How to Build a Basic Farm in Minecraft

Last Updated: March 19, 2023 Tested

Do you play and enjoy Minecraft? Have you gotten tired of hunting and scavenging for your food? This article will tell you how to create a basic farm in Minecraft.

Steps

1
Choose a Farm Size. Your farm can be as large or small as you want it to be. 26 by 24 is highly recommended for all players.
- Remember, the larger the farm, the more supplies it will take.
2
Choose your Farm Land. This is where we will build the farm.
- It is recommended that your land is flat, though this isn't mandatory.
- There are infinite places to build your farm, but here are a few ideas.
  - Underground. Building your farm underground is the most versatile place to build your farm, though it is the most time consuming.
  - In a Field. This requires no special items, and is the easiest to build, though it isn't very safe from Mobs.
  - Inside. Usually this is a special building dedicated to a farm. It should have a glass ceiling to let sunlight in. It requires that you build a building for the farm, but is safe from Mobs.
- If you don't have the means to perform step 6, put your farm adjacent to a pond so you can dig the canals from there and let the pond fill them up. Keep in mind that if you do this, the number of blocks you can use in your canals will be limited, but this can work as a stop-gap solution until you can get the iron to make a bucket.
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3
Build a perimeter around your farm. This helps to keep monsters out.
- Note: Make the perimeter two blocks high at least, or use fences, otherwise Mobs will jump over the built wall.
4
Light up your land with Torches. This way, it prevents the Mobs from spawning in your farm.
- You can use glowstone under the water canals and under the fence
5
Dig Water Canals. These will water the crops.
- Keep in mind that the water will irrigate 4 blocks in each direction, so have 8 blocks between the canals
6
Fill the canals with water. Use the bucket to scoop up the water.
- If you don't have the means to perform this step, put your farm adjacent to a pond so you can dig the canals from there and let the pond fill them up. Keep in mind that if you do this, the number of blocks you can use in your canals will be limited, but this can work as a stop-gap solution until you can get the iron to make a bucket.
7
Till the dirt with the hoe. Crops will only grow on tilled land.
8
Plant the crops. Right click on the tilled land with seeds in your hand.
9
Wait for the Crops to grow. Use Bone Meal to speed up the process.
10
Harvest the crops.
11
Replant the crops.
- Harvesting crops yields seeds.
12
Now you have a working farm, enjoy!

Community Q&A

Question

I can only plant wheat. How can I find any other things to plant?

Community Answer

Find some sugarcane. It looks like bamboo, and will be next to water. You have to plant it next to water, otherwise it won't plant. Also, go to a village. They usually have a full range of things to plant in their farms
Question

What can I do to make sure it is zombie proof?

Community Answer

Build fences, and put torches inside it to make sure they don't spawn inside it.
Question

How long does it take for melons and pumpkins to grow?

Community Answer

The stem takes awhile to grow. The more squares around the stem that are available for pumpkins to grow (up to 4), the faster the pumpkin will grow. You need an air block above the block that the pumpkin would occupy if it grew there. You need water (this one should be obvious) 4 blocks away from the pumpkin at most (diagonals count as 1 block, not 2).