Customer Reviews

Farmer George Plants a Nation

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was surprised at how good this book really was. It deals with the George Washington we rarely learn about but whose existence was the basis for all the other accomplishments he achieved. George Washington owned a plantation in Virginia near the present day Washington D.C. at Mount Vernon. There he used his education to develop better farming techniques. When the troubles with England began, George already had ideas to make the American colonies more independent from England and had been implementing them. His belief that the colonies could do better without the intervention of England was a key idea that the founding fathers stood by when times were tough. George was able to put his ideas into practice and had experience to do better.

George Washington, best known for serving as the first president of the United States and as commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, also spent many years of his life working as a farmer. As a young man, George first leased the large estate of Mount Vernon from a family member after he returned from fighting in the French and Indian War. He studied the best books on agriculture available from England and began to experiment with how different seeds grew in Mount Vernon's relatively hard clay soil and warm climate. George also thought carefully about to improve the efficiency of farm production at Mount Vernon. With his innovations, he developed a new plow that could also plant seeds, and he designed a new kind of barn that used horses to separate grains of wheat from the stalks.

This unique book offers children a fresh perspective on the economic contributions that George Washington made to the United States through his role as farmer. The book does an excellent job in teaching children about several important concepts in economics, including natural resources, human resources, and innovation. Neither the author nor the illustrator shy away from the fact that George Washington relied extensively on slaves to perform most of the farm work. This book may present children with one of their first views of George Washington as an estate farmer and slave owner, thus presenting a valuable opportunity to talk about the role of slavery in the South during the American Revolution.

This book is a wonderful look at our nation's first president as a farmer. Along with beautiful artwork, this book showcases George's love for experimenting, his ingenuity, and the deep love and care he felt for his land. While most studies of George Washington cover his military service, this book is a wonderful tribute to the man behind the uniform and the other important contributions he made to our country.