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Daily Life

Way of Life

	Source
	Scottish farm on West River Narrows, four and a half miles from Pictou, 1817

The settlers worked hard to clear the land of its many spruce and fir trees, often with axes as their only tool. Most of the tree stumps were left in the fields to rot. They ploughed the fields with a hand hoe brought from Scotland, called a "caschroim".

They grew potatoes, wheat, barley and oats, and raised cattle, sheep and pigs.

While the men farmed, the women joined in the work. They also churned butter, made cheese, soap and candles for the family's use, cleaned the house, cooked the meals and preserved food for the winter months. They also sheared the sheep, washed the wool, then carded, spun and wove it. They then made the family's clothes from the woven cloth.