Since families were large at that time (his family had seven siblings) the family was the primary labor base, with everyone working from dawn to dusk, and a pooling of resources meant that all contributed. Other families of the same ilk, lived in the same manner and helped out with their neighbors as well. The village was one big community with all individuals contributing to the strength and continuity of the community. .

             The people at that time were more concerned with the overall welfare of the community than they were for individual conveniences.

             They also worked all year round. To enjoy a bountiful harvest the various crops had to be planted and harvested at different times of the year. For example, in September the entire community would pitch in and clear all the land. This usually took as long as a month, after which they would plant the seeds for lentils and wheat. In January they would plant the seeds for a tobacco crop. The farmers would always be either harvesting or planting a new crop throughout the year.

             During the early 20th century the village community in Greece and the small community in the United States were very similar. The difference was that the small communities in the United States were being guided by ideals that led to growth, whereas Greece's ideals were to focus on other issues. .

             "The workaday world of the relatively small community.focused on applied issues in public policy and industrial organization." (Persky 95). The United States was focused on how to capitalize on the new innovations and technology being created, while Greece was still focused on day to day survival. .

             The difference between the economy in Greece during the early 20th century and the economy in the United States was that the economy in the United States was entering the era known as the Industrial Revolution and the economy in rural Greece is very similar today to what it was like during the time of my great grandfather.