Stardew Valley Diary

It's official...my Stardew Valley farm has survived for an entire year!  I have also managed to almost befriend everyone in Pelican Town thanks to my manic gift giving.  There are still a few villagers who I haven't figured out--Caroline and Gus are generally unimpressed with any gifts that I give them.  Sebastian was a tricky one for quite awhile until I semi-accidentally stumbled upon his likes while looking up information on certain fish.  Hint:  One of his big "likes" is fish related.

In my first year my farm has grown to include a variety of animals.  Chickens, ducks, cows, and goats provide me with eggs and milk.  Duck eggs don't seem to have any special purposes but can be incubated to expand your number of ducks (which I would recommend as purchasing a duck costs 4,000 gold).  Once your ducks have become friendlier with you they will start dropping duck feathers which you can sell.  Goats are a nice addition as they provide milk that can be used to make goat cheese.  Certain villagers really dig goats cheese and it's one of the artisan items that sells for a good amount.  Keeping your animals happy will result in greater productivity--chickens will lay regular and large eggs and cows will do the same with milk.  Large eggs and large milk produce higher quality cheese and mayonnaise which sells for slightly more than the lower quality versions.

Non-farming time is best spent fishing or exploring the mines.  As you move deeper into the mines the enemies hit harder and the rocks get tougher requiring you to expend more energy to find the exit on each level.  I would recommend upgrading your weapon as much as you can afford and also making it a priority to upgrade your pickaxe.  Once you've done those things it will be considerably easier to deal with the enemies and rocks that populate the higher levels in the mine.  Eventually you will reach the bottom and receive an item that apparently has some use (which I have only partially figured out).  The tougher levels of the mine contain gold bars and more plentiful mineral deposits.

After you've caught the numerous fish you need to fix the fish tank in the community center continuing to fish may seem useless.  Don't stop fishing!  Once you have achieved a certain level of farming you will unlock high-quality fertilizer which requires sap AND fish.  Depending on how many crops you want to grow each season it is a good idea to keep a large stockpile of fertilizer.  Balancing your tasks between fishing and chopping down trees will keep you solid on the fertilizer front.

My farm has grown to include fruit trees and animals.

Planting and maintaining crops has become much easier with the ability to use gold bars to craft sprinklers.  Each sprinkler will water the eight squares surrounding it.  Watering crops is a breeze and no longer sucks up the whole morning!  Now to find a good source or iridium to make the sprinklers that will water 24 squares....

Finding someone to marry also turned out to be completely worthwhile.  Once you've earned at least eight hearts with a specific person you can purchase a bouquet.  Giving this bouquet as a gift announces your romantic intentions and unlocks the last two hearts of a relationship (only available bachelors and bachelorettes have this option).  There is a cute little cut scene where you hang out on a date with your sweetheart.  When you reach ten hearts you can purchase a mermaid pendant from the mariner/ghosty fisherman guy on the beach.  Haven't seen him?  He only appears when it rains so make it a point to swing by on a rainy day--oh, and bring 5,000 gold.  Just like in real life, marriage ain't cheap in Stardew Valley. Three days after giving the pendant your character will participate in a wedding ceremony in front of the whole town.

Having a spouse is definitely worth it.  Your spouse will cook you food and give you gifts AND feed your animals!  They are the best!

Even though my farm has grown by leaps and bounds, I still haven't accomplished everything that I want to.  I want some pigs!  And some sheep!  The un-restored community center still looms over Pelican Town.  I must fix it.....