I've read about online and in magazines. I've seen it referred to a bazillion times on Facebook, and I finally decided to poke my nose in and see what all the fuss was about.

Anyhow, anyone need a new neighbor, I'm in town now. Give me a holler. =) My Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/GreenTortuga.

Second thing.... For now, at least, I'm only checking out Facebook. I know this group was started for Farmville in particular, but it's kind the group for any of the Facebook apps. I was thinking that renaming this group to something like "Facebook Games" or something would be more appropriate, then create several boards--one for each of the major games people play on Facebook so people could just follow threads for the games that interest them. (And one general catch-all board for any threads that don't quite seem to fit in a specific board.)

And on a final note, a question. As a new farmer since this evening, what would y'all suggest is the best course of action to build the biggest, coolest farm in the shortest amount of time? After figuring out how things work, I wrote out a list of all of the seeds that I have available for buying, and made up a chart with all costs and profits normalized so I could figure out which ones generate the best profits overall. Right now, raspberries are the crop to beat--with the 2 hour turn around time, I can generate 312 coins per day if I plant them 12 times per day. Okay, not likely to happen (I do have a life outside of Farmville!), but doing that a couple of times a day then changing to pumpkins overnight while sleeping or something (I can profit 114 coins per day with pumpkins in a single square). With 144 plots of land, in theory, I could generate 44,928 coins in one day planting raspberries. Seems pretty good. Even if I dedicate just one day to farm building, I could do half that amount. Seems respectable for a first day, right? Or am I missing something here? Is farming raspberries 12 times in a day too "hard" on the ground? Will I need to buy more fertilizer?

Let's talk strategy! =)

-- Ryan

First of all, Ryan, holy crap. You are WAY overanalyzing this. It's a GAME!! :D

Is farming raspberries 12 times in a day too "hard" on the ground? Will I need to buy more fertilizer?

You don't fertilize your own crops - only other people can do that. And the only thing that fertilizer does is make your crops bigger and more profitable (I think). Plus you get experience points for harvesting fertilized crops. You don't have to worry about any crop being too "hard" on the ground - there is no such thing in this game.

You can also make money from things other than crops - animals and trees to be exact. People will gift you items, and if you don't want them, you can sell them for more money also.

TG

You can also make money from things other than crops - animals and trees to be exact.

I looked at the trees, but those seem next to worthless from a building a profitable farm point of view. They have steep start up costs (225 coins for the cheapest version I can see), and it takes two to four days for them to mature, for a measly 47 coins at best. A puny 11.75 coins per day.

I haven't planted any yet, but I assume each tree doesn't take up as much room as the crops do, so in large quantities, they could be enormously profitable. But given the steep start up costs, I need to build up the coins in my bank first. With as much as I have now, I'd only be able to afford all of about 20 trees.

Animals suffer the same problem, but the start up costs are even higher, and all of them require the green money which seems to be in considerably shorter supply than the coins. Speaking of which--how do I make the green stuff?

So I'm focused on crops at the moment. As my experience increases and I have access to more crops and trees, there might be more profitable options available, but for now, I think crops are where it's at.

-- Ryan

With as much as I have now, I'd only be able to afford all of about 20 trees.

But that is what the gifts are for. :D I sent you an olive tree. You can retrieve it on the Facebook home page - the upper right hand corner where it says "Requests". Free trees = free money, right? :)

TG

I sent you an olive tree. You can retrieve it on the Facebook home page - the upper right hand corner where it says "Requests".

Holy smokes! I have 68 Farmville gifts waiting for me! I have some things to take care of..... =) (I've never checked that link before....)

-- Ryan

Lol! Before you go making any more cost-benefit analyses on new seeds, google "Farmville tips". There are a few sites that have them figured out for you already. And since you become able to plant new things each time you level up, your "most valuable crop" may not always remain the same. Raspberries are a good bet, though, if you have time to harvest them before they wither.

I recommend going after as many ribbons as possible - each gives an increasing number of coins and exp. Neighbor as many folks as possible - more neighbors get you more benefit when you help their farms, and it's that many more people fertilizing your crops, as well. Also, expanding your farm to a bigger size requires 2 things: enough coins and enough neighbors.

Mostly, it does seem to come down to how much time you have free to play. If you have time to plant several short-time crops over the course of a day, it helps. I have a friend who doesn't have a "normal" 9-5 job; he's a playwright, who started farming several months after I did, but he's several levels above me because his schedule afforded him a lot more time to play.

Hope some of this helps! :-)

BAC

since you become able to plant new things each time you level up, your "most valuable crop" may not always remain the same.

I've been adding new crops to my list, but raspberries are still the best overall. Right now, I have a bunch of pumpkins planted since I'll be going to sleep soon. Figured those should be ready by the time I wake up again without any withering. =)

I recommend going after as many ribbons as possible - each gives an increasing number of coins and exp.

I've been collecting those pretty quickly without even trying. I suppose I might try going after specific ones as they get harder to acquire, but for now, they aren't a big priority.

Also, expanding your farm to a bigger size requires 2 things: enough coins and enough neighbors.

Yeah, I realized a number of hours ago I made a big mistake using all of my extra cash to buy trees to decorate the edges of the farm that didn't have enough space for regular crops. Had I not done that, I could have already expanded my farm. Do'h! At the time, I didn't have enough neighbors to expand, but now I do but find myself with not enough coins. I'm saving up for it now. I'll be on a bigger farm shortly, though. Probably as soon as I finish picking pumpkins. =)

-- Ryan

You only get XP from Raspberries on your first crop, then you don't get them again. I would stick with STrawberries if you want a fast growing crop.

MW

Welcome Ryan! BTW.... for everyone: if you trap your farmer in the center square with haybales or fencing, it's much easier to plant/harvest crops, or to have someone fertilize your crops.

MW

If you need more neighbors - you can always add me.

Kathleen Stevens - the one with the Fun-O-Rama buildin g for a headshot right now
mud

I'm so glad to see someone else who has analyzed the per crop profit. My friends laughed at me and asked why I was only planting "x" kinds of crops. Once I told them why I was doing it I started getting phone calls from one asking which crops were better and another who began to plant whatever I was planting. After I reached a certain level I thought it was a fun thing to do to plant a crop just to see if they would follow suit. :0)

I've relaxed on planting only what was the highest profit for now. I've started just planting what I know I have time to get harvested with my schedule. Some days I can do short term crops and other times I have to go with what takes a couple days to ripen.

When I first started I too planted only crops with the highest profit margin. Once I reached level 25... and my life got more hectic - I too managed my crops by growth time cycles. Different goals - different reasons for playing!

I bet lots of folks manage their farms this way. I did the smae thing on FarmTown until I reached level 32... once I got my gazebo - I stopped playing as much.
mud

You only get XP from Raspberries on your first crop, then you don't get them again.

I can buy XP. I can't buy coins! Well, technically, I guess I can, but I'm not spending any real money on this stupid game. =)

if you trap your farmer in the center square with haybales or fencing, it's much easier to plant/harvest crops, or to have someone fertilize your crops.

I don't have money to spend trapping my farmer! It's on my to-do list, but I need every square inch of my farm generating cash right now. I figure I can build fences later.

After I reached a certain level I thought it was a fun thing to do to plant a crop just to see if they would follow suit. :0)

I like that idea. *heh*

Some days I can do short term crops and other times I have to go with what takes a couple days to ripen.

It happens. *shrug* You'll see the same thing happening on my farm too. =)

-- Ryan

And don't forget that you can get money and experience points by visiting your neighbors' farms and "helping" them out.

(I do have a life outside of Farmville!),

Yea, but Farmville is like marijuana; it's just the starter game. Then you branch out into Island Paradise and Zoo World. Next thing you know you're hooked on Country Life and Treasure Madness!

Anyhow, anyone need a new neighbor, I'm in town now

Welcome, to Farmville, Ryan!
or, should I say... Howdy, neighbor! lol
I just accepted your neighbor request.

I know this group was started for Farmville in particular, but it's kind the group for any of the Facebook apps. I was thinking that renaming this group to something like "Facebook Games" or something would be more appropriate, then create several boards--one for each of the major games people play on Facebook so people could just follow threads for the games that interest them. (And one general catch-all board for any threads that don't quite seem to fit in a specific board.)

While I didn't start this Board, or name it...
I did take it over as the Owner from speedsquare.

I like the ideas you mentioned about changing the Main Board name, and adding others for the various Facebook games generally discussed.

Carolina Wine Trail
Wanda

Welcome Ryan :-)

It seems funny that we are welcoming you for a change, does anyone else find that as humorous or is it just me??? Imagine waking up and having a "request" from the "Great Green One" to 'accept' his invitation to be neighbors.... I enjoyed it and felt it ironic.. lol

Just so you know Ryan, if you are on the main Face Book Page and you do some scrolling down, you will see where some of your neighbors are "Thanking You" for Fertilizing their Crops... If you click on the "Receive Gift/Bonus", you get FREE money!!

Nothing like "FREE" money, right??

That's usually the first thing I do, then I'll scroll to another page by clicking on "Older Posts".. If you've already gotten the gift/bonus, it will tell you... I send gifts every day to my neighbors if possible... and most do the same and would appreciate you "gifting" them as well..

Again, "HOWDY Neighbor and Welcome",
Nanni

Have Fun & Enjoy :-)