Ok sorry folks if this is a bit of a spoiler but everyone should be past this by now,, If you let your villagers deplete the ocean and create the algea b4 you get level 2 farming with coconuts, the food situation will go smoother, and yes your villagers do farm while your away, at least mine do, you just maybe have too many villagers too soon, This is my second attemt, cause i had those same problems and i lost my village to starvation, so heres where im at. I have 11 villagers level 2 of each Farming engineering, science and exploration, and level one of everything else, I also just got the dam, so my crops are nice, were clearing the briar patch, i have also completed most of the puzzles that go up to that point, like the crate and herbs and stew and tools, i noticed everyone is in such a hurry to get to the end, why? if you take it slower and yes stop time traveling, it will be much better.