There are several special items or tool upgrades that can be found throughout
the game. Note that this section does contain SPOILERS, so be forewarned
before reading ahead.
SPRINKLER The sprinkler is sold at the tool shop beginning on day 20
of the first summer for 2000 G. This is the special item
the tool shop owner says he's working on at the start of the
season.
GOLDEN SICKLE During the summer of year 1, you will hear a loud noise at
the ranch one night. The particular night is chosen at
random. The carpenter will come by the next morning and
tell you to look around. Visit the hollowed out tree and
jump into it. You will run into a gnome who asks if you use
the sickle. Respond to him affirmatively and he will leave
the golden sickle in the barn the next day. If you screw up
the response and the gnome does not upgrade the sickle, it
will immediately be for sale at the tool shop for 2000 G.
GOLDEN AXE During the winter of year 1, you will hear a loud rumbling
one night. The carpenter will come to the house the next
day and tell you to look around your ranch and the mountain.
The quake will have opened the mountain area just north of
the entrance that contains a pond and some stumps. Equip
the axe and use it directly in front of the pond. The
Goddess will then appear holding a golden axe and will ask
if it is yours. If you tell the truth and say "No," she
will let you keep the golden axe. If you say yes, she does
not give the upgrade. She will never reappear after this
conversation, regardless of your choice. If you screw up
the scene and miss the golden axe, it will immediately be
put up for sale at the tool shop for 200 G.
GOLDEN HAMMER Some time in the winter in year 1, one of the carpenters
will drop by and ask to borrow your hammer. If you allow
him to, he will place the golden hammer in the shed the next
morning. If you do not let him borrow it, the golden hammer
will immediately be placed for sale at the tool shop.
GOLDEN HOE During the fall of either year 1 or year 2, you will find an
injured gnome by the shipping bin who requests something to
eat. If you bring him a mushroom from the mountain, he will
give you the golden hoe the next day. This event is rather
odd in that there does not seem to be any way of knowing in
which year it will occur. The golden hoe is obviously much
more useful if you get it in year 1, but I have not found
any trigger and assume the game determines its occurrence
randomly. In my experience, this event has always occurred
on day 2 of the season, although I am not 100% sure that it
always happens on this day.
SNOW GEM Also called the Seed of the Snow Flower, this item can be
purchased from the peddler at the Flower Festival for
2000 G. Plant the seed just below the northernmost part of
the mountain summit during the winter. The seed will
immediately sprout into a flower and free a fairy, who gives
you a Power Berry. You should be able to plant the seed on
any day of the season, although it does refuse to grow in
some instances. I have tested this thoroughly and cannot
attribute it to any in-game event, so I assume it is a bug.
If this happens, just try to plant the seed again the next
day. That will usually work.
MAGIC BEANS These beans are acquired by trading a cow with the hawker.
To make this trade, visit the livestock dealer in any season
during years 2 or 3 and tell him you want to sell a cow.
When you return to the ranch, the Hawker should show up and
offer to make the deal. The Magic Beans can be planted on
the mountain summit just below the northernmost point of the
screen. These beans MUST BE PLANTED IN THE SPRING. I
emphasize this because it is crucial information that most
sources omit. It also does not matter which day you plant
the beans (does not need to be Sunday), which is another
commonly repeated error.
Once planted, the seeds sprout slightly. Leave the screen
and return to find a giant beanstalk. Climb the beanstalk
and you will come out at a room in the clouds with a golden
chicken. Tell the chicken you work hard when it asks, and
you will receive the Golden Egg. After exiting the screen
(and regardless of the day), you immediately appear before
the peddler who pays you 10,000 G for the egg.
CLOCK The clock is a special item that you receive from the
carpenters if you upgrade your house once before the end of
the first summer. The clock is physically placed on the
table in your house, but it also lets you see the time on
the menu screen each time you press the Select button. This
comes in very handy when trying to be at the ranch before
5pm or making sure you arrive at festivals before 3pm.
TURTLE SHELL The Turtle Shell is one of the prizes you receive from
winning the egg hunt. Whether you receive this or a Power
Berry as prize is determined at random, but you will
definitely receive it in the second year if you miss it the
first. It looks like a purple hump and is placed on the
table in your house. The Turtle Shell supposedly protects
from disasters, but it will not prevent hurricanes from
occurring in the subsequent summer seasons or even reduce
their damage. In all likelihood, this item is purely
decorative. It does, however, contribute to your score at
the end.
MONEY TREE Once you have 30,000 G or more for the first time after year
2 begins, the Hawker will appear on your ranch and offer to
sell a "Money" Tree. He can appear as early as day 2 of the
second spring. If you pay him, the Hawker plants a the tree
right in front of the cow barn. The tree appears the next
day and is obviously not a money tree. It is, however, a
tree of cow bells. If you face the tree and press the A
button, it will ring the bells and recall any cows that you
have outside to the barn. It does not work perfectly, but
it does seem more effective than the cow bell tool. Since
you shouldn't be keeping cows outside, this item is mostly
decorative. There is no real benefit to buying it and no
penalty if you decline, so it's up to you. If you do
decline the Hawker's offer, there is no way to ever get
this item.
GOLDEN EGG This is probably the rarest item in the game. See the Magic
Beans description above for information on how to obtain
it. The egg has no use other than being sold for 10,000 G.
Note that there is no penalty at all if you never acquire
this item. It has no effect on the ending or any score, so
it is purely for amusement. Do not feel compelled or
obligated to try to obtain it.