Bibliography
Bibliography
New England:
- In New England the soil was very rocky and not great for growing crops. Also the harsh winters would quickly kill the crops. The farmers would make enough food to provide for there families.
1. http://www.ehow.com/list_6741026_colonial-farm-tools.html
Middle Colonies:
- They grew wheat, oats,and corn. The Middle Colonies were often called the "breadbasket" because they grew so much food. Wheat could be ground to make flour, and both wheat and flour could be sold in other colonies or in Europe.
2. http://www.vegsource.com/articles/chemical.farming.htm
3. http://www.ehow.com/about_4569462_colonial-farming.html
- The Southern Colonies grew several things. The most popular crop was tobacco. The two southernmost states (South Carolina and Georgia) also grew indigo and rice.
4. http://www.ehow.com/facts_5853206_information-colonial-farm-life.htm
Tools and Techniques in Farming
Self Sufficient Farmers
VS. Commercial Farming
During the Colonial Times
Hoes: Farmers would often use a tool very similar to the modern day hoe. They would use this to rip out weeds that would take water from the seed they just planted or to break up rock or clumps of soil.
Cultivators and shovel plows: colonial farmers had to plow the fields to allow for proper water and nutrient absorption. Cultivators and shovel plows also were used to move between rows of plants to create a trench for water. These tools were often pulled by horses or mules, since the plows were very heavy.
- This is the type of farming when the farmer is just trying to make enough food for him and his family.
- These farms would have a range of animals and crops in order for the family to be feed and clothed by them.
- The soil in these areas normally lose all there nutrients in about 2-3 years and the families have to move to a new piece of land so they are able to grow crops, however the farmer may return to there first piece again after a while.
- The life of self-sufficient farmer consists of growing crops, harvesting crops, taking care of animals and living on farm.
Reap hook: This is a long, curved blade that had a short handle. Harvesters would swing the blade back and forth to cut down grains for harvesting.
This is what crops would look life for a self sufficient farmer feeding his family.
Life of a Colonial Farmer
Farming During
Colonial Times
For families that lived on farm each and every member of the family would have a job to do.
Men:
- The men would spend most of there time outside clearing land,and planting and harvesting crops.
Women:
- The women of the family would wash clothes, prepare meals, milk the cows, smoking the meat,weaving, sewing and sometimes keep a garden.
- This type of farming is large-scale production of crops. The farmers make crops that are in demand to sell to other people and retailers. The main goal is to make profit off their crops.
- During Colonial times this was often done a plantation. (A plantation is a large farm or estate where crops are grown for sale in distant markets rather than it being sold to local people.)
- Commercial farming is very different from self- sufficient farming and running a commercial farm requires many workers than just one.
- The workers will each have there own job whether it is harvesting or planting crops. The equipment that these farms is much better than a self sufficient farm would have because commercial farms make money to buy things.
Children:
- Children of the family would normally work along side their parents based on their gender.
Miles of wheat growing at
a commercial farm