Period Agriculture Info/Videos

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Period Agriculture Info/Videos

Technology would be part of it, especially in developing material for the upper Midwest. The images on your website about loose haying are great, and one of the tasks that would be discussed, especially in the context of baling vs. loose hay. While working on a newspaper project recently, I ran across an ad for custom baling in 1862. All you had to do was bring your loose hay to the former warehouse in Macomb where the room-sized press operated.

[dixieflyer]

Re: Period Agriculture Info/Videos

An alternative would be for those that are interested to attend an ALFHAM workshop:

http://www.alhfam.org/?cat_id=285&nav_tree=111,285

Nothing quite like hands on. I would recommend that anyone who is serious about his/her living history join ALFHAM. Definitely worth the price of admission in my book.

[AZReenactor]

Re: Period Agriculture Info/Videos

I concur, ALHFAM (The Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums), is a great resource. There are regional and national levels and a wide range of museum types covering a variety of eras. I've attended a couple of the Western Region conferences and learned a great deal as well as networked with a number of professionals in the field.

(And a quick moderating note: this thread was moved to the civilian area as it seemed to be moving in a direction more appropriate to here, than to the sinks.)

[Marine Mike]

Re: Period Agriculture Info/Videos

I hung around the draft horse crowd in my area about 15-20 years ago and one of the more popular periodicals for us was Small Farmer's Journal as it would republish documents from the 1840's upto how to keep your poppin' johnny running sweet.
I just checked and see they now have a web site: http://smallfarmersjournal.com/
and offer manuals on many things from team training to making hay ricks and only one DVD, The Art of the Wheelwright. But I do remember that a number of advertisers back many years ago offering VHS tapes on many subjects including practices of 1840-1870, so suspect they have moved with the times and now offer the same on DVD. It maybe one to check out.

[dixieflyer]

Re: Period Agriculture Info/Videos

Oh yeah Mike, I forgot about Small Farmer's Journal. I think my boss subscribes, I'll try and ask him tomorrow.

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Period Agriculture Info/Videos

Small Farmer's Journal is a great source of modern information about farming with horses, but the only thing they've run in the past two or three years that pertains to the period is a serial reprint of the book "Farming for Boys", an 1867 book by the author of "Ten Acres Enough." It's a great read, and it compares poor farming techniques against how to keep a clean and productive farm, with the aim of keeping young boys interested in farming.

Another source for modern information with some pertinent stuff is ruralheritage.com. There are articles about adjusting plows, lines of draft, etc.

[Paul L Muller]

Re: Period Agriculture Info/Videos

I have a large box in the cellar of SFJ , I have subscribed for 20 years and if you are lucky, you may find several of my articals too. The video idea , as I see it , is mainly equipment and how to stuff. How will the ag part be of use? I sure can get behind it , I am not clear how it will help fellow reenactors , so help me understand. plm

[dixieflyer]

Re: Period Agriculture Info/Videos

It will help in fleshing out knowledge for doing first person, etc. Paul. That was the original idea.