Hill-top Farm Erica's journey on Hardship Farm

Terdin

Farmer
Started a farm with the intent to both take it easier than in my past 6 saves, and to make myself play well beyond reaching Perfection. Other goals are to only sell full stacks of the mass-produced artisan goods after the farm is up and running, developing the entire farm, and make at least some attempt at coordinated indoor decoration. Picked remixed bundles. No mods.

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Doesn't look like much towards the middle of Summer of year 1. Having played this farm map earlier, I have a good idea of where I want to place the first few buildings, I just haven't had been able to afford anything apart from a silo with the need for upgrading tools and backpack, and I prioritized lightning rods over quality sprinklers.

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Early Spring year 2 saw the farm in a much better shape. Moved the greenhouse and placed the barn as close to the cliffside as possible this time. Didn't actually have any iridium, so the iridium sprinklers are bought from Krobus. The fishponds contains Mutant Carp, Angler, and Crimsonfish. Legend was caught a couple of days after the screenshot. The niche by the irrigated area holds the indicator tapper and mushroom log while the mushroom log grove is up at the railroad, and the other oaks with tappers are at the bus stop. So far only a shed for the preserves jars.

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First morning Fall of year 2 I was racing the growing production of my greenhouse. A keg shed has been added and upgraded, and kegs made as I can. The Legend got a pond before the Glacierfish, even though the Glacierfish was caught first, but both of them got ponded before Summer ended.

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Early Spring of year 3 I had completed my first couple of Qi quests and bought the pressure nozzles I wanted for my iridium sprinklers. The indicator tapper and mushroom log moved to near the spouse area. Still a lot of the farm left to develop. Angler ousted from its pond and replaced with the first Legend II I caught. Over at Ginger Island, the first feeble attempts at farming are taking place, hampered by the need to take the boat there every time, even if I can get home easily enough.
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Have expanded the farmhouse a bit before year 2 ended, but as can be seen, not much in the way of decoration yet. No spouse room yet.
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This is what I've come to prefer for the greenhouse over the last few saves. All kinds of fruit trees, with more of those giving more expensive fruits. Screenshot taken about halfway through Spring as I waited a week or so for the last banana tree to grow up and then for the next harvest day for the ancient fruit.
 

Jayamos

Farmer
I like your setup. I’m thinking of moving the greenhouse for ET Betsy, and that looks like a good spot. If I had it to do over again I might have the animals up top and the crops in that area below, as you do. Going off-farm for logs and tappers makes a lot of sense.
 

FilthyGorilla

Local Legend
Nice challenge, adds a fun twist to getting a strong artisanal setup up and started quickly, and I can imagine it probably pushes you towards fast single item processors like jars being viable instead of being outclassed by early dehydrators, which is a fun twist
 

Terdin

Farmer
Nice challenge, adds a fun twist to getting a strong artisanal setup up and started quickly, and I can imagine it probably pushes you towards fast single item processors like jars being viable instead of being outclassed by early dehydrators, which is a fun twist
In a way it does, even if I've always prefered jars for most produce as it adds more value per crop/fruit than dehydrators, and is faster than kegs without losing out too much value-wise. I use dehydrators for most mushrooms, apart from iridium quality and magma caps as those go into jars instead.

I have a penchant for the early struggles, so this time around I'm kind of stretching the time where I feel I can't afford much, even if I know I could get enough money for it if I just sold off some of what I've got stored. That's the main reason behind the farm's name.
 

Terdin

Farmer
Two more years have passed for Erica.
Towards the end of summer year 3, I was married to Abigail. I had got at least one more Extended Family quest, and apart from switching over the other legendary fish ponds, I'd built a few new. More importantly I'd built a shed for processing mushrooms. Added another silo to store more winter fodder for the animals.
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Early Spring year 4 had seen some of the regular grass replaced with blue grass, and two more fish ponds. And over on Ginger Island, I had some solid farming going on, even if there's still plenty of room to expand.
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Fall year 4
Just one more fish pond built, but golden clock bought and there's third silo for storing winter fodder.
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Start of year 5
I've been slow when it comes to building more fish ponds. But there's a new barn for ostriches, and a shed for pickling, allowing the first preserves jar shed to only make jelly (and aged roe). Indoors, some attempts at decorating have taken place, and in the case of the southern room, turning it into a jade-producing factory. Now that both children are toddlers, I should remove the crib to allow for some more toys.
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