118. More Land

Rowan finished counting the ordinary fields before the additional ten meals were ready.

He returned with dirt on his hands and two Farmers behind him. Mira came out of Cold Storage carrying her own record board.

Carlos met them beside the Common Farmland.

"How bad is it?" he asked.

"The crops are healthy," Rowan said. "But it's true that we are not keeping up with demand with just this land."

Mira placed her board beside his.

"The kitchen has grain, vegetables and meat for today's meals," she said. "After the two trades, less will remain for the reserve. The 100 Preserved Provisions stay untouched."

"What runs out first?"

"Cooking oil," Mira answered. "Then vegetables if we keep making nearly one hundred and ninety meals every day. Meat depends on hunting and whatever we obtain outside Ironroot."

Carlos looked at Rowan. "Can we grow oil?"

"Not with the seeds we currently have."

That removed the easiest answer.