The Daily Tasks of Pre-Modern Farmers Between Planting and Harvesting
Before the advent of modern machinery, farmers in pre-modern times engaged in a diverse array of activities throughout the year to ensure a bountiful harvest. The period between planting and harvesting was crucial in the agricultural cycle, requiring meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of nature's rhythms.
Work Teams and Manual Labor
Most pre-modern farms operated with fairly large teams of workers. Unlike today, where a single tractor can often do the work of many, the labor was mostly manual. For example, during World War II, the author's father had a team of five men to manage the farmstead, but as mechanization advanced, this number dwindled to one. These workers performed a wide range of tasks, from cutting and laying hedges, to manually hoeing fields of sugar beets that stretched for acre upon acre. Regular fallowing, ploughing, and harrowing the land were also essential, often sown with a 'green' crop that was then ploughed back into the soil to enrich the fertility.
Seasonal Crops and Farming Activities
Depending on the region, crops planted included a mix of early and late season varieties. Early summer would see the harvesting of crops like carrots, peas, beans, and cucumbers, which were either canned or pickled. Meanwhile, fallow land was quickly sown with late season crops such as cabbages and squash, which matured for harvest in the fall. Grain crops like wheat and corn were generally harvested during the dry, cool weeks of late summer. This was followed by transporting the grains to local mills to be ground into flour.
The animals that remained on the farm over the winter depended on how much hay and corn had been successfully harvested during the previous summer. By November and December, the process of slaughtering male pigs, calves, and lambs followed, with the meat being smoked, salted, and preserved in crocks of lard for the winter months.
Winter and Preparing for the Next Growing Season
Between the winter solstice and the arrival of spring, the focus shifted to preparations for the upcoming growing season. Tasks during this period included hauling water, collecting eggs, milking cows, and feeding sheep. February saw the lambing season, with new lambs adding to the farm's population. The period also involved repairing roofs, cutting wood, and repairing stone walls, along with various other chores.
Inside the home, the family engaged in activities such as shearing sheep, washing spring fleeces, and preparing them for spinning in the dark winter months. This process was completed by the fire, maintaining essential skills for future textile production. During this time, wild foods, berries, fruit, and fish were gathered when the weather allowed. Additionally, the extra male birds were slaughtered for meals like chicken and duck dinners.
The importance of preserving food and resources for the lean months of winter cannot be overstated. Lard, rendered from the extra fats of the preserved meat, was used for cooking, and additional fats were made into soap and candles for the household.
Overall, the period between planting and harvesting was a time of rest and preparation, allowing farmers to catch their breath, evaluate the season's success, and prepare for the challenges of the upcoming growing season. This balance between manual labor and rest underscores the deeply ingrained connection between pre-modern farmers and their land, a connection that has been largely lost in the mechanized agricultural practices of today.