Chapter 72 Ah . . . Vertical Farming

While Athena was explaining the other features of the animal pen, instead of listening, I was busy arguing with the system.

"The feed storage room is customized to prevent moisture. Most livestock can eat hay, silage, legumes, and grains. Birds feed on birch branches and nestle leaves in summer, which saves them from vitamin deficiency and allows them to fly faster in winter.

"A mud pit is necessary for any hog farm. Pigs don't have sweat glands, so they need to wallow in mud to regulate their body temperature effectively.

"Chickens need an ash pit to clean their skin and feathers from parasites. Make sure that the ratio is one part ash, two parts river sand, and 100 grams of sulphur — because concentrated ash contains potassium and soda that can irritate the skin and mucous membranes of birds.

"I'll have Ulysses make one later."

"Is that so?" was all I could reply with. I didn't even understand most of what she said.

"Let's move on to your Vertical Farm, my Lord."

We went to the garden house next. It was just a small ten by ten square meter building made of stone brick and glass. When we went inside, I was instantly amazed by what I saw.

The plants were arranged on a moving carousel that raised and lowered the vegetation to ensure that each one received an equal amount of light and water.

"Instead of soil, coconut husks, and shredded tree bark, immersed the roots directly in a substrate solution containing all the necessary nutrients that Ulysses concocted. This way, the plants don't need to expend energy developing a large root system and can instead focus on ripening the crop.

"The water container above the plants uses gravity to push the water through the irrigation system, while the main source of water supply is manually pumped into the irrigation containers."

"Is that so?" What else was I supposed to say anyway? Maybe a thank you for being such an informative token?

I wasn't exactly ignorant when it came to things like this. I knew the function of some materials here.

The vertical farm was set up in a room with glass walls, so the plants could still receive natural light. Mirrors were installed in certain areas to reflect light onto the plants from all directions.

A wire grid was also used to redirect growth horizontally, preventing plants from growing too broad and shading their neighbors. This also helped with the stimulation of the growth of new buds.

I guess plants in here were more on spices and out-of-season crops.

There was also a ventilation pipe that shot through the roof, which was required to control humidity levels. That being said, plants didn't like sudden changes in temperature, so a ventilation system was a must.

<Is Host, a farmer in his last life?>

No. I have my own plants at home. But because of the limited space, I had to plant them vertically using hydroponics. The only difference was that everything was simple, and technology was accessible.

In this world, however, Daedalus had to think of alternative materials and methods to construct such things.

We still had about two weeks before the Blood Rain arrived.

Surrounding my houses were readily accessible livestock and food. On the right was the vegetable farm, and on the left was the greenhouse. Putting the general direction of the wind into consideration, the animal barn and mud pits were situated in the north, blowing the smell away from my house.

The cattle, goats, and chickens I bought were all happily eating outside while the pigs were enjoying their mud bath.

"The wool of the goats will be thicker and of better quality, and their milk yield will be higher if you treat the goats' skin with a soda solution at least once a week. They'll prevent parasites from nesting in the wool," said Athena when she noticed where I was staring.

"Does Ulysses know how to make soda?" I asked in eagerness. I suddenly want one with all this heat.

Athena shook her head. "We need a soda machine for that. He could, however, make an alternative mixture such as orange, lemon, and lime."

"Do the orchards have them?"

"Yes."

"That's good news." I scratched my head and went along with her lead.

As we went over the properties, Athena explained things to me, emphasizing the animals' welfare. She must like them a lot. More so than humans.

"To ensure a steady supply of eggs, supplement your chickens' diet with salt and chalk. They also make the eggshell denser. Sour milk and herbs also make a good feel for laying hens."

"Athena . . ." I had to stop her because livestock wasn't our only priority. "Is there a way to preserve food without using a ref?"

Athena stared into my eyes, and I looked away.

I scratched my nose and said, "I was wondering if I could preserve the meat I acquired from the beasts I killed. They usually only stay fresh in my inventory for a day, and after that, it turns into rotten meat."

"Molten Salt can be considered an efficient way of storing thermal energy," she started, and I listened intently even though I wouldn't be able to understand half of what she would say.

"It can be used to store heat energy temporarily. Many microbes die in a 10% salt solution which makes salt an excellent preservative. You can use it to store fish, meat, and vegetables for long periods. Anything can be salted and pickled — from plant roots to mammoth carcasses.

"We've already harnessed a bag of salt from the ocean. We have a mini salt pan there. It's not much to build a Salt Cave, so we can ask Daedalus to build a mini salt cave in your house. You can use it temporarily to store some food."

That's good news. "Good idea. I need to start preserving raw meats and fruits as well."

"We can also try drying and smoking," Athena suggested.