The people in the southern colonies made a living by mainly agricultural practices. The climate was good for growing crops. Planters used enslaved Africans to grow tobacco and rice. The climate and soil were very good for farming. Many farmers grew more than they needed for their families. They sold extra grain and livestock in the cities. Farmers used the long, wide rivers to ship their goods to other cities. Some other occupations besides farming were- ranching, lumbering, shipping, fishing, trading and iron mining.