Overview
Farming is a core system in Solarpunk, providing raw materials for crafting, cooking, and trade. Players till soil with a Hoe, plant seeds, water crops, and harvest them when mature. The farming system draws inspiration from Stardew Valley, one of the game's cited design influences.
Confirmed crops
The following crops have been confirmed through the demo, Kickstarter updates, and development previews:
Crop | Primary use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Cotton | Cloth (crafting material) | Grows slowly; approximately 10 minutes in the demo build |
Berries / Raspberry | Food, cooking | One of the earlier available food sources |
Wheat | Cooking ingredient | Staple crop for recipes |
Tomatoes | Cooking ingredient | Added as part of the cooking system expansion |
Carrots | Cooking ingredient | Added as part of the cooking system expansion |
Paprika | Cooking ingredient | Added as part of the cooking system expansion |
Watermelon | Cooking ingredient | Added as part of the cooking system expansion |
Additional plant types were unlocked as a Kickstarter stretch goal, so the final game will include more varieties beyond those listed above.
Growth and watering
Crops require regular watering to grow. In the demo, Cotton took approximately 10 minutes to reach harvest maturity, which community testers widely considered too slow. The developers have acknowledged this feedback and may adjust growth timers before the final release.
Watering can be done manually with a watering can or automated through farming robots and drones. These automated watering systems use power from the Energy System and can cover designated crop areas without player input, freeing up time for other activities.
Greenhouses
Greenhouses are enclosed structures built using the building system with glass walls. They serve a critical function: protecting crops from storm damage. Storms in Solarpunk can destroy unprotected crops, potentially wiping out an entire harvest. Planting inside greenhouses prevents this, making them a high priority for any serious farming operation.
Farming tools
Tool | Function |
|---|---|
Hoe | Tills soil to create plantable patches |
Watering Can | Manually waters crops |
Farming Robot / Drone | Automatically waters designated crop areas |
Connection to other systems
Crafting: Cotton produces Cloth, which is needed for the Research Table and other crafted items.
Cooking: Tomatoes, Carrots, Paprika, Watermelon, Wheat, and Berries are all ingredients in cooking recipes.
Animals: Animal care and farming share space on islands; plan layouts to accommodate both.
Automation: Farming drones reduce manual labor, connecting the farm to the automation pipeline.