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Before you start a new save file inStardew Valley, there are eight farm types, or maps, to choose from. While each of them boasts their strengths, none of them do the Foraging skill justice like the Forest Farm does. However, that’s not the only reason you should consider picking this layout.
With early access to Hardwood, lots of room to build, and an absolutely beautiful landscape, this map is a favorite for Speedrunners. Whether you’re doing some research into which farm type is right for you, or looking to learn more now that you’ve chosen it, here is everything to know about the Forest Farm.
Tillable And Buildable Space
Having reduced space for farming meansthere are less tillable tiles for you to use. These are tiles of space thatcan be hoed and used to grow crops.
The Forest Farmonly has 1,413 tillable tiles. And, although that does mean you can technically grow 1,413 crops, you will have togive some of that space up to sprinklers.
The Forest Farmhas the least number of tillable tilesin the game.
However, what it lacks in tillable tiles,it makes up with buildable tiles. That is, tiles that you can place farm buildings on. For example:
The Greenhouse and Farmhouse are alsotechnically farm buildings, but you start with both of these buildings andcan’t build another of either.
The total number ofbuildable tiles is 1,490. And that amountis just un-tillable land. This means you can havemore buildings set up without compromising any farming space. Not to mention, you can alwaysbuild on land that could otherwise be used for crops.
This lends itself to many play styles. And, although you would have the least amount of space for farming,you can still easily have over 1,000 fruits or vegetablesof your choice.
Plus, as the game progresses, you’ll gain access tothe Greenhouseas well asGinger Island, which grants you two additional areaswhere you can grow crops.
So, what may sound like a con on the surfacedoesn’t keep you from growing and selling a lot of cropsthroughout your save file, no matter how many in-game years you plan to play for.
Foraging
The skill that this farm helps you with the most is Foraging. This skill isdifficult to master because it is so dependent on spawn chances, but theForest Farm increases your chancesof finding forgeable items right on your farm.
These are the following items you may find without leaving your home:
40g - 80g
60g - 120g
150g - 300g
50g - 100g
80g - 176g
80g - 160g
50g - 110g
160g - 320g
250g - 500g
Fall
75g - 150g
It doesn’t increase your chances of finding any Winter foragables, but even in the Winter season,you’re able to still get more Foraging EXPbecause of the Forest Farms design.
Although it doesn’t increase foragable spawns in the Winter, you can stillfind Winter Roots and Snow Yamsin any dig spots on your farm.
Berry Bushes
In addition to different foragables spawning on your farm, there are also more bushes,including more berry bushes.
DuringSpring 15 through 18, these will spawnsalmonberries. Depending on your Foragaing level, when these berries start growing, you canharvest between one and three of them.
They won’t produce anything during Summer. Butbetween Fall 8 and 11these bushes will instead growblackberriesyou can harvest.
You will getone EXP for each berryyou harvest. So, having more berry bushes on your farm increases the total number of berries and experience you may gain.
Berry bushes also spawn all over Stardew Valley. You can find them in theCindersap Forest, all along the path leading toThe Mountains, and evenaround the town itself. The only placeyou don’t find themis on The Beach.
Hardwood Stumps
Each farm hasHardwoodstumps you can chop up, but they never grow back.On the Forest Farm, however, there are eight that grow backevery day.
The only other place Hardwood stumps behave like this are inthe Secret Woods,where six stumps will grow backafter you chop them apart.
That increases the number ofHardwood you can get each dayfrom 12 to 28 pieces.
This also means a steep increase inForaging EXP you can get every day from 150 to 550.
These will keep growing backunless you cover them. A lot of people build farms and coops in the areas with the Hardwood stumps. If one of these buildings covers a stump,then it will be unable to grow back.
If you don’t want to cover up stumps,leave them in placeany time you go and talk to Robin. You’ll know exactly where you may place these buildingswithout losing the stumps.
Fishing
Although this doesn’t impact your Foraging level,the Forest Farm allows you to catch a special fishthat can only be found in the Secret Woods. And thatis theWoodskip.
This is a small chance,only five percent, but that’s beforeyour Daily Luck is factored in. The higher your Luck, the higher the chance you can catch the Woodskip. The rest of the time you’re fishing, you canexpect to either hookpond and river fishor, unfortunately, trash.
But, the Woodskip is needed forone of the Fishing Bundlesyou can be asked to complete by the Junimos in order tofix up The Community Center.
Being able to catch the Woodskip on your farm can helpif you’re struggling to get into the Secret Woods.
