Farming in the Underdark
Oona of the Dark Lake
Advantages to Farming on the Surface The Underdark is strange. So strange that its mysteries have baffled scholars for ages and will continue to confound future generations throughout time. Volumes of texts have been written professing just this fact while attempting to make some sense of these vast sunless caverns. This is not our focus. Here we will be exploring the most basic features of the Underdark which create difficulties and advantages alike when trying to raise crops in the underdark.
Primary among these features is the clear lack of bright light. A farmer from the surface might at first assume that little could be grown in these conditions, and indeed, few plants from the surface can thrive down here. But, life adapts. It finds ways to thrive in any environment no matter how hostile.
For those plants that have adapted to these sunless conditions, two immediate advantages arise from being away from the surface; constant temperature and no erosion due to heavy rain fall.
The lack of seasonal temperature differences allows the growing season to be extended indefinately.No harsh winters or extreme summer heat will damage the plant life of the Underdark. They are simply free to grow as long as they can find the necessary nutrients.
The absence of rain is also quite a boon when considering the soil of the Underdark. Heavy rainfall on a barren field will cause essential nutrients to be flushed from the soil and swept away. Certain techniques have been developed to help combat this loss of nutrients, but they only slow the process rather than solve it. In the Underdark, the problem is solved on its own.
Having no rainfall, one might assume that water is too scarce to support plant life. The plants of the region have adapted to this as well. They require little water to grow; some requiring none at all. The key advantage to be found in this is that enough water can be had from the little moisture in the soil already. This means that complex irrigation systems are not required to keep large crops alive. Indeed, the plants of the Underdark are so well adapted to the harsh conditions here that they require little to no attention to grow as crops.
Common Crops of the Underdark The plant life of the Dark is as widely varied as the surface. Perhaps more so, as new species are being discovered regularly in the most unlikely of places. Not all are suitable for consumption, however. Many poisonous plants call the Underdark their home, and many more that are not harmful to eat provide little to no nutrition. Bluecap Fungus [Beneath the title is a finely drawn and highly detailed picture of a bluecap fungus. It consists of a thick grey stem and a large bluish cap spotted with grey. A cross section is cut out of the drawing to show the gills and spore structures inside the cap.]
Bluecaps are the staple food of most underdark omnivores. While most of the plant is inedible to humanoids, it regularly produces large spores of roughly two centimeters diameter.
The bluecap is a relatively fast growing fungus. It will reach maturity in only a few days. After maturity has been reached spore production begins and a single bluecap will produce enough spores per day to feed a small family.
When planting the bluecap, it is important to remember how large the mature bluecap will be. Easily one to one and a half meters in diamater, bluecaps must be spaced appropriately. Plant them in rows, with the spores spaced roughly two meters apart. Be sure to leave enough room between rows to allow travel between them.
Harvesting the spores of the bluecap without damaging the plant can be a difficult task. A careless hand can quickly damage the gills and halt spore production altogether. The simplest method of obtaining the spores is to gently shake the mushroom cap up and down. Spores that are ready for use as food will tumble from the cap easily, wheras younger spores are more firmly attached while they mature. Often I see people attempting to reach up and pluck the spores out by hand. This will cause damage to the delicate gills and may ultimately kill the plant.
Fire Lichen [Beneath the title is a drawing depicting a rock covered in a dull, redish white, mossy substance. Off to the side is a detailed close up of the actual structure of the lichen, which closely resembles clusters of tiny fluted tubes.]
Fire Lichen is the Pepper of the Underdark. Dried and ground it produces a fine red powder that can be sprinkled onto food or mixed in while cooking to add an extra bit of flavor and spice.
Although known to grow commonly near lava tubes and other underground heat sources, Fire Lichen can be grown practically anywhere in the Underdark. It clings to rocks and can therefore be found growing on even the walls and ceilings of caverns. The rate of their growth depends heavily on the availability of heat and in cooler caverns Fire Lichen will grow much more slowly.
Planting Fire Lichen is generally a simple procedure. Using a knife, scrape off a sample of an existing growth. Transplant the scraping to a new rock and leave it. Within a day or so the Fire Lichen will take hold on its new rock and begin to spread.
Harvesting, likewise, is just as simple. Scrap away as much as is needed and either hang it to dry and grind to powder, or grind it immediately to create a thick paste.
Ripplebark [Beneath the title is a detailed sketch of an unusual fungus. It consists of broad fleshy layers that radiate outward like flower petals from the center of the plant. The layers have a pallid appearance to them that reminds you of rotting human flesh.]
There are many strange looking plants in the Underdark. This is one of them. Ripplebark is known far and wide for its odor and appearance. It smells faintly of rotting flesh and has the color of it too. Despite this, the leaves can be prepared into nutritious salads that are actually quite flavorful.
Ripplebark is a slower growing plant, often only producing a few leaves per day that are suitable for eating. From planting to maturation can take several days. This is only a problem if the plant is overharvested, since the leaves can be harvested without harming the plant. A single plant can provide leaves for several years without difficulty.
The seeds of the Ripplebark can be found within the growing leaves. As the leaves unfold from the center of the plant, the sporelike seeds can be seen attached to the top of the leaf. They are often then caught up on the mild air currents of the Dark and carried away. They will stop once they come in contact with moist soil, as the fluffy spore becomes wet and too heavy to be carried in the wind. The spores can also be harvested before they are blown away and buried under a small amount of soil. It is best to plant in rows, each plant seperated by roughly half a meter to give the broad leaves room to fan out.
When harvesting, one should take care only to pick the oldest of the leaves, found closest to the ground. Picking too many of the younger leaves will result in the plant's early death.
Theratical Liverwort [Beneath the title is a drawing of a tall reedy plant. Atop each reed is a small bulb and at the base of each are creeping leaves that spread out in all directions. The roots beneath the soil are also visible and seem to go quite deep. A cross section of the bulb is provided off to the side, it appears to be laden with many large fluffy seeds.]
While generally useless as a food source to humanoids, Liverwort is an excellent grazing crop for those who keep Rothe herds for their milk and wool. The long grassy reeds grow quickly and provide Rothe with a nutrient rich food source.
The leaves at the base of the plant do prove to be useful to humans, however. They can be prepared into medicinal herbs to help reduce bruising and swelling as well as act as a mild coagulant in wounds.
When planting Liverwort as a grazing crop, the seeds can simply be scattered on damp soil. They will be suitable for grazing after only a few darks. If the leaves are to be harvested for herbal remedies, however, it is best to plant the Liverwort in rows and spread thirty centimeters apart. This will allow the creeping leaves room to spread out and will make them easier to harvest.
Take care when harvesting spores and leaves. When too many of the spore pods are removed, the plant will enter a dormant phase where it simply stops growing. It will suffice as food for Rothe like this until fully eaten, but it will not grow. Likewise, if too many of the leaves are taken, new reed shoots will be unable to grow.
Zurkhwood Tree [Beneath the title is a highly detailed sketch of a Zurkhwood tree. It's long straight trunk is almost bark-like in it's texture. Atop the trunk are a series of branchlike structures that radiate outwards and then curve up and over, meeting again at the center. The entire appearance resembles that of a gigantic mushroom with a skeleton cap.]
Zurkhwood, like Bluecap, is another extremely versatile plant that has adapted to the Underdark. It grows quickly and can be used in place of wood for buildings and tools. Many sub varieties exist as well that result in Zurkhwood of varying strengths and properties. As a food source, Zurkh pulp makes exceptional beer that is practically a meal in itself.
While slower to grow than many other underdark plants, Zurkhwood is still considered a very fast growing plant. Within a week, the Zurkhwood tree will have grown to a mature size. If left to grow, these versatile fungi can grow to twice or thrice the height of a man in the span of only one year.
A freshly planted Zurkhwood tree will require loose soil and a lot of room. Be certain that the cavern ceiling will not interfere with normal growth. Also, when planting among other Zurkwhood trees, it is important to leave at least two meters between plants, as the caps can grow to quite a large diameter.
Due to the unusual nature of the Zurkhwood cap, it is quite easy to harvest large portions of Zurkhwood from the branches that make up the cap. Several branches can be harvested without undue harm to the rest of the plant. The branches are ideal for beer production as well as applications in smaller crafted items. Should large straight pieces of Zurkh be required, the stem will have to be cut down.
Fragrant Fungus [Beneath the title is a drawing of a small cluster of tiny bell shaped blue mushrooms. A cross section of one of the mushroom caps is shown, detailing the spore and gill structures within.]
Pleasant to both nose and mouth, these tiny blue mushrooms are found everywhere from cooking and perfumes to herbal remedies and incense.
Often found in clusters or growing near larger plants, Fragrant Fungus get their name from the pleasant smell they produce when releasing spores. In fact, the mushroom produces and releases large quantities of spores every Dark. Most of these, however, are infertile and will result in no new mushrooms.
For best results when planting the spores, it is best to mix all the spores from an existing mushroom into a clod of rothe dung. Spread this mixture over the ground and within hours many small mushroom buds will have sprouted.
Harvesting these tiny mushrooms can be an exercise in patience for some. The easiest and most effective method is to pluck a mushroom and cover the gills with a sack or piece of cloth. Shake the mushroom vigorously to release the spores into the containter and then discard the mushroom. They discarded husks make excellent fertilizer, as well as being a favored snack for Rothe.
Methods for Sustained Crop Yield While many of the plants detailed above can thrive on very little water and nutrients, it is still very important to attempt to preserve the nutrient levels within the soil. Several methods for this were developed on the surface and can be easily adapted to farming in the Underdark.
Slash and Burn Farming The easiest and oldest technique employed in sustained farming, slash and burn farming is exactly what it sounds like. After any given harvest of a crop, a new crop of a different plant is put down. It is allowed to grow to maturity, but is never harvested. Instead the plants are simply cut down where they stand and burned. The resulting ash is extremely high in nutrients and will provide excellent fertilization for the next crop.
Crop Rotation A somewhat more advanced method of farming, Crop Rotation involves the use of two or more fields of crops. In each field, a different crop is planted. With each harvest, the plants are harvested completely and an entirely different crop is put down. For instance, a field of Bluecap Mushrooms may be followed by a crop of Liverwort or Fire Lichen. This helps return nutrients to the soil while keeping crop yield high as each field is capable of growing its crop more effectively.
Golden Hoof A modified form of Crop rotation, Golden Hoof utilizes the manure from a grazing herd to help replenish the nutrients in the soil. This method is best used with three or more fields to maximize crop yield. In two fields, standard Crop Rotation methods will be used, while in the third field a grazing crop such as Liverwort is grown. A herd of Rothe is then allowed to graze among this crop and in the process fertilize the soil with their dung.
Companion Planting A method used less in large crop productions and more in personal gardens, Companion Planting leads to healthier plants. The basic idea is to plant plants with dissimilar nutrient needs near to each other. This way, as the plants grow, they are not competing for nutrients with their direct neighbors. Ideal combinations are as follows:
Zurkhwood and Fragrant Fungus Bluecap and Liverwort Zurkhwood and Ripplebark Fire Lichen and Anything, as Fire Lichen draws on entirely different nutrients than any other crop plants.