Dicke Kartoffeln House Rules - Andy Merritt
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1) Worm limitation.  No more than 14 worms are ever allowed in a compost heap - simply don't double up to more than 14 worms.

2) Random startup.  Roll state for each field at startup (all players have the same in each field)

0-3 sunflowers (d6-1, reroll 5/6)
1-5 worms (d6, reroll 6)

Note the starting values for each field, as this dictates the amounts taken off the totals at the end of the game.

Matthias Stobbe & Eamon Bloomfield's optional rules
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Secrecy is a key factor, and although the rules mention secrecy, they don't cover every decision.  We found some decisions to be crucial, and great benefit was found if you waited to see what the others did.  So using your Earning Form:

· In the first column marked Jahr, write how many fields you will plough at stage 2.  These are revealed simultaneously.

· At stage 5, write F in your Ertrag box if you are going to fertilise any particular field.

· At stage 6, write I in your Ertrag box if you are going to use insecticide.

Remember to leave room for your yield to be written there as well!

The chance cards can make or break your strategy.  To add more skill we suggest you lay out 3 cards at the start of the game, where everybody can read them.  They should be laid out left to right, perhaps with a counter on marked 1, 2-3, 4-6.  These numbers reflect the chances of any one card being picked.  When the chance card stage is reached roll a die, and read the appropriate card.  If a 1 is rolled read that card then collect in all three cards and lay out three new cards.  If any other number is rolled then just replace the picked card with a new card.