Urban Roots: The Farming System

Kieran couldn't help but feel a touch of pride as he walked into The Green Spoon the next morning. He had a fresh batch of lettuce and tomatoes in the back of his car, and his system points were steadily increasing—he was officially a small-time urban farmer, and he was starting to like it. There was something about growing food with your own hands that made him feel like he was doing something real. Sure, there were still plenty of challenges ahead, but at least he wasn't selling overpriced organic kale from some overpriced trendy store that only existed to make people feel better about their dietary choices. He was growing food, and people were buying it.

The restaurant itself was charming. It was one of those places that looked like it had been designed by someone who only wore flannel shirts and believed that reclaimed wood was the solution to every interior design problem. The sign outside boasted "Farm-to-Table at its Best," and Kieran couldn't help but feel like he was finally living the dream. He was farm-to-table… except, you know, with a slightly more chaotic flair and a side of unrefined hustle.

He stepped inside, and the smell of fresh herbs and sizzling vegetables hit him like a wave. He immediately felt both comforted and a little out of place. The place looked like it belonged to someone who could pronounce things like "quinoa" without any hesitation. Kieran, on the other hand, was still struggling to figure out which herb was rosemary and which was thyme.

A small, friendly-looking woman with short, auburn hair and a chef's apron waved him over.

"You must be Kieran," she said, extending her hand. "I'm Sara, the head chef here at The Green Spoon. It's great to finally meet you in person."

Kieran shook her hand, trying not to make it awkward by overthinking it. "Great to meet you, too. I brought some fresh samples—lettuce and tomatoes, just like we talked about."

Sara smiled. "Perfect! We've been getting some rave reviews about your lettuce from Emily at Fresh Greens Café. I'm excited to see what you've got."

"Well, uh, I hope it lives up to the hype," Kieran said, trying to act cool while internally panicking about whether his lettuce was actually good enough to be served in a real restaurant.

Sara led him to a small counter in the back of the restaurant, where Kieran set down the crates and carefully unpacked the produce. His tomatoes, while not the most aesthetically perfect, were at least red, round, and not covered in weird blemishes. The lettuce was crisp and green, which was more than he could say for some of his earlier attempts.

Sara picked up a head of lettuce and examined it. She broke off a small piece and tasted it.

"Hmm," she murmured, "not bad at all. Crisp, fresh… I like it. And the tomatoes?" She picked one up and took a bite.

Kieran held his breath as she chewed, waiting for her feedback. The silence felt like it lasted a year. Would she say it was good? Would she be disappointed? Was he about to lose his first big restaurant deal?

Sara looked up at him, her eyes twinkling. "These are really good! You've got yourself a deal, Kieran. We'll take all the lettuce and tomatoes you can supply. How much are you charging?"

Kieran blinked. "Wait, really? You're serious?"

Sara raised an eyebrow. "Of course I'm serious. We've been struggling to get consistently fresh, local produce. If you can provide that, we're happy to pay for it. Now, what are your prices?"

Kieran took a deep breath and felt a wave of confidence wash over him. "Alright, let's say £4.50 per head of lettuce and £4.00 per pound of tomatoes. And I'll supply you with fresh produce every week."

Sara nodded. "Sounds good to me. I'll write up a contract with our manager, and we'll get you set up with a regular order. How does next Monday sound for a delivery?"

Kieran tried not to grin too widely. He was officially official. "Next Monday works. I'll have the goods ready."

Sara extended her hand again. "It's a deal then. I'm looking forward to working with you."

Kieran shook her hand, making sure to keep his grip firm but not too firm—he didn't want to be the kind of guy who gave a handshake that left an impression for all the wrong reasons. As he left the restaurant, he felt like he was walking on air. This was it. He was going to be a regular supplier to an actual restaurant. No more struggling to sell lettuce to random people on street corners. No more awkward "Hey, want to buy some vegetables?" exchanges. This was professional.

As he drove back home, a thought hit him. "Wait… I don't actually know how to deliver this much produce."

He panicked for a moment, but then he remembered: he had the system. The system could solve everything. It had already helped him grow his crops, manage his farm, and earn system points. Surely it could help him with logistics. He opened the system panel and searched for something related to "delivery."

There it was.

The next few days were a blur of preparation. Kieran had to grow more lettuce and tomatoes than ever before, making sure his crops were at their peak. He had a schedule to keep, and he wanted to make sure he kept The Green Spoon and Fresh Greens Café both happy. No one was going to buy his produce if it wasn't consistently good.

As he carefully tended to his crops, Kieran also found himself developing more personal contacts. Word had started to spread around town that there was a new urban farmer, and a few local grocery stores had started reaching out to him. He was beginning to feel like he had a solid customer base. He wasn't a millionaire yet, but at least his hustle was starting to pay off.

With the success of his first restaurant deal, Kieran couldn't help but get excited about the possibilities. He was living the dream of a sustainable, self-sufficient urban farm, and he was ready to make it bigger. The Green Spoon was just the beginning. More restaurants, more customers, and maybe even a small stall at the local farmer's market.

His mind raced with ideas. He had already seen how well the vertical planters worked, and the system had made it so easy to expand. He could install more vertical planters to maximize space and grow even more crops. Lettuce and tomatoes were great, but what if he started branching out into other greens? Maybe spinach or arugula? Herbs? He could even try his hand at growing strawberries or peppers. There were so many possibilities.

The best part? Each new crop and expansion came with the potential for more system points. Kieran had learned that the more ambitious his plans, the more rewards he could unlock. The system was practically begging him to dream bigger.

He pulled up his system panel and began exploring new options. There it was—Vertical Planter Expansion for 75 system points, allowing him to double his growing capacity. Then, he noticed Seed Packs for various crops—Spinach Seeds for 5 points, Herb Seeds for 10 points, and Strawberry Seeds for 15 points. It was clear: with more space and more variety, his farm could turn into something impressive.

Kieran rubbed his hands together, a plan forming in his mind. He could keep the steady flow of lettuce and tomatoes going, but also diversify his crops. He imagined a row of fresh spinach for the local restaurants, a side of aromatic basil for the cafes, and maybe even a few pints of strawberries for the dessert menus.

With a grin, Kieran made his first purchase. Vertical Planter Expansion unlocked. The system immediately began calculating the space available for more crops, and a few moments later, new vertical planters appeared on the rooftop, ready for the next stage of growth.

Then, he bought a few seed packs—spinach, herbs, and strawberries. He'd plant them in the newly expanded space and keep a watchful eye on the progress. It was time to increase production and widen his offerings.

His farm was growing, and so were his ambitions. Kieran leaned back and surveyed the progress. It was a lot of work, sure, but it was also thrilling. The more he expanded, the more he realized he was building something lasting. Something that, with enough effort and creativity, could turn into a real business.

The only thing left to do now was to get to work—planting, tending, and harvesting. The farm was no longer just a side project; it was his future.