Hello all, I have yet another question about the game Stronghold HD that is vexing me, and I would appreciate some advice....
I am finding it near impossible to keep my population fed, as the Granary always seems to be dwindling. This seems especially true when playing the campaign, because you are often limited in what buildings you can build.
Throughout most of the beginning missions, you are not able to build anything more than Archers to fight for you, and about half way in, they start to let you build Pikemen to protect the Archers as an example of this. As well, each mission only seems to allow a very limited number of food types you can harvest, which can be frustrating also.
No matter what you build though it feels like these people all eat like PIGS, and will never be satisfied with human sized portions, without losing popularity. So my question is if there is some way to guarantee that you can feed your population. without the entire game being a struggle for foods instead of an enjoyment of the missions?? This is on top of the fact that whenever you actually do manage to build up so food stocks, the game decides to be cute, and do the random event that steals most of the food in your Granary....
I have also noticed that as the game progresses, catapults are becoming more and more frequent, and often destroy an entire side of your base, before you can reach them. I am fighting The Rat right now, and he has WAY too many catapults that I do not truly understand how to defend against honestly....
I am pulling my hair out here, because I thought this was a combat strategy game when I bought it, but it seems to be nothing more than endless desperate food missions, and I am confused as to what that is supposed to add to the enjoyment??
Please clarify for me, and Thanks in advance!!

2 wheat farms + 1 windmill + min. 8 bakeries = win for small and medium sized castles. Why don't you just use normal rations?

In the beginning, my biggest problem with food was that I built too many huts so I had a lot of peasants sitting in front of the fire, producing nothing, but still eating food. Do not build huts unless you have jobs for the people.

Increasing rations is a way to increase popularity, but not the only one. You can also lower taxes, build "good things", produce ale, have priests bless your population, or keep different types of food in the granary. Each method has its pros and cons. Early, if you're struggling with food, you can try another method (for example, lowering taxes) until you can afford to have daily feasts.

Build walls not less than 4 layers thick against catapults. Towers preferable behind the layers of walls (catas can hit towers but rarely, unlike trebuche).
3 wheat farms per 1 mill per 8-12 bakeries to feed 75 people on normal rations. Since you will be able to build Christian churches and inns you should always start from it. That will allow you to cut rations and keep collecting taxes.