Growing crops
Place sod and grow crops as often as possible. Sell crops for money. Crops are also needed for certain quests. They can also be used as an offering to increase the chances for rare items from the Mystic Pool. Take note of the crop calendar for crop bonuses. To get bonuses for your crops, harvest them as soon as they are ready, taking note of the crop calendar. When a crop is ready, a green checkmark will appear over it. Tap on that checkmark, and a scythe icon will appear. Drag it over your crops to harvest them. New crops will be surrounded by a white glow briefly. If they are harvested during this time, you will receive three crops for every crop sown, instead of the normal two. The crop calendar is in the town square. It displays bonuses awarded for planting and harvesting specific crops on certain dates. Build Brainy Smurf's hut to extend how far in the future you can view the calendar.
Mystic Pool
Tools are needed to for upgrades and other quests. There is a small chance of finding tools in the Mystic Pool. You can increase your chances by offering crops before you begin a selected task. This is a good way to use your harvest, especially if your warehouse is getting full.