Hunting
The colonists hunted bears, elk, deer, moose, beavers, rabbits, squirrels, turkeys and pheasant. The colonist also fished. The men were the ones to do the hunting,while the women were the ones to do the gardening, farming and growing of the crops.Deer were plentiful everywhere, and venison was offered by the Indians to the first who landed from the ships. Wild hare and squirrels were so many that they became pests, and so much grain was eaten by them that bounties were paid in many towns for the heads of squirrels.
Gathering
The women did the gathering for the foods and crops that grew in the colonies. There was fruits, berries, nuts, plants, veggies and herbs. They also grew corn, oats and wheat. Corn was a big problem in the colonies because the Indians fought that they were the original producers of the grain/ vegetable when the British first got to the Americas. There was also a large controversy over the beans that were grown in the colonies; for the same reason. Settlers also found many foods, such as dandelions, already growing in the field; used to make hot beverages. They also grew spinach, collards and kale, and used leaves from root vegetables such as turnips. Many plants and vegetables were mixed together in soups, broths or stews.
Farming
There were many farms across the colonies. The farmers raised many groups of cattle. They also raised chickens, sheep, pigs, and other cows. They used the animals not only for meat, but also other goods that they produced. The hens laid the eggs. The cows and horses produced milk. The sheep that they could manage to gather, produced the wool.
Preserving
The colonists dried, smoked, salted and pickled foods for the winter when they couldn't manage to produce anything in crops. The colonists used their fireplace in their home, to dry out many of the foods that they were going to preserve for the long winter months. The fireplaces weren't only used just for cooking, heating and lighting. Some settlers even had outdoor ovens so that when it was in use, the house wouldn't overheat in the summer or on a warm day.