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I am running a game of dungeons and dragons in which there are some orcs living in a realatively infertile cold northern hilly area a couple hundred miles inland, in the foothills of a mountain range to the north. Altitude is negotiable. Some players are going around killing these orcs, but I'm intending for them to figure out that killing people because they have green skin isn't a very nice thing to do. One of the players is a big fan of kale, so I had an idea that orc children need large supplies of kale (or some similar nutritious leafy green) when growing up or else they never become green and are yellow and weaker (they've seen yellow orcs but I haven't explained them). Humans stopped selling them leafy greens and other food about 10 years ago, and since then they've been raiding human lands, which are steadily encroaching on their territory, which is why the army hired the players to fight them. Eventually, the players are hopefully going to get the hints that the orcs aren't as bad as they're made out to be, and I want them to go on a quest to obtain a variety of greens that the orcs can grow in the land they have left to them.

So looking at nutritious dark leafy greens of the kale/spinach/chard/etc variety, are there any that would be particularly good at growing in the orc environment (50+ degrees latitude, hilly inland)? I also need a variety that isn't good at growing in that environment, which is what they used to obtain from the humans. One of the two should be kale, depending on whether or not kale is good at growing in an environment like that. Any suggestions as to what kinds of greens I can use?

I REALLY want to say Stinging Nettles for the orcs. I think it would fit, don't you? They are considered weeds and have stinging hairs that can only be described as similar to jellyfish, injecting substance that cause intense pain. But it is one of the most nutritious greens around and makes rich tea/broth that is SO dark green it looks black. It has many benefits - is an herbal blood/kidney/liver cleanser, relieves allergies, etc.

It is also what the princess had to collect from graveyards (very hardy drought tolerant plants) to make into yarn to knit into (sweaters?) for her 12 brother princes who had been turned into swans.

Another tidbit -- the stinging welts from stinging nettles can be neutralized by crushing and applying juice of Jewelweed....

I think for your human cultivated leafy greens, Kale -- or actually Rapini would be perfect. Rapini is the vegetable that the witch was growing in her garden that the husband of of Rapunzel's mother stole for her to eat when she was pregnant, and having been caught by the witch, had to promise to give the baby to the witch when she was born.

Wow, Applestar! This must be a reflection of the very imaginative way she starts her days!

I should know something about greens - must pale to chartreuse by comparison . . . Ummm, I live maybe 200 miles south 50° N latitude, between mountain ranges, several hundred miles inland. Uuhh. Can attest to the tastiness of stinging nettle. A little difficult to harvest but . . .

Once struggled to grow collards. Grew and really, really liked Portuguese kale. Other kales grow fine here. Cabbage, collards & the kales are close relatives . . . Rapini is closer to turnips. I better stop before I embarrass myself.

Steve

does it have to be something your players will recognize? I'm thinking something perennial and hardy would make sense here, but most folks aren't up on that sort of trivia. something like hablitzia tamnoides (caucasian spinach) would make sense to me. nettles would also fit that bill.

Tilia platyphyllos


Eric

DoubleDogFarm wrote:Tilia platyphyllos


Eric

Tilia platyphyllos = linden tree, a large deciduous tree. Why did you suggest it when the question was about leafy greens?

rainbowgardener wrote:

DoubleDogFarm wrote:Tilia platyphyllos


Eric

Tilia platyphyllos = linden tree, a large deciduous tree. Why did you suggest it when the question was about leafy greens?

Well if you research Large Leaved Lime or Linden you will find out it is a leafy green. Perennial.
https://foragersharvest.com/basswood-the ... lad-plant/

Eric

yup, any tilia is a good one. can work in an anti-deforestation plotline, perhaps?

makes me think of other less-known edible options...sochan, aka green-headed coneflower, aka rudbeckia laciniata, quite hardy perennial, the spring greens were (and are) eaten by the cherokees. medicinal, too.

smilax - mostly thorny vines, the soft growing tips are a decent edible (slightly slimy, but orcs could probably deal with that).

something like scorzonera, which is usually grown for its root, has edible leaves. unassuming plant, you probably wouldn't think to eat the leaves.

I wonder if the OP is coming back.

nerrrrrrrrrrd