I've got a few questions...

jobrien5577 wrote:
Hello all!

I have a few question regarding this new update. As fun as it is, it is really quite annoying and confusing. So:

1.) I currently have 3501 spades/shovels/whatever you want to call them. But according to the daily chart, I should have 6175. I have been doing the daily tasks and been playing since Day 1 of the update and I am still behind. Why? And how will I be able to catch up?

Upgrade your Monsarno Building for more crafting tasks and a bonus.

jobrien5577 wrote:
2.) When you place a mutant seed in a friend's town, and then that green jumping thing appears, does that turn into one of the walking cornstalk things? If not how do the cornstalks get there?

No. You'll start seeing cornstalks once you've upgraded Monsarno and completed the Stage 1 quest line.

jobrien5577 wrote:
3.) When do we unlock Sideshow Bob and the rest of the family? On the character screen it shows him, Robert, Bob's wife, his son (I know he's premium), and an older fellow and lady. When/how do we get them?

They come later in the event.

jobrien5577 wrote:
4.) So... crafting. WTF? Firstly, how do we get enough fertilizer and corn to do it, and is it even possible to be able to craft things by the end of the event? We also need the stuff to level up the Building, so I don't understand how to manage it.

Upgrade Monsarno. You'll get more tasks and a Crafting multiplier.

jobrien5577 wrote:
5.) I currently have a quest for a Glutton to Feed The Hungry and a quest to Craft the Springfield Farmer's Market. Is one of these part of the chain quests? Is one of these holding me back from going onto the next quest?

You will get Cecil Tasks and random Red Box Tasks. Sometimes they're the same thing. Do them for more fertilizer and corn.
Craft the Springfield Farmer's market is separate. Don't worry about it until you've upgraded Monsarno to the maximum.

jobrien5577 wrote:
6.) Are there any general strategies that are helpful? I usually put the character groups that have jobs on the tasks to earn the fertilizer/corn. Is that useful? Anything else I should do?

You're doing the right thing then.

Do the Cecil tasks. Do the Red Box tasks. Upgrade Monsarno. Finish the Act 1 quests. Pretty much all you can do for now.