Most colonial farms were self-sufficient, growing the food needed to survive without outside help. The average colonial farm was 60 acres, divided between a house lot, wood lot, meadow, pasture, tillage fields, and orchard. Families relied on these different areas of land to provide housing, firewood, grazing land, food crops, and fruit to sustain their households of 4-8 children, parents, and other relatives throughout the year.

1. Life on a Colonial Farm

2. Most Colonial Farms were… Self sufficient - they could grow all the food they needed and use all the resources on the farm to live without help from other people. Some farmers grew cash crops ; however, most farmers simply ran the farm in order to feed their families.

3. Farms were divided into Acres One acre = 43,560 square feet

4. The Average Farm was 60 Acres

5. House Lot- 2 Acres The living space Barn, pond, trees, smaller outbuildings, kitchen garden Often 10-15 people lived here Parents Children (usually 4-8) Grandparents Uncles and Aunts who are not married Servants and workers

6. Wood Lot- 20 Acres Use this for all the fireplaces for the year. Use 5 Acres of wood each year Had to plant 5 acres each year

7. Meadow - 15 Acres Used to make Hay Hay is used to feed the animals in the winter time. Without good meadow land, animals will starve

8. Pasture -15 Acres A place for the animals to graze

9. Tillage- 6 Acres The place where the family grew its crops. Wheat, barley, rye, beets, potatoes, etc. If the family grew cash crops, this would be bigger. Most farm families only grew enough food for themselves.

10. Orchard- 2 Acres Fruit trees (mostly apple trees, maybe pear, cherry) Apples were used to feed the animals and to make cider.