Savannah's Early Economy

Savannah's Early Economy. A critical priority for the first Georgia colonists was to identify and develop economic enterprises that could support the colony. Trade with native Americans was established and exports included hides that could be shipped to England and sold in European markets. Bountiful natural resources offered opportunities to harvest timber and produce navel stores. Long-term opportunities were found in the cultivation of crops like rice, tobacco and indigo. To supplement their diet, settlers planted vegetables and fruits, raised livestock, fished and collected oysters. Although times were difficult, most Georgians produced a surplus to barter for manufactured goods, tools, and weapons that made life on the frontier possible. . . Harvesting Rice . [ Picture included ] . Cultivation of rice provided colonists with a dietary staple and source of income. Marshes like those on Hutchinson Island proved to be ideal for rice production. Slave labor ultimately formed the basis of the rice plantation economy in Georgia. . . Silk Production in Georgia . German immigrants initially experimented with silk production at the village of Ebenezer, northwest of Savannah. Although a small quantity of silk was produced, mulberry trees (a necessary foodstuff for silkworms) suffered during harsh weather and processing proved difficult without experienced labor. Georgia's German settlers shipped 1,500 pounds of cocoons to Savannah for spinning in 1751. . . Loading a Rice Flat Picture . Husking Rice . From the fields rice was transported to the plantations in barges called flats. There, the rice kernels were seperated by threshing and fanning to blow away the chaff. Husking and polishing was done by hand using a wooden mortar and pestle before mills were developed. . . Colonial Life Resolved Around the Savannah River . The Savannah River provided Georgia's colonists with a critical avenue of transportation and trade. As settlements spread into the interior, vessels brought products to market and returned with manufactured English goods. The river also provided fish, oysters and waterfowl. . . Harvesting Indigo . Indigo plants were also grown in the Georgia colony. The harvested parts were soaked in a series of vats and eventually turned into a thick blue pudding-like product that was formed into cakes and dried. These cakes were later dissolved to create a valuable dye for cloth. . . Mary Musgrove at the First Meeting Between Oglethorpe and Tomo Chi Chi . By the time Oglethorpe's settlers arrived at the Savannah River, Mary Musgrove (below) was a well established trader. Her command of English and Native American languages was a key element in developing a thriving deerskin trade that became one of the colony's most lucrative enterprises.