In spring, I put a few sprouting potatoes in the compost, waited a few month and since July or so I have a huge bucket of homegrown potatoes that I have problems to use up. So very easy food source. Can recommend. There were a few pill bugs/ potato bugs who love the taste of the plants, but their damage had not much effect on the harvest in the end.
Still sounds implausible and far fetched. Why would you be outside without adequate clothing? (Also below zero can be fine in jeans and sweatshirt if the sun is shining and there isn’t much wind). And in that case it would be more a heat issue and less like a shelter issue.
The other case also sounds more like a heat/water issue and less like a shelter issue.