botany_bro

new player here so this is totally anecdotal and speculative, BUT! i have noticed throughout my time playing often raccoons will be munching on berries, perhaps the devs are wanting to discourage players from fully transplanting bushes for ecological reasons. To me, a draw of the game (and from what Ive read, a goal of the game) is its eye for ecological systems. the requirement to take cuttings would, i imagine, try to teach a lesson for the real world; to only take what you need and leave the rest for others. now this is totally hippy dippy stuff but as a person who thinks a lot about ecology i really like the berry updates so far, nerfing natural foraging makes sense for realism, but i would be surprised if it has a crazy effect on berries as an early food source. and the requirements for certain soils and fertilizer while maybe not actually necessary IRL are a good way to incentivize players who want to farm to have to actively do it. ill get off my soapbox now but i have enjoyed reading through the berry discourse here, everyone has been thoughtful in their responses and its nice :).