As with in most games, farming is a good source of income and access to resources. In Dinkum, you need to eat to survive and collecting seashells won't cut it for money anymore either. By farming, you have access to ingredients for exquisite food and can even sell some of them. Pumpkin and watermelon in particular go for 3,000 Dinks.
You won't be able to start farming in the early game. You'll have to have invited John onto your island first, and paid off your debt. Then you will start seeing visitors in the Visitor's Tent, and you'll earn access to new recipes and tasks. Your very first step is to unlock the Farming Licence from Fletch. Doing so grants you access to recipes for a Sickle and a Grain Mill.
How To Get Farming Tools And Seeds
One NPC visitor, Rayne, will be your gardening gal. Rayne sells crop seeds and gardening tools. This is where you want to start. You need to purchase a Hoe and Watering Can from her, as well as buying seeds in bulk. It takes a while to get an NPC to like you enough to move in.
Because Rayne is only a visitor, you may go weeks without seeing her again. That's why whenever she does show up, buy her seeds in bulk until you can get her shop permanent residence. With access to Rayne, you can immediately make a farm.
Make sure to fence off your crops from curious animals.
How To Get Seeds And Convert Them
By now you may have found Grass Seeds from breaking regular tufts using a Sickle or even your Pickaxe. These seeds are very useful, so don't just throw them away. You can use them to feed farm animals in the future. Stock up on Grass Seeds, or any other seeds for that matter.
With the Farming Licence, you'll be able to craft a Grain Mill at a crafting table. Definitely do so, as you can get seeds from swiping your Sickle at any tufts of grass, plants or bushes.
Farm Animals 101
Purchase the Handling Licence from Fletch after you've gotten the Farming Licence. The Handling Licence allows you to purchase and raise chickens, known in the game as Chooks. You may upgrade this licence to be able to buy and raise different types of animals, such as Vombats and Pleeps.
Now you've unlocked animal handling, where do you actually buy animals? You have to wait for Irwin to show up in the Visitor's Tent. This NPC sells all things animal. He will sell baby animals, as well as Animal Feeders and more. In the Visitor's Tent, you will only have access to Baby Chooks, Animal Feed, and Animal Feeders.
You should definitely work towards making Irwin a permanent resident, to see increasing stock and have a reliable source of animal handling merchandise. For now, you can purchase your first baby animal from him and an Animal Feeder for it.
All you have to do is fence off an area, release your baby Chook, and place an Animal Feeder down in his pen. You'll have to have one or more Grain Mills up and running. Make sure to consistently put Grass Seeds in your Grain Mill to produce Animal Feed.
Like most living things, you need to feed your animals every day to keep them happy and alive. From the Handling Licence Level 1, you will already have the recipe to craft a Bird Coop. Build one for your Chooks to sleep in at night.
As you ugprade your licences and invite Irwin and Rayne onto your island, you'll be able to raise more animals and harvest more crops.