Anyone know how to unlock hard mode? I cannot seem to figure it out!

Title says it all! I tried a couple different runs now… put some seeds in the hotbar and they just stay there and let me keep planting them.

do I have to delete these saves?

I have played through a couple farms and was able to upgrade the blacksmith. Starting the new farm, all tools were iron as expected. But after a day or so, I noticed for some reason some of my tools were stone again. The only possible cause I can imagine was the tools that were no longer iron were tools I moved from my hotbar to the lower inventory, and then back. I pay more attention and test this more to see if that is part of the why. Otherwise, as quirky as some mechanics are, quite enjoying the game. ...

And, if not, is it planned at all?