Revision 1

Farming is described as the most important supplier in Solarpunk. Growing fruits and vegetables is the primary source of food, and plant-based materials feed into the crafting system. Unlike many survival games, there is no animal slaughter; all food comes from what players grow.

Basic farming

The farming loop is straightforward: plant seeds in soil, keep them watered, and harvest when the crops are fully grown. Early in the game, watering is manual. As players progress through the crafting and energy systems, farming becomes increasingly automated.

Automated watering

Sprinkler systems are energy-powered devices that water crops automatically. They connect to the island's power grid through cables and operate on a schedule or continuously. Rain sensors can be paired with sprinklers to shut them off during rainstorms, conserving energy when nature is already handling the watering. Farming bots also exist as another automation layer, moving through crop areas and watering plants.

Known crops and materials

Cotton is particularly notable because Cloth is a required material for the Research Table, one of the core progression stations. Without farming cotton, players cannot unlock new crafting recipes.

Beehives

Beehives are unlocked through Tier 1 research. They produce honey or related bee products over time. An important restriction is that beehives cannot be placed on snowy islands. Players who want bees must maintain operations on warmer, tropical-style islands.

Trees and wood

Trees serve dual purposes: they provide Wood when chopped (the most common building material) and drop Saplings that can be replanted. One unit of Wood converts into 3 Sticks at the Crafting Table. Replanting saplings ensures a sustainable wood supply without depleting the island's natural forest.

Biome restrictions

What can be farmed depends on the island's biome. Snowy mountain islands restrict certain crops and structures like beehives. This design pushes players to develop farms across multiple islands, using the airship to shuttle between growing operations. Different islands may support different plant types, creating a distributed agricultural network.