This test I did less mining and more in my new garden so some thoughts on this.
I would like to be able to extend my garden or to partition it. I had 7 piggies at one stage and they got in the way of the garden, I would like to confine them to a field.
This could lead to a farming skill, with more kinds of animals available. I would like sheep and rabbits please. Also bees for honey have been mentioned on another thread, this would be good.
Mining is a quick way to get currants etc. but I find it boring just standing by a rock and hitting it. I would like animal skills to pay more since they are just as valuable.
I have never played Farmville, so have no idea how this would compare, but the interaction with animals and trees is fun IMV. I would like to see more skills around processing animal/plant products in the way we can cook/refine at the moment. I know wool/sewing/carpentry/building etc have been mentioned and I would like to do all these.
This would give a wider range of items for projects, and requite different skills and interests which would allow more people to contribute in various ways.