Fertile land here was scarce and had to be carefully used to provide food and income for families. Rocky, thin soil on sloping small plots made farming difficult, and the limited growing season, population growth, soil depletion, changes in forest ecology, and outside economic change added to these challenges. By combining Native farming practices with European tools and traditions, families were able to survive for several generations. With the right combination of crops and use of forest resources, they produced seasonal crops, supplies to last through a long winter, and extra goods to pay for taxes, tools, and clothing.