sim cannot weed or water plants

i've tried searching for fixes, but so far none have worked. i do play with mods but I tried uninstalling them and creating a new save and the problem persists. I'm trying to do an off the grid + simple living play through so gardening is a big part of that.

this only happens in the bigger planter pots or the tilled ground from cottage living. the single plant pots and just on the ground works. but if you've played with gardening planting crops on the ground is frustrating and you can't grow oversized crops.

the only posts i've seen suggest turning off discovery quests - but I've had those disabled since they were added to the game. i also disabled the event pop ups but no dice.

weird thing is its counting the action on my aspiration but my sim just walks up to the plants and doesn't do anything, not even the hand wave like she can't reach it.