I'm very glad you have a base going, but unfortunately, things such as chests/signs/etc. Cannot be locked in the mining world, because of spawners. People, as myself have found six spawners, all really close to each other. We would then proceed by putting a sign on each mob spawner and locking it, making it unbreakable. Therefore, that is the reasoning it was removed (Mainly because of economy purposes/Exp market).
Also, to lock your things such as chests, you have a list of commands for locking all in here;
http://ecocitycraft.com/wiki/index.php?title=Server_Commands#LWC_Commands
You should really check your wiki, as it is a amazing source of information, with everything on the server, explained really detailedly.
In regard of selling part. In my opinion, your best go would be to "/sell hand" all your crops. Selling it in the market would most definitely be for less, not more, as people with spawn-shops want to make a profit. Yet, not only me, but really everyone on the server sells their pumpkins/melons to the server, and you should too.

Advice:
I would suggest you moved your "base" immediately from the mining world. The mining world resets every month or so, and with it, goes everything, including your chests, and what is inside them. I would suggest two things. One, would be to vote in all our voting sites, and get all the nether stars you can. Then go sell them at the market (Spawn-Shops) for some money. Try to sell these nether stars at 300$ the lowest. You would then have enough money to buy a small plot. A plot is a protected land in a town, owned by a mayor. You can buy a plot from him by asking in "/ch tr Anyone selling a 10x10 plot?" Until some mayor will answer to your question, and perhaps, sell you a plot. Which no one can grief on, and you can also lock your belongings.
If you do not want to move to a town, I would suggest, moving all your stuff from the mining world, and go to the wild, dig down to y:12 and start a base. You can be griefed there too, but you don't need to pay anything, and you also can lock your things.
My last tip for you, is that you go over everything in our wiki! It helps tremendously a lot of people.
You can find the wiki here:
http://ecocitycraft.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

If you need anything else, just post here, or send me a message on the forums, and I shall help you.

 

The best donation for farming would definitely be the water feature. However, if you are a HardCore farmer and/or are farming something that needs a tool, you will need ExtCommands+ for the best possible income. However, this donation feature is quite expensive ($100) and you should only really get it, later on, when you rank up.
If you have the money, you should donate for Water and Multihome. I donated for Multihome when I was a builder, and I can assure you I would be no where near where I am now, if it wasn't for that feature.
Anyways, I'm glad I could help you, and once again, if you need anything else, ask me, and I shall help you.

 

Depending on what you are farming purchasing the fly donation (60 usd) would be a good addition aswell. With this feature you can move faster. If you are farming pumpkins and have a eff 5 axe I suggest getting this feature, especially if you cannot purchase the ext commands +.

 

Sorry to barge in on this, but I am also a builder and have a few questions. First, what are the benefits of Resident? Also, how do selling plots in another town work? For an example, if I buy a plot from someone, and then later I decide I want a bigger plot, do I sell the plot to anyone, or back to the person I bought it for? Last, would you suggest buying a plot, or Resident first?

 

You don't need to say sorry about anything, you can ask me questions any day.

The benefits of resident, are a lot. I was going to type a full list. In fact, I was already half way through. Then it came to me, you have all the information you need in our wiki. Here is the exact link to the question you have;
http://www.ecocitycraft.com/wiki/index.php?title=Server_Ranks#Residents

When a mayor sells you a plot, he selects a area on his town, and sells the plots to players. Look at it like this. A mayor owns the town, lets say it is 200x200 big. He owns that *protected* land, and can add and/or remove anyone from his protected land. If you are to buy a plot, then decide to buy a bigger one. You can do many things. You can stay with the first plot and use it for storage, then use the second and bigger plot as a farm, with many levels (This is what I would best suggest) or you could ask your mayor to buy it back from you, if he wants to, tell him to sell it for you to somebody else and give you the money, etc.

I would highly suggest you buy a nicely sized piece of protected land first. Something between the lines of 10x10. Then keep your items there, so they are safe, and what not. Then, do some jobs, mine and earn some money. You would then buy a bigger plot, something like 40x40 or 50x50 and make it into a farm, with many, many levels. Down and up.

Anyways, I don't play EcoCityCraft anymore (Due to one specific thing). However, you and anyone else, can ask for help anytime they wish. As I check the forums regularly, and love to help you guys.

 

Thank you so much! I do have one last question I think. What are some jobs I can get as a builder. I've heard of some people saying they want to hire people to "train" on. Is that just to get their mcmmo level higher? If so, what's usually involved in that?

 

Your job choice is unlimited! You can get really any job as a builder, as people pay you to do things they are too lazy to do, or need you to help them, to make better income. Therefore, you can do really any job, the only bad thing is that as a builder, some few people see you as someone who would easily break rules, therefore, they do not hire you for high paying jobs.
If you ever see someone in channel trade saying they have a job, message them immediately to get the job.

People can apply for heal sign applications, to be placed on their towns. A heal sign, is indeed a sign, that heals you (Hunger and Health). To thrive in PvP, you need good swords skill. To get your sword skill higher you need to hit players. Every hit counts as xp. So, people put up heal signs and get builders to click it for a long period of time, while they hit you. You need to spam click for a very long period of time, and I would not advice that as a job, as it is a bad way of making money.
To finalize this, I really, really believe you should read ALL of the wiki. It would help you loads. The wiki is at the top, on the same place where forums is. To the right of it, you will eventually find the Wiki. It's pretty easy to spot.
Anyways, if you need anymore help, please post on here. I love to help.

 

It is impossible to lock things in the mining world, and I think /cprivate might be for residents+ (I am not sure though). Also, grief is legal in the mining world, so your stuff is in danger there. the mining world also resets, like it is doing as I am writing this, so after a reset, your stuff will be gone.

 

If you read my post, you would of seen I said everything you said, and more :p