Cherokee_Agriculture&Economy_fall

Agriculture and Economy Gillian Walker (Back to Fall)

o Followed European influence and changed to small farms (http://www.blueridgeheritage.com/agriculturalheritage/CherokeeAgriculture/index.html) o 2 – 20 acres o Grew food from all over the world from trade with Europeans o Grew peaches, watermelons, European apples, African black eyed peas, Caribbean sweet potatoes as well as the original beans, squash, sunflowers, pumpkins and corn. o Raised cattle also through trade with Europeans o Bred and kept horses that had been brought over from Europe o Plants used for healing and preventive medicine o Plants for healing were blackberry, black gum, hummingbird blossoms, cattail, greenbriar, mint, mullein, sumac, wild ginger, wild rose, yarrow and yellow dock o Woman were usually farmers but now both men and woman farm (http://www.bigorrin.org/cherokee_kids.htm) o Now they use subsistence farming and grow tobacco, garden crops, and beef for income (http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Cherokee-Economy.html) o Other income comes from logging, seasonal wage labor, and Government assistance. o Also by renting out land to cottagers running and retail shops, restaurants, motels, museums, and exhibitions. o Trade was very important for income. o In Cherokee County Iowa farming takes up 91% of the surface land in the county (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM2023-18.pdf) o The farms make $184,780 on average each year. o In 2002, Cherokee county farmers farmed; o 131,673 acres of corn o 126,624 acres of soybeans o 223,059 hogs o 59,703 head of cattle



Sources:   http://www.blueridgeheritage.com/agriculturalheritage/CherokeeAgriculture/index.html   http://www.bigorrin.org/cherokee_kids.htm  http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Cherokee-Economy.html  http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM2023-18.pdf

Pictures:     http://www.antiquebottles.com/rl/tc/TaylorCherokee.jpg http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g104/macmex/CherokeeSquaw_kernels11-08sm.jpg http://www.albc-usa.org/ChoctawRescue/crChoctawcherokeehorses.html http://www.americanroundup.com/www_restore/Cherokee%20Park%20Ranch.jpg

