The Stardew Valley 1.6 update adds the new meadowlands farm, which gives players the Blue Grass resource, but is it a good farm to use in the game?
The beach farm was added in 2021, giving seasoned players a fresh challenge and new setting for their latest playthrough. The meadowlands farm arrived in update 1.6 and gives players a different kind of challenge, with a smaller area of farmable land to work with and water sources positioned far away from the farmhouse.
It’s not all bad news though, as aspiring ranchers will quickly find themselves flush with mayonnaise and cheese. Here’s how to work the meadowlands farm, and how to utilize Blue Grass in Stardew Valley.
What does the meadowlands farm do in Stardew Valley?
The meadowlands farm is a new type of farm in Stardew Valley that is ideal for players who want to focus on animal husbandry and ranching.
As with other farm types, the interior of the meadowlands farmhouse is uniquely themed to match the map. Inside the starter package are 15 Hay rather than the usual Parsnip Seeds. Outside, players will find a free Coop, which would normally be worth 4,000g, 300 wood, and 100 stone. Within the Coop are two free chickens, worth 1,600g in additional savings.
As with the Greenhouse or any other existing farm structure, the Coop can be moved later on, using the services of either the Carpenter’s Shop or the Wizard’s Tower. This lets players get off to a strong start to a playthrough, but it does come at a cost.
What does Blue Grass do in Stardew Valley?
Blue Grass is a new natural resource added to Stardew Valley in the 1.6 update that lets players quickly increase friendships with livestock.
Initially, Blue Grass is scattered all across the central and southern portions of the meadowlands farm, around the three ponds. It is especially loved by livestock, raising friendship with animals at double the rate of ordinary Hay. The Scythe also harvests two pieces of Hay from each tile of Blue Grass when successful, rather than the singular Hay from regular grass.
All of this makes it so that livestock is easier to feed and handle. Even better, it allows players to turn a profit on their animals much more quickly than they would with regular grass.
Can you get Blue Grass in Stardew Valley without a meadowlands farm?
Players can obtain Blue Grass in Stardew Valley regardless of what type of farm they have. However, it doesn’t become available until the late game on any farm other than the meadowlands farm.
A Blue Grass Starter can be purchased in Qi’s Walnut Room on Ginger Island. As with the regular Grass Starter, it takes some time for it to grow and spread in a way where it becomes a sustainable method for feeding livestock. It flourishes naturally in the meadowlands and allows players to instantly establish a revenue stream using Eggs, but players on other farm types will have an established ranching operation by the time they reach Ginger Island. Unless they’re using mods, of course.
Is the meadowlands farm good?
The meadowlands farm is very good in the first year of a Stardew Valley playthrough, but becomes sub-optimal after a certain point.
The emphasis on grazing land for livestock means that water sources are farther away from the farmhouse than players would hope. This makes watering crops an even bigger chore during the early game until the Well is unlocked.
A significant portion of the map in the northwest, further left of the Coop, is made inaccessible by a river that runs in from the far west before splitting into two tributaries towards the north. While the river can be fished, its presence limits the amount of farmland the player has to work with.
The meadowlands river yields forest pond fish species, which are the same fish that would normally be found in the lake to the south of Stardew Valley‘s standard farming area. That includes a seasonal selection of Carp, Catfish, Midnight Carp, Perch, Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye.
