You should be OK with only 8 villagers. The farm takes longer (in hours) to replenish on slow speed than it does at the faster speeds. Two years is about right (8 hours at slow speed), although it's not precise, depending on how you run your game. I really think you should see crops soon.

4 people are weakened now.... is there a way to help them... the lagoon maybe

Yoki just turned 15 so that would mean a little over three years now... Maybe there is a glitch somewhere with my crops.

Until your food supply returns, there is not much you can do for them. Their health is probably declining from lack of food. Sometimes switching the weakened villagers to a "healthier" occupation seems to help - like farming or medicine.

all are weakened except 12 year old Achak... oh well... sigh... It's sad to see them go. we came soo far together. Release..........release......

Is there anything else that would casue the crops not to grow? Maybe I missed something.

There's nothing you can overtly do or not do to make the crops grow (or not grow) once you've purchased Level 2 of Harvesting. There have been rare reports of the farm occasionally taking too long to replenish, and this is being looked at for the v1.1 update. I wish I could give you more assistance, but there's really not much else that you can do but wait for the crops.

Nina is now 16, one villager died and still no crops.

how many villagers should i have to start researching lvl3 harvesting? i have 14 now, and farming, no fishing yet, and it seems to be not all right, 7 vills harvesting and the food osilating about 100. Should I aim for lvl 3 harvesting

That's what I'd do! You won't have a problem with food once your villagers know how to fish!

There's always a chance if you pause and then unpause the game, it might galvanize the crops to show??? But Level 3 harvesting is the best way to go!