[(E)]

Western Hills

Subterranean farming
Assumptions
- farming on the surface or in direct sunlight is no longer possible.
- the subterranean farmers ancestors had the opportunity to prepare
- long term food production will require artificial light.
- the "End" for this example is greatly increased UV (or microwave) output from the sun. Daylight is death as well as a great power source. You only go out at night.
- water is available and relatively pure due to filtration through rock.

Power sources, which ever power source is used it is assumed it is limited otherwise it is not really an ATE game.
- Chemical, finite so requires an external source, fuel, chemicals or biomass. Though a long subterranean path to a coal seam might be interesting.
- Nuclear, feels too bountiful for the setting, also seldom built underground near a large city.
- Renewable, solar (used in this example) other options include tidal and hydroelectric.

Notes
- It would seem likely that a more advanced infrastructure is required for two generations to have survived. They will need to be able to make replacement parts and probably mold plastic. This would seem to indicate a larger population, say 1000(?)
- Started with LED lighting but have been replacing it with standard bulbs since as they are easier to manufacture.
- to minimize heat build up in plants using photosynthesis the grow lights would be red/blue as green light is wasted in photosynthesis. The plants would look black instead of green.
- CO2 build up would be a problem, decomposing material generates a lot of it and there are few green plants to absorb it.

Resources
- A stable geological region located on the outskirts of a long established town.
- historic tunneling for minerals, WW2 defenses and civil infrastructure have provided the space for the settlement.

Description
Rushing to down the ladder before the fatal rays of the sun illuminate the world. You enter the myriad of tunnels and chambers that make up the farming settlement of Western Hills. Water pipes, electrical conduits and fans decorate the ceiling. Moisture glistens on the walls and is collected in gutters in the floor.

Crops
- Fungi, a large range of mushrooms and Fungi are the backbone of the Western Hills farming system. The biggest limiting factor for many of the species of Fungi is the availability of a carbon rich substrate on which to grow. Four crops a year are grown. The growing chambers are full of shelves and kept insulated against the cold of the rock with a wide array of materials. Crude heat exchangers are mounted on the ventilation systems outside each growing chamber. Everything destined for eating would be exposed to a UV(b?) light source prior to harvest to generate vitamin D.

Crops requiring artificial light, these would be a small part of the diet.
- Numerous strains of Cyanobacteria, a source of fresh oxygen. Grown around submerged light sources. They also help fix the CO2 surplus.
- Crops that do well in artificial light and or hydroponics; arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, Chinese cabbage, corn salad, endive, escarole, garlic, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, leeks, mustard, New Zealand spinach, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radishes, spring onions (scallions), sorrel, spinach, taro, turnips, and watercress.

Livestock
- Pigs, fed mushrooms, mussels, insects and a bare minimum of green crops.
- Insects, harvested from manure chambers.
- Ants and/or termites that are fed Fungi
- Mussels, fed Cyanobacteria and used as part of the water system, they also act as a nitrogen fixer in this system.
- Fish, fed on mushrooms and ants/termites.

Management
- The system would require constant thermal control. Keeping Fungi warm enough as well as preventing the plants from getting to hot under the lights.

Requirements
- Carbon rich substrate, typically paper.
- Glass and electrical parts (moist environment would mean high wear)
- Sulphur
- Potassium
- External solar power
- plastics
- Firearm related supplies

Produce
- A range of Fungi
- Preserved food, dried Mushrooms, dried fish, Short lifespan preserved mussels, very few long shelf life vegetables, smoked pork.
- Range of products derived from plants, the limited growing space would make high value plants a priority.
- Incidental minerals
- Water
- Calcium carbonate and derived products (some of these are chemically useful).

Skills within the community
- Biology
- Animal handling
- Gardening
- Engineer, mechanical, mining, electrical
- Chemistry, Plastics
- Swimming,
- Herbary likely,
- Glass blowing (?)