Much of the country is covered by jungle, but the villages are located along the coasts, rivers, and roadways. Within their settlements, the Lematang build their houses on stilts raised four to eight feet off the ground. Rubber is the main cash crop, but coffee and rice are also grown. Wet-rice plots are worked by hoeing, or by plowing with oxen or water buffalo. Planting and harvesting are usually done by either hired mixed-sex work groups or by the extended family members.
Farmers often use tractors in cultivating their crops.
A farmer will usually set aside a portion of the proceeds from his harvests for several years, and then buy a tractor from the government. Since most of the people make their living from farming, major ceremonies are usually held immediately following harvest. These events include marriages, circumcisions, and hair cutting rituals. Every family in the village participates in such activities because of the strong feeling of community. Lematang families do not usually live together as extended families.