Click the link to download instructions http://www.civn.org/Garden Problems.docx.pdf
Cards: 104 Playing Cards
Number of Players: 2 or more, the most fun with 4!
Pace: As fast as you want to go, but at first take it slow
Game Duration: 15 to 20 minutes per game depending on the number of players and their skill level
Objective: To complete four season cards, and survive 1 additional round of sabotage attempts by the other players. Complete a season card by successfully obtaining a fruit or vegetable card depicted on the season card.
Narrative: This wonderful family game will challenge your strategic skills while educating you and all the players on some real life practical gardening tips! You will even find out who has been SABOTAGING YOUR GARDEN and how to stop them with the proper Garden Helpers!
The Seasons: Year Round, and the popular Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.
Example:
+ = 1 Season Complete
The SABOTAGE: Water deprivation, Fungus, Insects, deer and cute little critters can all be strategically placed on your competitions “Completed Season”, to give them a few Garden Problems that can help you win the Game!
Example:
The HELPERS! After your opponent has sabotaged your Garden Season, the only cure is the right helper card! The strongest helper is the MASTER GARDENER! Once you have that card on your season you are on your way to VICTORY! Use the Helper Cards to reverse the ill effects of Sabotage, or to strategically help you complete a season, by digging through Compost, or taking what you need to survive from your opponent’s hand!
Master Gardener – can cure any sabotage Permanently.
Beat It- will protect you from an immediate attack one time.
The Actual Cure for what for your particular sabotage will cure you from an attack one time.
(ie. Lady Bugs, Frogs, Water, pesticides…etc..)
Strategic Helpers:
Compost diver – Will allow you to sift through the discarded cards and pick something that you
remember seeing that you need for your victory!
Take Two- Take a 2nd Turn
Farmers Market – Will allow you to swap a card from any player you choose on your turn.
HOW TO SETUP THE GAME:
Step 1: Shuffle the deck of cards
Step 2: Pass out 7 Cards to each player —- During gameplay you can never have more than 10
cards In your hand. You will always have to discard a card that you don’t want.
Step 3: Place the remaining deck of cards in the Center of the group of players.
Starting a 1 card DISCARD STACK face up, next to the PULL STACK. (see next figure)
Step 4: Once the starting 7 cards have been passed out, you may hold the cards privately in
your hands facing you, until it’s your turn to play.
Layout: This is an example of a 4 player game; you may have 2 or more players – the more the merrier!
GAMEPLAY & RULES: HOW DO YOU PLAY THE GAME!! To win.
EACH PLAYER will take turns, exercising one of the following options when it is their turn to play:
Option:
- If you have any Completed Seasons in your hand. You may match them up and lay them on the playing surface as a set. A Completed season, is a SEASON CARD + (a Fruit or Vegetable card) represented on that Season Card.
- If you have a season card in your Hand, and need a FRUIT or VEGITABLE CARD, you may “ASK THE NEXT PLAYER to give you fruit or Vegetable card from their CARDS”. If that player has the card, they must give it to you. If not, then you must “PULL FROM THE DECK” – then your turn is over.
- If you like you can just pull a card, without asking, then your turn is over. If you have more than 10 cards in your hand when you pull a card, you must also discard a card onto the discard pile.
- If the next player, has a COMPLETED SEASON, and you wish to prevent them from winning you may place a SABATOGE CARD on their completed season. Then you draw another card from the deck – then your TURN IS OVER.
NOTE: You cannot SABATOGE a Completed Season, if it has a Master Gardener helper card on it.
- If once of your COMPLETED SEASONS, has been SABATOGED, you can place the appropriate HELPER CARD on your GARDEN to heal it. If you don’t have a helper card, then you may Pull from the Deck, In the hope that you will get a useful card to allow you to protect your threatened Completed Season – then your Turn is over.
- During Game play, follow the direction on each of the cards you pull, for added excitement team work may be encouraged by players on opposite ends of the playing area. Player 1 and 3 against Player 2 and 4.
- If you run out of cards to pull on the DECK, simply reshuffle the deck and place the cards in the center of the playing area, again turning up one reject card.
- The first Player to have 4 COMPLETED SEASONS — will be the winner of the game, once one more round of players have had the opportunity to sabotage their COMPLETED SEASONS.
SPECIAL CARDS:
Master Gardener – Permanently protects a Completed Season.
Beet-it Card- Cancels any SABOTAGE CARD temporarily, until the next attack.
Compost Dive- If you pull, or possess this card on your turn you may play it and dig thru
the discard pile for 1 card that you need for whatever purpose.
SKIP CARD – Skips the player you is next after you
REVERSE- Reverses the direction of the game
Water Gun- This Blaster will get rid of any fruit or vegetable on a completed season . from a player and puts the season back in the players hand
Disclaimer:
All of the Problems and Solutions are accurate in the real world, so don’t be surprised when you become a better gardener after playing this game. Live well – Eat Healthy!
Example:
A Player here had a YEARROUND SEASON CARD Completed with the BELL PEPPER CARD.
The previous player put a SABOTAGE Card on his completed season, preventing him from claiming the season is complete.
Either – immediately (if the player has a helper that can fix the problem), or eventually when the players turn came around again he was able to place a HELPER – LADY BUG on the completed Season to return it to good health, and eligible to be counted as a completed season.
NOTE: both the SABOTAGE and HELPER card can be returned the Discard pile. Leaving just the original two Completed Season Cards. (YearRound + Bell Pepper)
Example 2:
Here is an example of a Fully Protected Season! One the way to a clear Victory!
Example 3:
Here is an example of a winner! NOTE: You only win, after you have completed 4 seasons, and 1 more round has been completed, giving the other players a change to SABOTAGE one of your completed seasons
