Pioneer Life: Food
Pioneers had to hunt animals in order to eat meat. Deer, moose, bear, rabbit, gopher, squirrel, and beaver were some of the animals found in the forests. Pheasants, pigeons, ducks, geese, and other birds were also hunted. Pioneers fished in the rivers and lakes for salmon, trout, bass, and many other kinds of fish. Pioneers also raised some animals, such as pigs, cows, sheep, chickens, and turkeys on their farms for food.
The pioneers cooked most meat on a spit in front of or over the fire. The Aboriginal peoples also used spits to cook their meat over an open fire. We use spits today on our outdoor barbecues and in our ovens. The spit was turned to make sure that all sides of the meat were cooked evenly. Meat was also fried to be used in stews and put in pies. Beef and pork were dried, pickled, and smoked in order to preserve them for the winter months.
Bread was a basic food of the pioneer family. Before they planted their own farm fields, the pioneers made a type of corn bread from corn they got from the Aboriginal peoples. Later, the pioneers planted corn themselves and used it for various types of breads and other recipes.
They also planted and harvested their own wheat crops. They ground the wheat into flour and made bread which was often baked in an outdoor oven.
The pioneers found plenty of fruits and vegetables growing wild in Upper Canada. Fiddlehead greens, wild rice, blackberries, cranberries, and dandelion greens were only a few of the wild berries and plants that they could eat. Pioneers also planted cabbage, turnips, carrots, potatoes, onions, beans, and peas. They used all these vegetables in various recipes. Some vegetables were preserved in soup for the winter.
Apples were among the first fruits grown by early settlers. Other wild and home-grown fruits, such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries, were eaten straight off the bush or the tree or they were used to make pies, drinks, jams, and jellies. They were also preserved for the winter months. Some Aboriginal peoples also grew vegetables in their own gardens. They grew corn and pumpkins and used both in many different ways.