I usually plant the 15 parsnips because of the scarecrow recipe for farming level 1. But then I spend the starting g and whatever extra I make before Pierre closes (from extra forgeables or donating an artifact) on one of each CC crop and the rest on potatoes. Potatoes have better return on investment than anything else at that point, and they're cheap enough that it's not as devastating if a crow eats one.

You could sell a couple for 10g each if you get carrot seeds because they have the same exp as parsnips but carrot seeds sell for 15g, but they're done a day faster and the energy is better...