Elves certainly were farming and gardening, they had orchards and fields and gardens. The very special protected and hidden fields served as ground for farming ,,white corn" of lembas (but they were not among common foods, there never was any great store of it, you could say it's magical), the elves of course hunted and gathered but those who did it were mostly rustic Wood Elves or wandering Avari (but organized by sindarin lords into prosperous kingdoms they definitely had their ways of farming too, as well as trade by which they acquired much food products especially those which they couldn't get in their own lands, like milk, cheese, various vegetables and fruits that were not to be found locally). The elves of course like to eat meat (like mentioned venison get by hunting) they make normal bread and alcoholic beverages.

It is also quite possible that abilities and powers of elves allow them to influence natural processes and thus they can farm much more efficiently in smaller areas than humans could from extensive exploatation of much larger farms (it is mentioned that in food provided by Gildor Inglorion were fruits larger and tastier than from the best tended gardens of men and hobbits they also most likely produced their own specific food stuffs and drinks like golden liquid drank by hobbits again given by Gildor's company). Elves of course also cut down trees since they too need wood for many tasks and craftsman industries but they most likely practiced forestry planting many new trees. Elves though it might not seem so have their own economy, but as it is not in the centre of attention in stories it is seldom mentioned.

Elves certainly were farming and gardening, they had orchards and fields and gardens. The very special protected and hidden fields served as ground for farming ,,white corn" of lembas (but they were not among common foods, there never was any great store of it, you could say it's magical), the elves of course hunted and gathered but those who did it were mostly rustic Wood Elves or wandering Avari (but organized by sindarin lords into prosperous kingdoms they definitely had their ways of farming too, as well as trade by which they acquired much food products especially those which they couldn't get in their own lands, like milk, cheese, various vegetables and fruits that were not to be found locally). The elves of course like to eat meat (like mentioned venison get by hunting) they make normal bread and alcoholic beverages.

It is also quite possible that abilities and powers of elves allow them to influence natural processes and thus they can farm much more efficiently in smaller areas than humans could from extensive exploatation of much larger farms (it is mentioned that in food provided by Gildor Inglorion were fruits larger and tastier than from the best tended gardens of men and hobbits they also most likely produced their own specific food stuffs and drinks like golden liquid drank by hobbits again given by Gildor's company). Elves of course also cut down trees since they too need wood for many tasks and craftsman industries but they most likely practiced forestry planting many new trees. Elves though it might not seem so have their own economy, but as it is not in the centre of attention in stories it is seldom mentioned.

Example of the realm of Lothlorien shows that the elves in question (Galadhrim) had stone paved roads and walls, they used wood for building homes and boats, they produced weapons and armours they had metal gates to the city of Caras Galadhon (so metalworking, bowmaking, leatherworking), they crafted other items and produced local foods and drinks (white mead the Fellowship drinks with Galadriel and Celeborn), they were working with special materials like mallorn wood and mysterious hithlain, weaving special kind of cloth (very much light and delicate, soft like silk yet warm as wool and ,,magical" changing color and making a person wearing it blend in environment, becoming almost invisible at few paces), so they must have resources and knowledge on many crafts of civilization as well as artistic skills and esthetic tastes (as all elves are talented artists).