George Washington: First Farmer

Develop a system of selective breeding
Make use of an extended 7-year crop rotation system
Recognize the need to replenish soil rather than move and clear new lands
Resolve to make America a "granary" to the world by emphasizing the production of wheat and other grains rather than tobacco

Take a tour of this famous farmer by visiting the George Washington Pioneer Farmer Web site, maintained by the Mount Vernon Association.

This site is easily navigable and contains well over 50 pages of information on Washington as a Farmer and Slaveholder in the 18th century South.

This Web site has the following sections:

Introduction
This page gives you a brief introduction of whom Washington was and what innovations in agricultural methods he experimented with to make farming a profitable venture.
Sunrise to Sunset
In this section you will discover what Washington's views on farming were, the animals that he owned and breed on his farms.
Washington's Five Farms
In this section you will learn about the five farms that make up @{Mount Vernon}@. Information on the tools that used, the crops grown, and other fascination stuff that make up the farming culture of the 18th century.
The 16-sided Barn
Washington invented this barn and had it built on his Dogue Run farm. Learn about this innovative structure in this section.
First in Farming
This section is a listing of farming firsts, which Washington is credited with.
In The Classroom
This section has four activities for students to work on. Teachers, check this out.
Visit the site
This is information for visiting Mount Vernon. It gives you the hours of operation and more.
Internship Information
This is a program for up to six internships each summer to college students with backgrounds in agriculture and public speaking. It contains application information.