>> When I worked on the USS Carl Vinson we used to discuss what it would be like in some post apocalyptic scenario where we were left on the ship. We didn't like the idea. Of course, while the ship could have power and fresh water for years, the aircraft couldn't operate long without more fuel and the people on board would run out of food pretty quickly.

> Presumably, with power and fresh water, the flight deck could be converted into a rather sizable garden. It even has access to sunlight and protection from pests.

You'd need dirt too, and lots of it.

In such a scenario, it'd probably most practical just to anchor or dock the ship somewhere safe near land, and use its facilities to jump-start a settlement. I'm guessing with the maintenance possible in such a scenario, all the ship's systems would break down within a decade or so (and it'd need to be refueled with enriched uranium at about that point, too), so you really wouldn't want to stay dependent on it for too long.