George Washington was quite a man, not only a general and president, but a farmer, investor, inventor, and industrialist. He owned 8000 acres on the Potomac river where he grew row crops, raised livestock, and distilled whiskey. It was this vertical integration and forward thinking that made Washington the wealthiest man in North America at that time. I believe that Washington’s success in business and farming prepared him to lead the nation, he knew that it was important to be self-dependent.
I visited Mt. Vernon which was Washington’s personal estate, here he had built a thriving farm and was completely self-reliant. He was an engineer in his day and invented a simple method to remove wheat from chaff. Washington also used storm drains and semi-modern storm water drainage system around his farm. Washington was resourceful, and was successful in farming before the infrastructure of the country had begin to develop.
Washington knew that if America was to thrive then the country must invest in agricultural production. He proved to be a excellent President and without his leadership America may not be the country it is today.
