Retired Farmer
- Category
- Hydroponic Farmer
- Official description
- Immediately receive a Hydroponic Starter Kit. A retired farmer will visit you the next day and, subsequently, once a week, selling seeds and hydroponic equipment. (Unlocks Advanced Farming Content.)
On this page
How it works
Hydroponic System (584 at base value with its contents), seeds, nutrient tablets and water: 667 in total, more than the price. The farmer visits weekly and Dr. Jackson stocks farming gear. The entry point to production, including berries for wine and coffee.
What it does
You receive a hydroponics starter kit; farming supplies become available, and a Retired Farmer visits every week.
Rating
An accessible way into crop production, with equipment and recurring supply access. Ongoing water, power, planting stock and sales still matter more than the kit's base value on paper.
Buy it when the condition in the reason applies, such as stock waiting for buyers, crime building up or batteries running short. Until then, put the money into your current business.
When stock is piling upDo not add another production branch while existing finished goods lack buyers.
When production falls shortConsider it to establish repeatable stock only if the water and power needed until harvest are funded; the unlock is not an immediate cash harvest.
Ratings by specialization
- Rating
- An accessible way into crop production, with equipment and recurring supply access. Ongoing water, power, planting stock and sales still matter more than the kit's base value on paper.
- Rating
- An accessible way into crop production, with equipment and recurring supply access. Ongoing water, power, planting stock and sales still matter more than the kit's base value on paper.
- Rating
- An accessible way into crop production, with equipment and recurring supply access. Ongoing water, power, planting stock and sales still matter more than the kit's base value on paper.
- Rating
- An accessible way into crop production, with equipment and recurring supply access. Ongoing water, power, planting stock and sales still matter more than the kit's base value on paper.
- Hydroponic FarmerOwned at start
- Rating
- This already-owned access is the foundation of the crop route and its suppliers. Invest in keeping the starting line healthy rather than trying to buy the same starter kit again.
- Rating
- A separate crop business adds another water, power and inventory commitment before the supplied specialist route is stable. Expand the existing line first unless crop access is a deliberate new branch.
- ChemistBRecommended time to buy: Mid game
- Rating
- Lets you grow your own Dream Cap: the old Hydroponic System it gives holds a charged Energy Cell and water, and the Dream Cap Spores from the Retired Farmer come back after each harvest. The vials you can make are still capped by alcohol, so it mainly saves what you would spend buying Dream Cap.
- Rating
- An accessible way into crop production, with equipment and recurring supply access. Ongoing water, power, planting stock and sales still matter more than the kit's base value on paper.
- Rating
- A separate crop business adds another water, power and inventory commitment before the supplied specialist route is stable. Expand the existing line first unless crop access is a deliberate new branch.
| Specialization | Rating |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | B An accessible way into crop production, with equipment and recurring supply access. Ongoing water, power, planting stock and sales still matter more than the kit's base value on paper. |
| Water Merchant | B An accessible way into crop production, with equipment and recurring supply access. Ongoing water, power, planting stock and sales still matter more than the kit's base value on paper. |
| Fence | B An accessible way into crop production, with equipment and recurring supply access. Ongoing water, power, planting stock and sales still matter more than the kit's base value on paper. |
| Rock Bottom | B An accessible way into crop production, with equipment and recurring supply access. Ongoing water, power, planting stock and sales still matter more than the kit's base value on paper. |
| Hydroponic Farmer | Owned at start This already-owned access is the foundation of the crop route and its suppliers. Invest in keeping the starting line healthy rather than trying to buy the same starter kit again. |
| Gunsmith | C A separate crop business adds another water, power and inventory commitment before the supplied specialist route is stable. Expand the existing line first unless crop access is a deliberate new branch. |
| Chemist | BRecommended time to buy: Mid game Lets you grow your own Dream Cap: the old Hydroponic System it gives holds a charged Energy Cell and water, and the Dream Cap Spores from the Retired Farmer come back after each harvest. The vials you can make are still capped by alcohol, so it mainly saves what you would spend buying Dream Cap. |
| Rat Wrangler | B An accessible way into crop production, with equipment and recurring supply access. Ongoing water, power, planting stock and sales still matter more than the kit's base value on paper. |
| Aquafarmer | C A separate crop business adds another water, power and inventory commitment before the supplied specialist route is stable. Expand the existing line first unless crop access is a deliberate new branch. |
Recommended time to buy
Mid game
Undiscounted unlock price on Mark Up: 350. Start after funding rent, water and power through a growing cycle. Hydroponic Farmer already owns this access at the start; use the supplied equipment instead of budgeting another unlock.
Upgrades and perks that work well with it
- Water Trading
Measured water quality supports repeatable crop growth and gives access to the tap path.
- Retired Winemaker
A repeatable berry supply can feed fermentation once clean water and containers are ready.
Related customers
Also visits after you unlock it (comes under other conditions too)
- Retired Farmer
Sells after you unlock it
Goods or prices change after you unlock it
- Eleanor
Sells after you unlock it - Scavenger
Sells after you unlock it - Supplier (Supply Runner)
Sells after you unlock it
Price
No perk
- Price Gouge
- 350
- Mark Up
- 350
- Thin Margins
- 525
- Red Ink
- 700
Wild's Favorite
- Price Gouge
- 315
- Mark Up
- 315
- Thin Margins
- 472
- Red Ink
- 630
On Wild's Bad Side
- Price Gouge
- 385
- Mark Up
- 385
- Thin Margins
- 578
- Red Ink
- 770
Pillar of the Lower Levels
- Price Gouge
- 298
- Mark Up
- 298
- Thin Margins
- 446
- Red Ink
- 595
Wild's Favorite + Pillar of the Lower Levels
- Price Gouge
- 268
- Mark Up
- 268
- Thin Margins
- 402
- Red Ink
- 535
On Wild's Bad Side + Pillar of the Lower Levels
- Price Gouge
- 327
- Mark Up
- 327
- Thin Margins
- 491
- Red Ink
- 655
| Price Gouge | Mark Up | Thin Margins | Red Ink | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No perk | 350 | 350 | 525 | 700 |
| Wild's Favorite | 315 | 315 | 472 | 630 |
| On Wild's Bad Side | 385 | 385 | 578 | 770 |
| Pillar of the Lower Levels | 298 | 298 | 446 | 595 |
| Wild's Favorite + Pillar of the Lower Levels | 268 | 268 | 402 | 535 |
| On Wild's Bad Side + Pillar of the Lower Levels | 327 | 327 | 491 | 655 |
Favor pays first; the rest is cash.
Requirements and unlocks
- Requires
- None
- Unlocks
Items you receive after unlocking
Hydroponic System ×1contains Postit ×1, Energy Cell ×1, Bottle of Water (Large) ×1, Corrupted Module ×3, Ruined Module ×1
Hydroponic Farming Manual ×1
Fillerweed Seed ×2
Nutrifruit Seed ×3
Hydroponic Nutrient Tablet ×2
Sealed Water Ration (Small) ×2
Total base value: 667 (not counting Nutrifruit Seed, which have no base value)
Price on Mark Up: 350