What was the main occupation of yeoman farmers in Georgia?

Yeoman farmers in Georgia primarily engaged in farming as their main occupation, focusing on cultivating crops to meet their families' needs while also selling any surplus produce. This agricultural practice was central to their lifestyle, allowing them to sustain their households and participate in the local economy through the sale of excess items.

Yeoman farmers were typically independent landowners, differing significantly from plantation owners who relied on a larger workforce, including enslaved people, to run extensive agricultural operations. The yeoman's approach was more subsistence-oriented, with a strong emphasis on self-sufficiency, which distinguished their farming practices from those engaged in manufacturing or rental farming. While some yeoman farmers might rent land, the essence of their identity is rooted in their ownership and management of their farms. Additionally, they would not take on roles such as plantation overseers, which involved managing larger agricultural estates and labor forces rather than tending to their own smaller farms.