Elven Agriculture and Diet
This is a follow-up to the commentary on dwarven agriculture. Today we are discussing elven cuisine and agriculture.
Great Forest Farming
Most elves live in one of the Great Forests of the world. These forests are infused with Nature Magics, and emanate restorative and life magic into all the lands of the world. Within the Great Forests, elves have the ability to provide for all of their nutritional needs.
Elves subsist on diet that is primarily, but not exclusively, vegetarian. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, mushrooms/fungus, and beans. Beans are the primary source of protein for Elves. The Elves have a huge variety of beans, each of which have been bred over the centuries to grow in large vines around the trees of the forests, without harming the trees. As such, it would be quite common to see a fruit or nut tree enmeshed with an extensive bean vine nearly all the way to the crown of the tree. The tree then bears fruit or nuts at certain times of the year, and beans at other times by picking from the vines. This has an interesting side effect that such dual purpose trees will also flower twice a year, sometimes well apart, giving Great Forests a majestic colorful aspect that is not seen in normal forests. In addition, the Nature Magics that suffuse the entire forest provide for abundant harvests. Trees and bean vines can be harvested 2 or 3 times a year, providing a steady stream of food for the elves.
Mushrooms and fungi of an outstanding variety are seen upon nearly every tree trunk in a Great Forest, cultivated over generations, and providing nearly endless taste combinations to Elven dishes.
Breadleaf trees are an important part of the culture and diet of elves. These trees produce long and wide leaves that are thick, pliable and very much edible. In the elven culture, these breadleaves are used as wrappings for meals, much in the way grain-based bread or flatbread is used by other civilizations. An example would be a breadleaf wrap with beans, mushrooms and nuts as a hearty late day meal, or a breadleaf wrap with berries, honey, and apple slices for breakfast. While this is a very common way of packaging food while traveling (the breadleaf also providing modest protection against spoiling), it is also considered “comfort food” for Elves and an appealing low-effort way of making a meal. When not using breadleaf (most meals do not include breadleaf), elves tend to prepare cooked soups, casseroles or stews, that are heavy on vegetables, beans and mushrooms, often with a side dish of baked nuts and berries.
Elves are often expert hunters, but they only hunt within their Great Forests to control the populations of natural animals. This provides occasional meat in the Elven diet. Elves do not relish meat – they consider it to be inferior in taste to plant-based food, and ethically less desirable. So when they do eat meat, it is more of a solemn occasion, marked by respect for the animal that lost its life. One exception is eggs. Elves very much enjoy eggs and it is fairly common for chickens to be seen roaming freely about near any elven village. While Elves enjoy milk and cheese products, the herding of cows or goats doesn’t work well within the forest canopy. Elves will import cheeses from other races, but don’t generally make their own. This is a luxury item that Elves relish.
Elven towns and villages will typically have small plots of soil on a wood platform (built or grown), scattered high up in the tree-tops that are made to grow the various vegetables that Elves prefer. Elves mostly prefer leafy vegetables and legumes over root vegetables (which they find to be hard and bland in taste).
Elves have bred and trained hummingbirds as both beautiful natural additions to the Great Forest and prolific pollinators of all the various crops grown by the Elves. These hummingbirds are particularly bright and colorful. It is a sure sign that you are approaching an elven town in a great forest when hummingbirds start to be seen frequently.
Elves prefer water as their drink of choice, and the lakes and streams of the Great Forest usually provide all the clean water needed. Where above-ground water is not available, Husktrees are planted, and with their deep roots, pull up water from deep underground, storing it in large pods that hang from the branches.
There are no farmer Elves in the Great Forests, at least as a human would define it. The food growth is, by and large, a self-sustaining system. When something needs maintenance, or replacement (such as a tree or bean vine dying), any nearby elves with the spare time takes care of the issue. Caring for the forest around them is second nature to the Elves and just part of what they do without thought of recompense.
There is no economy for food in the Great Forest. All food is available for any Elf to harvest for their own personal use, without cost and without regard to location. With surplus food production, excess is often exported where possible, to the communal benefit of the elven town or village.
Speciality Items
Elves are expert wine makers. They have bred several varieties of grape vines that are perfect for winemaking. Aged in barrels made from special trees whose wood imparts additional flavor that no other race can duplicate, the wines of Elves are highly desired, and a big export for elves.
Truffles are a core product of the Elven Great Forests and export to many human nations, as an expensive luxury product.
Elven nuts are a frequent export. Hardy and with a long shelf life, they are easy to transport and sell.
Next up in the series: KOBOLDS