Forging the Landscape Michigan History

Lumber Michigan was covered with treed Farmers have to clear the area to build homes and plant crops Land needs to be cleared since farmers have to produce everything No close large cities where products can be purchased

The Importance of Animals They were the muscle for farmers Pulled plows, removed fallen trees They responded to voice commands They worked in teams often for life Horses replaced them by the 1850’s Pigs could kill Michigan rattlesnakes and eat fallen acorns Don’t have to buy them food

The Homestead Homes were log cabins Between the logs would have been mud or clay that had to be changed out Houses tended not to have windows Glass was expensive Heat could escape easily The fireplace was at the center of the house It was the only source of heat for the whole house Wheat was grown as it could be sent on the Erie Canal and not go bad Gristmills helped in grinding the wheat into flour