Feeding the Depths 🍲
Survival in Core Keeper isn’t just about mining and fighting, it’s about staying fed. Farming and cooking are the lifeblood of long-term survival, giving you renewable food, buffs, and the stamina to keep digging deeper.
Whether you’re thriving solo or managing a bustling co-op base on a ChipHead-hosted server, here’s how to become a master farmer and chef underground.
1. Getting Started with Farming 🌱
Before you grow your first crop, you’ll need some basic supplies:
- Hoe: For tilling soil (crafted at the Workbench)
- Watering Can: For hydrating crops
- Seeds: Found by exploring, looting slimes, or breaking vegetation
- Fertile Soil: Most common around the starting area or near water
Find a flat, well-lit space near your base to start farming. Place torches nearby to keep crops visible and enemies away.
Pro Tip: Build your farm near your kitchen and storage area, convenience saves time when crafting meals later.
2. Preparing the Soil 🪣
Use your Hoe to till dirt or turf into farmable soil.
- Place Fertile Soil in rows
- Keep at least one tile of space between water and crops to prevent flooding
- Light the area well to track progress
If you can’t find enough fertile soil, dig deeper. Certain biomes contain patches of soil perfect for farming expansion.
3. Planting and Watering 🌾
Once the soil’s ready, it’s time to plant.
- Equip the seed and right-click on tilled soil
- Use your Watering Can to keep it hydrated
- Check regularly, dry crops won’t grow!
Different crops have different growth times, so patience is key.
Common Starter Crops:
| Crop | Source | Growth Time | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Berry | Slimes/Grass | Fast | Basic healing food |
| Glow Tulip | Grass areas | Medium | Provides light when cooked |
| Bomb Pepper | Chests or slime areas | Medium | Ingredient for spicy meals |
| Carrock | Mining biomes | Slow | High stamina recovery |
Bonus Tip: Overwatering crops wastes time, refill your Watering Can only when necessary.
4. Expanding Your Farm 🏡
Once you’re stable, build a farming zone with organised plots:
- Add Wood Fences to keep critters out
- Use Bridges or Paths for easy navigation
- Store seeds in labelled chests for quick replanting
On multiplayer servers, assign one player as the farmer to manage planting cycles while others gather seeds or resources.
Pro Tip: Use compost or fertile soil tiles (found near nature biomes) for faster growth rates.
5. Crafting the Kitchen 🍳
Cooking turns raw crops into powerful meals that restore health, hunger, and provide buffs.
- Build a Cooking Pot at your Workbench
- Place it near storage for easy ingredient access
- Combine two food items to create unique meals
You can cook almost anything and experimenting often yields great results.
6. Best Cooking Combos 🧂
Each meal offers unique effects, from healing to speed boosts.
Top Early-Game Recipes:
| Recipe | Ingredients | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Hearty Pepper Wrap | Heart Berry + Bomb Pepper | +Movement Speed +Health Regen |
| Glow Salad | Glow Tulip + Heart Berry | Emits light + Restores health |
| Carrock Stew | Carrock + Heart Berry | +Max Health +Stamina Regen |
| Berry Pudding | 2x Heart Berry | Simple but reliable healing |
| Mushroom Soup | 2x Mushroom | Restores moderate hunger |
Bonus Tip: Keep a small chest of premade meals near your respawn point, quick recovery after death saves runs.
7. Farming for Buffs 💪
Different crops provide different permanent benefits when used in cooked meals.
- Heart Berry foods focus on health regen
- Bomb Pepper meals boost speed and energy
- Carrock dishes give max health
- Glow Tulip recipes add light buffs for cave exploring
Experiment with pairings to prepare specialised meals for combat, mining, or exploration.
8. Sustainable Farming and Seed Reuse 🔄
Harvesting crops has a chance to drop new seeds, letting you replant indefinitely.
- Replant immediately after harvesting
- Store extra seeds in separate chests for trading or expansion
- Rotate crops to balance your food variety
Pro Tip: Always keep a small backup of each seed type in case pests or players accidentally destroy your farm.
9. Co-op Farming Coordination 👥
In multiplayer, teamwork makes farming effortless:
- Assign one player to watering duty
- Another handles cooking and restocking
- A third gathers seeds from exploration
This keeps everyone productive and on ChipHead-hosted servers, progress stays synced even when players log off.
Final Thoughts 🌻
Farming and cooking turn Core Keeper from survival to sustainability. Once your team masters crops and recipes, you’ll never fear hunger, only what lurks beyond the next tunnel.
With ChipHead hosting, your underground world stays lag-free and ready for endless growth. Keep your crops green, your ovens hot, and your Core shining bright. ⚡🌽
