From the main base, you can find potatoes in a variety of specialized locations. Travel down the hill to a few buildings and search by the burn pit. Also, check the area around the crashed helicopter to find potatoes for your garden. Corn is an even better item to grow in your garden. It can be found east of your basecamp; just keep searching for resources. Although gardens are good to have, growing is not the most efficient way to stay fed. It takes two hours to grow, so you will still need to hunt for animals and other food items. Between larger meals, it is recommended to listen for small animals. Listen for squeaks and shoot rats or other rodents, then cook the meat for a small boost. Do not search the same areas, as you normally have to push into new locations to get more food and water. Animals do respawn, but it is a slow process.