The new beach farm in Stardew Valley is a layout introduced with the Version 1.5 update. It changes up the game by implementing unique circumstances that the player must work with to raise a successful farm, but knowing what to expect can make farming at the beach much easier.
Some consider the beach farm a secret hard mode in Stardew Valley because it makes raising crops far more difficult than other farm layouts. It's a great layout for veteran Stardew Valley players because of these restrictions, as is the newly introduced Ginger Island and all of its challenges. But accidentally wasting time in Stardew Valley can be very frustrating, so understanding what can and can't be done on the beach farm can make for a much more efficient playthrough rather than crafting unnecessary sprinklers or buying too many seeds.
The Beach Farm Layout and Farming
Stardew Valley will actually change part of the layout of Pelican Town if the beach farm is chosen. Some of the forest on the west side of town has now been replaced by water to accommodate the beach. Much like the river farm, this means that much of the surrounding farmland will be water, which is great for fishing. Though the ocean surrounds the farm on all sides, to get to Marnie's ranch, wooden planks easily connect the two areas and the player can head south like normal. The greenhouse is off to the left out of the way but can be moved to a different location if desired, once it's been restored.
On the south-west end of the farm, a large pier can be found that extends into deeper waters where higher-quality fish swim. To the left is a normal grassy area with some trees and a plot of normal tillable soil. But to use this area, because of the logs, Stardew Valley players will first need to upgrade their axe to at least steel. This is also the only area that sprinklers can be used because sprinklers cannot be placed on the sand.
Tallgrass can still grow on the sand, which can be chopped to create fodder for animals, as well as crops. However, because sprinklers can't be used on the majority of the beach farm, raising crops likely won't be the best source of income. Rather, once the beach is completely cleaned up, there's a massive open area great for buildings, so animal products and artisan goods are likely a better focus. Trees and tea bushes are also an option because they don't require watering, but players may want to focus on getting the greenhouse restored as fast as possible to maximize their profits.
Special Beach Farm Features
Thanks to the 1.5 update to Stardew Valley, supply crates can also wash up on the shores of the beach farm, around the piles of driftwood. Though the contents of the crates are completely random, they can feature useful items, depending on how many times the player's home has been upgraded. For example, at no upgrades, some crates can contain geodes or cherry bombs. At one upgrade, players may find oil, sugar, or omni geodes, and at two upgrades, high quality items like mega bombs, mango sticky rice, and deluxe retaining soil can be found inside the supply crates.
There's also a secret tunnel on the beach farm in Stardew Valley. To the left of the pond on the west side, on the bottom left corner of the wall, the player can enter a tunnel that will take them to a small chunk of land on the south. Here, players can use a copper pan to find high-quality items typically found in the mines, such as diamonds.
Stardew Valley is available now on mobile devices, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.