How to grow cities faster.

[DrFell]

Yeah I personally set cities in crappy locations (like with only one 2 food square) to building workers as they get them done every 10 turns and grow in the same amount of time.

[Capt Dizle]

Solver, yes, I build settlers first and then switch to workers. Of course.

[MiloMilo]

VOC I'm not sure what the problem is. Irrigated flood plains will get you 3 food under despotism. Irrigated anything with cow, wheat or game will get you 3 food. Irrigated grassland with wine will also get you 3 food (right?). Irrigated plains or tundra will get you 2 (all you need to keep growing), as will regular, unworked grassland. If you're in the middle of forest or jungle, just chop it down. Use those workers to work, not just to add to cities!

You don't need a tech to irrigate or chop down forests, you can do it from the beginning of the game. You do need fresh water, but there's usually some of that around. NO access to fresh water is a freak occurrence, maybe just restart in that case.