Minecraft wiki entry for Shelters, associated text: This is basically a caged snow golem arranged so that you can dig at the snow trail beneath it. (See the snow golem page for plans and tips.) Unfortunately, this doesn't work in all biomes: In a Desert, or the Nether, snow golems will die quickly, and in several other biomes (Swamp, Mushroom Island) they will not form a snow trail. Remember to protect your golem from rain and stray mobs -- especially, block off their firing capability so they don't provoke passing creepers and skeletons! (You can also use snow golems for defense towers, but that's very different from farming snow.)