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 Carver’s Childhood
After the kidnapping, George never saw his mother again. Moses and Susan Carver decided to raise George and his older brother Jim. Working alongside Moses Carver in the fields, Jim was physically the “strong one.”
Poor health often excused George from strenuous chores, so he helped “Aunt Susan” around the house. Aunt Susan taught him to weave, crochet, knit, and embroider, among other skills. He liked these crafts so much that he kept them up all his life.
Surrounded by Nature
Not all of the Carver farm was cultivated—large tracts of prairie and woods covered the property. Carver spent many of his childhood days wandering among the trees and meadows, marveling at the wonders of nature.
 While exploring the woods, streams, and prairies, George collected rocks and fossils for his “secret garden.” His sensitivity and curiosity were apparent, and even as a child, he was known throughout the area for his remarkable skill with plants.
Carver’s Quest
Carver’s “very soul thirsted for an education.” At about age 13, he left the Carver farm—and the only family he knew—to attend an African American school in nearby Neosho, Missouri.
It wasn’t long, however, before Carver had exhausted his teacher’s knowledge. He hitched a ride west, and continued his educational journey, working odd jobs along the way. It was the beginning of a twenty-year quest: Carver’s journey from slave to scholar.
Continue to Carver’s Early Education. >>
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