40d:Farm plot

A farm is a building that allows dwarves to grow plants from seed as a method to produce food and alcohol for a fortress. Farms can either be built outside on the surface (ontop of soil) or inside on muddied ground. Depending where you can build your farm decides what plants you can grow there.

In large fortresses, a farm is the most compact way of producing food. Early forts can get by with herbalists collecting plants from bushes outside, but this is an inefficient use of space and travel time. Setting up a subterranean farm requires muddy tiles and a dwarf with the grower skill, but creating muddy tiles requires an essay and a degree in mechanical engineering and fluid dynamics to irrigate your fields.

Farms set up outside can conviniently grow plants collected from outside such as; prickle berries, rat weed, longland grass, strawberries (mmm), and whip vine. There may be others.

Defining the farm plot

Farm plots must be built on a suitable location (see farming), and require a dwarf with the grower skill enabled to prepare.

To place a farm plot enter the build menu and select farm plots. Use the u and k keys to expand the width and height of the plot, and m and h to decrease the size. When the plot is the desired size, and in the right position, pressing Enter will place it. A free dwarf with the grower skill should then start clearing out any rubble or other impediments away from the farm plot.

Suggested size

How much farm space do you need? Surprisingly little; a 5x5 plot will provide enough food to bring you through your first winter, and even smaller fields are sufficient if you stretch out the food by cooking brewed alcohol from the plants. Try to leave a little extra space in underground farm rooms for for farmers to stack spare boulders. Stones that get moved under doors in a farm can cause them to get stuck ajar that can lead to flooding.

See Also

• Farming, for a complete guide
• Irrigation