Stardew Valley: The Ultimate Year 1 Community Center Guide
Completing the Community Center in the first year is the ultimate challenge for Stardew Valley veterans. It requires planning, luck, and relentless efficiency. The biggest hurdle is usually the Red Cabbage, which is normally a Year 2 crop, but can be obtained early if you check the Traveling Cart every Friday and Sunday.
This guide breaks down exactly what you need to focus on season by season to restore the center before Grandpa returns.
Seasonal Checklists
Spring Year 1
Crops: Parsnip (keep 1 high quality), Green Bean, Cauliflower,
Potato.
Foraging: Dandelion, Daffodil, Leek, Wild Horseradish. Keep 1 of each
for Spring Foraging Bundle.
Fishing: Catfish (River, Rain), Shad (River, Rain), Sunfish (River,
Sun).
Priority: Upgrade to a Copper Axe immediately to access the Secret
Woods for Fiddlehead Ferns in Summer.
Summer Year 1
Crops: Melon, Tomato, Hot Pepper, Blueberry, Corn (plant early, lasts
into Fall), Sunflower.
Foraging: Grape, Spice Berry, Sweet Pea. Fiddlehead
Fern (Secret Woods).
Fishing: Pufferfish (Ocean, Sun, 12pm-4pm), Sturgeon (Mountain
Lake).
Priority: Build a Coop and Barn. You need large Milk and Eggs by Fall.
Fall Year 1
Crops: Pumpkin, Eggplant, Yam.
Foraging: Common Mushroom, Wild Plum, Hazelnut, Blackberry.
Fishing: Walleye (River/Lake, Rain, Night), Tiger Trout (River).
Priority: Ensure you have 5 Gold Quality Pumpkins, Corn, OR Parsnips
for the Quality Crops bundle.
Winter Year 1
Foraging: Winter Root, Crystal Fruit, Snow Yam, Crocus.
Fishing: Nautilus Shell (Beach forage - tricky).
The Vault: Simply buy these bundles with gold (approx 42,500g). Farming
ancient fruit in the greenhouse helps fund this.
The RNG Killers
Some items are not guaranteed. You must check the Traveling Cart (south of farm) every Friday and Sunday for:
- Red Cabbage / Seeds: Mandatory for Year 1 completion.
- Truffle: If you don't upgrade to a Deluxe Barn by Fall 15, you won't get pigs in time to find truffles before winter (pigs don't go out in winter).
- Rabbit's Foot: Drop from rabbits in upgraded coop, or Serpent drop in Skull Cavern.
Comments
Don't forget to check the Remixed Bundles option if you want a fresh challenge. It removes the Red Cabbage requirement sometimes.