Now that Stardew Valley’s 1.5 update has been out for a while, many players are getting ready to take their first trips to Ginger Island. One of the biggest draws on the island is an all-new farm that is available to all players regardless of which farm type they choose when starting the game.
The island farm is a great place to grow all the new crops, and many players will even plan to permanently move away from Pelican Town in favor of the island’s tropical setting. Before packing up and moving your whole farm over to the new island, though, there are some things you should know.
Updated October 2, 2021, by Staci Srebro: Stardew Valley is a relaxing and beautiful game loved by the indie community for its personalization and customization options in its gameplay. If you thought Stardew Valley was an average farming simulator you were mistaken. In addition to the stereotypical farm life, Stardew Valley offers a unique experience of living on an island farm. Once fans of the game dive deeper into it, they can visit Ginger Island and start customizing an entirely new farm with beachy vibes and tropical plants. Whether you want to grow crops along the beach, fish, or explore this new terrain, there’s plenty to do on the island farm.
15 The Beach Resort Allows Your Favorite Villagers To Visit You
If you were concerned that spending time on the island farm meant you could no longer visit your favorite villagers, you no longer need to worry. Although players, unfortunately, can not have their spouses or children in Stardew Valley live with them on their island farm, other familiar faces will keep you company while you’re away from Pelican Town.
On the island farm, golden walnuts are essential. If you save 20 of them, you can open a beach resort where the citizens of Pelican Town will visit. The villagers who visit are random, but it still is nice to see familiar faces.
14 Pirates Show Up On Ginger Island
The island farm is an expansive area full of discoveries and secrets. On the right side of the island off the farmland, you will discover the Pirate Cove.
These pirates aren’t in Stardew Village to pillage, but instead, they reward you. Play a game of darts with the pirates to win some golden walnuts. Afterward, you can grab a glass of mead at the bar if you’re dressed like a pirate. Between needing golden walnuts to move the turtles in Stardew Valley, pay for the parrot express, and generally using them to buy all island goods, you’ll be thankful you met these pirates.
13 Donate To The Island Field Office
Much like the museum of Pelican Town, Ginger Island offers an island farmer various rewards for donating artifacts. After freeing Professor Snail from a cave at the fossil quarry, players can speak to him daily at the Island Field Office. Professor Snail will offer rewards for your hard work in finding artifacts around the island. Some rewards include banana and mango saplings, which farmers can then plant on the farm to create a beautiful island paradise.
In addition to collecting saplings to decorate Ginger Island, you also can earn more of the island’s currency of golden walnuts. Golden Walnuts are essential and can be used to buy crops, furniture, or anything else to customize the island farm to the player’s perfect vision.
12 Mussel Nodes Appear
For those looking to gather some easy mussels, there is a perfect farming spot right below your island farm. Mussel Nodes spawn on the beach near the wrecked pirate ship and can be mined with a pickaxe.
Most nodes will give you around three mussels that you can sell. The Nodes will take a bit to respawn, but the beach should be full within a couple of days’ time.
11 You Can Get A Warp Tower
To help make getting back to your main farm easier, the parrots offer an option to construct a warp tower. Like everything else, this warp tower does cost golden walnuts, 20 of them to be precise.
To get a warp tower from your main farm to the island, you will need to see the Wizard, though. Like most Obelisk placed on your farm, the island one is incredibly expensive to build and uses items from the island dungeon.
10 It’s On Ginger Island
Ginger Island is where a ton of the new content is located. Some players are getting a bit confused, though, as there is a new path in the mountains that leads to an end-game event.
The only way to access an extra farm is by going to the island; there are no other extra farms in the game. In addition, the boat to the island won’t be available until you complete the community center.
9 The Path Is Initially Blocked
When you first arrive on the island, you won’t have very many places to visit. In fact, the volcano dungeon will need to be entered before you even see what the farm looks like.
A parrot on the beach will be situated beside a turtle that is blocking the path. To remove the turtle, you will need to feed the bird ten golden walnuts.
8 The Field Is Covered
Just like with the original farm, the island farm is covered in weeds, sticks, stones, and hardwood. The island farm is much smaller than the standard one, but you should still expect to spend a full day clearing out the field so that it can all be used for growing crops.
This does give you a substantial amount of hardwood, which can be used towards Robin’s special order.
7 The Farmhouse Costs Golden Walnuts
As with anything that you want to use on the island, the farmhouse will require twenty golden walnuts to build. When you first get to the island, you will find that the farmhouse is in tatters.
The parrots will fix this granting a three-room, one kitchen house for you to live in. The base house comes with a few decorations and four beds so that every player can stay on the island.
6 The Mailbox Costs Extra
Players who want to permanently stay on the island will have to do a bit of extra work. The birds will hold off on building your mailbox until after the farmhouse is built.
They will ask for an additional five golden walnuts to build the mailbox. Once the mailbox is built, you can access any unread mail, and all new mail will be delivered to both the island and original farm.
5 You Can Decorate The Farm
It’s understandable that many players would grow tired of their home being island-themed after a few seasons. Just like the normal farmhouse, the island farmhouse can be customized.
The wallpaper can be changed, along with the flooring and a TV can be placed in the house. Furniture is also easy to place and rearrange, although the house can’t be expanded any further.
4 Plants Grow Year-Round
One of the biggest perks of having the island farm is not having to worry about the season. Unlike the beach farm, sprinklers can easily be set-up leading to bountiful harvests that can quickly net farmers tons of money. You can also place kegs in order to make artesian goods.
Even if you don’t plan to live on the island, this farm can be used as an extension of the greenhouse.
3 Island Weather Is Different
Players should note that the weather of the island and Pelican Town are completely different. The weather channel will start giving a forecast for both locations after the play first visits Ginger Island.
One major difference will be that the island doesn’t change seasons, so snow will never fall. You should keep this in mind, especially if you are planning to manage two different farms.
2 You Can’t Build Buildings
One of the biggest downsides to the island farm is that it can’t be customized with buildings. This means that you won’t be able to raise animals on the island, use horses, or even build a shed for extra storage.
If the parrots don’t build it, then you can’t have it. While this does make sense lore-wise, it is a huge let down for animal-focused players.
1 Your Spouse And Child Won’t Move
Another thing that married players will quickly notice is that their spouse isn’t too keen on moving homes. You will go to the island alone, and if you choose to stay on the island, you will do so on your own.
Your spouse and child will wait for you back on the main farm. Players who enjoy the perks of having a spouse around will want to take this into consideration when choosing to move or not.
NEXT: Stardew Valley: Complete Guide And Walkthrough
