Tools
All of your starting tools, Axe, Hammer, Hoe, Sickle, and Watering Can, can be leveled to Silver and Gold versions. To use a Silver Tool, just hold the B-Button down so Jack is leaning back slightly more than he does with a Regular Tool. To use a Gold Tool, hold the B-Button down so that Jack is leaning back all the way. The Silver and Gold versions of a Tool are more powerful than the Regular version of a Tool.
Starting Tools
Axe-
The Axe chops stumps into lumber. That is very important to advance in the game. Lumber is automatically transported to the Wood Bin when you cut stumps. Six whacks from the regular Axe will turn a stump into a lumber. A Silver Axe can chop up a stump in two swings. A Gold Axe chops a stump in one big swing.
Hammer-
The Hammer is used to break up rocks. One whack from it breaks up small rocks. Six whacks is needed to break a big rock. A Silver Hammer will break a big rock in three hits. You need to hold down the B-Button a little to use the Silver Hammer's ability. The Gold Hammer will break up a big rock in one hit. You need to hold the B-Button until Jack is leaning all the way back to use the Gold Hammer's ability. You can also use the Hammer to flatten out soil that has already been tilled.
Hoe-
The Hoe tills the land so you can plant seeds. The Regular Hoe tills one square. The Silver Hoe tills three squares in a straight line. The Gold Hoe tills six squares in a straight line. The Hoe is needed to dig for stuff in the Mine. You can only dig up one square at a time in the Mine.
Sickle-
The Sickle slashes up plants. It is used to cut fully grown Grass, Weeds, and Plants left over from the last Season. The Regular Sickle cuts one square directly in front of you. The Silver Sickle cuts three squares in front of you. To use the Gold Sickle for its maximum effect, stand in the middle of a three-by-three square of fully grown Grass. It cuts all nine squares. So these descriptions can be easily understood, I will put up a diagram illustrating each Sickle level's cutting ability.
J=Jack
L=Jack on Plant that is cut
P=Plants not cut
X=Plants cut
Regular Sickle:
J | ||
P | X | P |
P | P | P |
P | P | P |
Silver Sickle:
J | ||
X | X | X |
P | P | P |
P | P | P |
Gold Sickle:
X | X | X |
X | L | X |
X | X | X |
Watering Can-
The Watering Can is the most useful Tool in Harvest Moon 64. To fill it up, go over to the Small Pond near the Chicken Coop and press B. There is also a Watering Bin in the Greenhouse to fill up your Watering Can. The Regular Watering Can waters one plant directly in front of you. The Silver Watering Can water three plants in front of you. The Gold Watering Can waters a whole three-by-three square of plants. So these descriptions can be easily understood, I will put up a diagram illustrating each Watering Can level's watering ability.
J=Jack
P=Plants not watered
W=Plants watered
Regular Watering Can:
J | ||
P | W | P |
P | P | P |
P | P | P |
Silver Watering Can:
J | ||
W | W | W |
P | P | P |
P | P | P |
Gold Watering Can:
J | ||
W | W | W |
W | W | W |
W | W | W |
Tools Acquired throughout Game
If you take care of your Animals, you won't need this. You can buy it from the Green Ranch Owner for 1000 G. Just sprinkle it over an Animal to cure that Animal. You can only buy one Animal Medicine at a time, so if you have more than one sick Animal, you have to keep going back to the Green Ranch to buy another Animal Medicine.
Bell-
You get the Bell for free from the Green Ranch Owner when you first buy a Sheep or Cow. When you use it, you ring the Bell then Cows and Sheep come to you.
Blue Feather-
You can buy this from Rick once one of the Girls has a Pink Heart. Sprinkle it on them to get married the next Sunday. You can buy only once and can use only once if you use it on the Girl with the Pink Heart. You can use it on other people just to see their reactions if you want to.
Bottle-
You buy it from Rick at the Flower Festival for 1000 G. You can use the Bottle to steal wine from the Cellar in the Vineyard. Go to one of the barrels and press B to fill it. Press B again to drink the wine. This can build up your tolerance for New Year's Day quickly. The Bottle is also needed to buy Medicine from the Potion Shop Owner.
Brush-
You buy it from Rick for 1000 G. This is probably one of the most useful tools. Use it to brush your Horse, Cows, and Sheep. When you brush your Animals, they like you more and will produce better Milk/Wool if you brush them enough.
Chicken Feed-
You'll have to buy some Chicken Feed if you want to keep your Chickens inside the Chicken Coop. Sprinkle it in each Chicken's Feeding Bin to feed the Chickens. You can buy as much as you want, so stock up each time you go to buy Chicken Feed. Each bag of Chicken Feed feeds one Chicken for a day and costs 10 G.
Fishing Rod-
You get the Fishing Rod from the Fisherman for free. Use it to fish in the River and Ocean. To fish, press and hold B. When the bobber begins to twitch in the water, release the B button. If you did it right, you caught a Fish. The prices of Fish are listed below.
Small (brown): 30 G
Medium (red): 100 G
Large (blue): 180 G
Fodder-
Fodder is bought from the Green Ranch Owner. You only need to buy this if you don't have any Grass to cut, and you're all out of Fodder. I suggest buying about five bags of Grass and planting them one day after the other so you don't have to buy any Fodder. Fodder costs 30 G per bag.
Milker-
The Milker is bought from Rick. You use it to milk an adult Cow. If you milk a pregnant Cow, you will get a Milk that is one size smaller than what that Cow usually produces.
Miracle Potion-
The Miracle Potion is used to impregnate a Cow. You buy it from the Green Ranch Owner for 3000 G. When a Cow is pregnant, that Cow needs to be fed at the Breeding Station in the back of the Barn. The Cow stays pregnant for 21 days then gives birth. I prefer to buy Cows rather than impregnate one.
Seeds-
Seeds are used to plant Crops, Grass, and Flowers. To plant Seeds, you must first clear a three-by-three square with your Hoe. You then stand in the middle of the square and press B. You have to water the planted Seeds each day so they will go. The only exception is Grass Seeds. Grass grows on its own and doesn't need to be watered.
Shears-
Shears are bought from Rick for 1000 G. You cut the Sheep's Wool with the Shears. You can then sell the Wool.