The Cherokee were prolific farmers and grew corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, sunflowers, and tobacco. They grew three different kinds of corn, one for roasting, one for boiling, and one for grinding into flour. They also gathered crabapples, berries, nuts, and other fruits.

The Cherokee also hunted for game. Warriors used bows and arrows to kill bear and deer and blowguns to kill turkey, grouse, rabbits, and squirrels. The darts from the blowguns could be used to kill animals from as far away as 60 feet. The Cherokee used hooks and spears to impale fish and sometimes poisoned portions of a creek or stream to bring stunned fish to the surface.