diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1f831dd..0a3bec4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,3 +22,18 @@ terminal-tiller
 This will create a new save file in `~/.terminal-tiller`
 
 See the on-screen usage instructions and start planting! When you close the game, the state is saved and your crops will continue growing!
+
+## Conveniently Get Status Notifications
+
+The `terminal-tiller -status` command will output a convenient summary for your farm without having to fully open it:
+
+```
+--------------------------------------------------------------
+9 plants can be harvested, earning 135g
+27 plants are still growing. Come back in 1m55s to harvest
+13 plots are readed to be sowed
+You currently have 729g
+--------------------------------------------------------------
+```
+
+Add this command to your `~/.zshrc`, `~/.bashrc`, or `~/.config/fish/config.fish` to conveniently and non-disruptively receive the status message when you open a new terminal session.
diff --git a/farm/farm.go b/farm/farm.go
index 7b6247e..b3d2a7d 100644
--- a/farm/farm.go
+++ b/farm/farm.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -124,3 +125,53 @@ func (f *Farm) Harvest(row, col int) error {
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+// Status returns a string describing the farm's status
+func (f *Farm) Status() string {
+	var numHarvestable, harvestableMoney int
+	var numGrowing int
+	var empty int
+	var nextReady time.Time
+
+	for row := 0; row < f.h; row++ {
+		for col := 0; col < f.w; col++ {
+			cur := f.Get(row, col)
+
+			switch {
+			case cur == nil:
+				empty++
+			case cur.ReadyToHarvest(f.TimeScale()):
+				numHarvestable++
+				harvestableMoney += cur.Type.MarketPrice()
+			default:
+				numGrowing++
+				harvestTime := cur.HarvestTime(f.timeScale)
+				if harvestTime.Before(nextReady) || nextReady.IsZero() {
+					nextReady = harvestTime
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	sb := &strings.Builder{}
+	sb.WriteString("--------------------------------------------------------------\n")
+	sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%d plants can be harvested", numHarvestable))
+	if numHarvestable > 0 {
+		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf(", earning %dg", harvestableMoney))
+	}
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+
+	if numGrowing > 0 {
+		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%d plants are still growing. ", numGrowing))
+		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("Come back in %s to harvest\n", time.Until(nextReady).Truncate(time.Second).String()))
+	}
+
+	if empty > 0 {
+		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%d plots are readed to be sowed\n", empty))
+	}
+
+	sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("You currently have %dg\n", f.Money()))
+	sb.WriteString("--------------------------------------------------------------\n")
+
+	return sb.String()
+}
diff --git a/game/game.go b/game/game.go
index 639f745..c305b3e 100644
--- a/game/game.go
+++ b/game/game.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ type game struct {
 	filename string
 }
 
-func New(filename, farmName string) (tea.Model, error) {
+func New(filename, farmName string) (tea.Model, *farm.Farm, error) {
 	if filename == "" {
 		saveFiles, err := findSaveFiles()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -60,25 +60,25 @@ func New(filename, farmName string) (tea.Model, error) {
 
 	dir, err := terminalTillerDir()
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error determining save file directory: %w", err)
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("error determining save file directory: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	var f *farm.Farm
 	switch {
 	case filename == "" && farmName != "":
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot create new farm without filename")
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot create new farm without filename")
 	case filename == "" && farmName == "": // create new farm with default name
 		filename = filepath.Join(dir, DEFAULT_FILENAME)
 		f = farm.New("My Farm", DEFAULT_WIDTH, DEFAULT_HEIGHT, DEFAULT_SCALE)
 	case filename != "" && farmName == "": // load existing
 		data, err := os.ReadFile(filename)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("error opening file: %w", err)
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("error opening file: %w", err)
 		}
 
 		f, err = farm.Load(data)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("error loading from save file: %w", err)
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("error loading from save file: %w", err)
 		}
 	case filename != "" && farmName != "": // new with name
 		f = farm.New(farmName, DEFAULT_WIDTH, DEFAULT_HEIGHT, DEFAULT_SCALE)
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func New(filename, farmName string) (tea.Model, error) {
 		seedSelect:       newSeedSelectView(f.TimeScale()),
 		selectedCropType: farm.Lettuce,
 		filename:         filename,
-	}, nil
+	}, f, nil
 }
 
 func (g *game) Init() tea.Cmd {
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index ea81085..af8ef03 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"flag"
+	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/calvinmclean/terminal-tiller/game"
 
@@ -11,13 +12,19 @@ import (
 func main() {
 	filename := flag.String("file", "", "save file to load from")
 	farmName := flag.String("name", "", "use this flag to create new farm with the provided name. filename is required when creating a new farm")
+	status := flag.Bool("status", false, "print out the game status")
 	flag.Parse()
 
-	g, err := game.New(*filename, *farmName)
+	g, f, err := game.New(*filename, *farmName)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
+	if *status {
+		fmt.Println(f.Status())
+		return
+	}
+
 	p := tea.NewProgram(g, tea.WithAltScreen())
 
 	_, err = p.Run()