out and I'll be happy to explain my actions to a judge. We're talking about saving lives, not a five-finger discount on a DVD player. Geez.

Craig.

Craig - Your original post makes it sound like you intend to break into someones home, garage, shed, and take their stuff.

I also don't see how you can be "trapped in your office" for days... if you can bust the vending machine to get "snacks" why not bust a window to get OUT of the building and walk home?

I don't think anyone has an issue with busting a vending machine open in your office if you are stuck there with no power for days on end...

But just saying you are going to pick locks and bust glass and take what you need can be taken a LOT of different ways

I think that we all here have the morals to use our "alternate" skills responsibly. Meaning that if a lock is between us and feeding people who are in need of food or finding shelter, we would find a way to circumnavigate it. I would like to think that the people on this forum would leave a note or something explaining it.

But that is just my opinon of those that I see post.