- Credits
- 0
- XP
- 74
I heard about some discussion was going on on discord about how dwarfs farmed their food. Discord is not really suited for such discussion (I missed it and I can't find it now that I know of) but it seems quite important to me. So I'd like to start a discussion here or if you think the discussion on discords as already finished and sufficient, please post the results here so we can refer to them later.
I don't know any lore about food production by dwarf and only found one mentioning of elvish farms (at Nargothrond) so I think we are quite free in this point.
Aside from lore accuracy we decided to aim for realism, so here are some facts I found:
I see these options for dwarven food production:
Let's try to make a compressed collection of information here and not an expanded thread of fun comments. If you agree with something just like the post instead of replying unless you want to add some information.
I don't know any lore about food production by dwarf and only found one mentioning of elvish farms (at Nargothrond) so I think we are quite free in this point.
Aside from lore accuracy we decided to aim for realism, so here are some facts I found:
- Almost all plants are using photosyntesis to grow and gain energy. There are a few exceptions which are parasitic from other plants or fungi. Photosysntesis doesn't require sun light. You can grow plants under artificial light. Main problem is that most plants need A LOT of light.
- Fungi don't need light to grow and are of similar nutritious value as vegetables to humans. Fungi get their energy from decomposing organic materials.
I see these options for dwarven food production:
- Underground farming of fungi. Seems very reasonable to me just requires to bring in organic materials (wood for example)
- Underground farming of plants. Seems somewhat reasonable to me as the dwarfs were able to illuminate the huge halls of Moria with their lamps. So why not using these lamps for plants.
- Surface farming of plants. Seems somewhat reasonable to me at the West Gate of Moria. At the East Gate the terrain is too mountainous.
- Trading foods with humans and elves. Seems most reasonable to me. Dwarfs were mainly miners and craftmen so they had goods which were high valued by elves and men. But what should they trade for their products? There were quite some humans east and west of Misty mountains in first half of Third Age and the dwarfs of Moria were always friendly with elves.
Let's try to make a compressed collection of information here and not an expanded thread of fun comments. If you agree with something just like the post instead of replying unless you want to add some information.