Geography
In the area that is now Maine there were deep woods. In Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine there were many variations of beech trees and maple trees. To the south, especially in Cape Cod, there was sandy soil. The colonists quickly found that the coastline was an important source of food. For example, cod, sturgeon, salmon, ousters, clams, lobsters, mussels and other fish (Floyd). The natives inhabiting that area had learned to travel around depending on the season to find food. The colonists stayed in one place. Because of this they sometimes starved during the winter but thrived in spring and summer months in which they could grow food.
Climate
The natives inhabiting that area had learned to travel around depending on the season to find food. The colonists stayed in one place. Because of this they sometimes starved during the winter but thrived in spring and summer months in which they could grow food (Floyd). During the winter months the natives learned to depend on hunting for food, which they taught the colonists. Without the skills learned from the Native Americans the colonists would not have survived the harsh winter. In an letter sent from Plimoth Plantation from Edward Winslow he describes the worth of the plantation: " For the temper of the air, here it agreeth well with that in England, and if there be any difference at all, this is somewhat hotter in summer, some think it to be colder in winter, but I cannot out of experience so say; the air is very clear and not foggy, as hath been reported. I never in my life remember a more seasonable year than we have here enjoyed; and if we have once but kine, horses, and sheep, I make no question but men might live as contented here as in any part of the world. For fish and fowl, we have great abundance; fresh cod in the summer is but coarse meat with us; our bay is full of lobsters all the summer and affordeth variety of other fish; in September we can take a hogshead of eels in a night, with small labor, and can dig them out of their beds all the winter; we have mussels and othus at our doors: oysters we have none near, but we can have them brought by the Indians when we will; all the spring-time the earth sendeth forth naturally very good sallet herbs: here are grapes, white and red, and very sweet and strong also. Strawberries, gooseberries, raspas, etc. Plums of three sorts, with black and red, being almost as good as a damson: abundance of roses, white, red, and damask; single, but very sweet indeed" (Winslow in histarch.uiuc.edu). This shows that with help from the Native Americans, the climate of New England did not pose a problem for the Pilgrims.