I hope you enjoyed our first day's exploration of everyday life in early America and Strawbery Banke. In the context of today's lectures and tours, what are your thoughts on the traditional English saying ,
Half the grain, and half the hay
must still remain, on Candlemas Day”?
I really enjoyed our first day at the Banke. The presentations did a great job of giving us the background of the Banke history and also setup the context of why the Banke and other settlements like it were set up in such a way.
ReplyDeleteThis brings us to the saying, "Half the grain, and half the hay, must still remain, on Candlemas Day." I find this saying to really depict the harsh reality that life was during the pre-modern historical era. The fact was that planning for survival consumed most of the time of the people of this era. If you didn't plan your rations accordingly, all in your family, town and even region would suffer. It was not based on today's individual attitudes and the cries for "what about me?" It was about "we" as a community and survival. I found that to be very humbling because of all the things that this generation takes for granted and how society treats one another. Imagine our generations living in that era? I don't think we could last...
It was a very informative day today, and we covered quite a bit. The presentations set a great tone for the week, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the week. I have always been a fan of artifacts, and the needlepoint was very interesting to see.
ReplyDeleteAs we began to cover at the end of class, the saying "Half the grain, and half the hay must still remain, on Candlemas Day" is quite representative of the times. It brings to mind the fable of the ant and the grasshopper. The ant worked hard everyday, while the grasshopper mocked him and played all day. When winter came, the ant has a plentiful storehouse of food while the grasshopper is starving. That fable seems to represent the work ethic of people until fairly recently. My great-grandparents were farmers, and we were a family of farmers as far back as I can trace. That work ethic has been part of our family and upbringing. I think that if the majority of people now lost most of our "creature comforts," we'd find it difficult to survive even through the summer, let alone a New England winter. I live in a house that was built in 1743, and while it has been modernized, much of the house is still mid-1800s. When we renovated the kitchen, we found the walls were insulated with gravel and sand. Even with no modern insulation, the house still maintained heat through much of the ice storm in 2008. It was uncomfortable, but it put that era in mind, being in a colonial house with no electricity or heat.
From the in class discussion I think it was clear how important it was for the colonist to plan ahead to be able to survive the harsh winter. This serves to underline how close to nature they lived, and how dependent their fortunes were on it. In Jerald Brown’s book he notes that it wasn’t until Lane was 30 that he first camped in the woods. (Brown, p.84) The harsh realities of Samuel Lane’s life did not lend him to romanticizing nature. There was no need to ‘get back to nature’; it was part of his everyday existence. We can compare this to the present day recreational view of camping. Summer camp has become a ritual and right-of-passage for many young kids. [It wasn’t until I was 43 that I first milked a cow!]
ReplyDeleteEven during the 19th century the lives of many Americans were much dependent on an in-tune with their natural surroundings. In Sarah Goodwin’s memoir she notes with pride the numerous plants an flowers she has in her garden. Even for a woman of her social standing there was an intimate connection with nature.
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We can also look for clues to how the colonists related to their environment through the buildings at Strawberry Banke. For instance: What do the two photos below tell us about that relationship?
Left: Sherburne House 1695/1703
Right: Yeaton House 1795
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Lastly, I am curious to hear what other people are considering for their term project? Are we meant to do something specific to Strawberry Banke? Or from colonial times picking up on the themes of the class.
Sorry!!
ReplyDeleteI gues I can't post photos too.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your response. I think you bring up a valid point about the quote and how we would act today. Without a doubt, I feel this English expression could be tied to our everyday lives. When one thinks of something as basic as personal or business finance and this expression we can see a relation. Half the grain and half the hay could be applied to budgeting and always keeping an emergency fund in our personal or business bank accounts. In any event, this expression is without a doubt a reference to rationing supplies and goods so that one would be able to withstand the ever changing climate of New England. Again, if every American including our government applied this simple philosophy we would be all set with reserves.
Continuing, I thought today was very informative. I enjoyed listening to the administration of the Museum and Dr. Morrison. I totally agree with as far as teaching goes to "bring the classroom to life." Barriers to learning need to be broken down and conventional teaching should be mixed with more student centered engaging approaches. Students don't necessarily need to love history, but if they can see a relation between our past and something important in their lives, then there is an automatic connection. The learning then becomes "neat." Also, building on our students' interests and differentiation of instruction are the most effective ways of bringing history to life.
“Half the grain, and half the hay must still remain, on Candlemas Day” looking at this from woman’s perspective it means a lot of working canning, pickling and drying the vegetables that were grown on the farm. The grain can be stored and ground for bread, and the bread will fill the belly, but the vegetable nutrition would keep from getting disease and becoming sick. I picked 3 quarts of Raspberries on Sunday from our own bushes. They were very ripe and I had take them directly to the house do something with them otherwise they would have spoiled and we would have lost them. Within an hour I canned Raspberry jelly that will last me at least 8 months (I also made a raspberry pie and raspberry muffins) . That’s fruit nutrition that early settlers could have eaten in February when there was no fresh fruit to be had. I think frugality, rationing, and self-control were important qualities for successful colonists.
ReplyDeleteThe quote also got me thinking of mortality and what times of the year elderly people (those without some fatal disease like cancer) die. I have always found it strange when an elderly person dies in April or May and I have no evidence but I think death from natural causes is rare in the Spring, Summer and Fall. My first reaction is always they made it though the worst of the year, why couldn’t they hold out for Spring and Summer when the living is easier. In fact Both Samuel and his wife died in the winter; Mary died in January (Brown 121), and Samuel died in December (Brown 195). I wonder if my feeling on when people die (or should die) is based in some left over belief passed down through the ages based on this quote.
Finally, a confession. In New England farmers can get two crops of hay cut, but the saying goes they have to have the first cut before the fourth of July. There is a farm near my house that had most of their fields hayed before the 4th but they were cutting and bailing their lower field the week after the 4th and I was criticizing them and even said something to my mother about them not having their field hayed before the 4th. Some traditions die hard.
I really enjoyed the first day of class and came away really looking forward to the rest of the week. After spending time at Strawberry Banke and listening to the speakers throughout the day it really made clear what the saying “Half the grain, and half the hay, must still remain, on Candlemas Day.” By the end of the day it was really shocking to me how tough of a life it was back then. There are times when I think it would have been fascinating to live back then when life was “easier” and less cluttered with technology. But, after dwelling on this quote tonight and thinking on it I wouldn’t want any part in the stress they had to endure day in and day out to survive. I have heard the saying before that animals in the wild don’t have time to “play” they are on a constant hunt for food to survive. I feel like the people living back then also had that feeling about them especially the adults. They had no time for vacation or down time to work on a hobby or their golf game ☺. There was a cold hard reality that each season was one of survival and as professor Morrison said even if you did it all correctly you might still die. You could plant your crops in time and have everything going well only to lose it all to a major drought. The saying of Half the grain… is a harsh reminder that you must plan for things and you must always be prepared and a lack of preparation could mean serious consequences for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI thought today was a great prerequisite of what it to come for us the next three days at Strawberry Banke Museum. I am especially excited to learn more about their archaeological digs. I find it fascinating that they are able to both dig and study and display their finds all on the same location; they are very fortunate to do so.
ReplyDeleteThe quote we discussed today, "Half the grain, and half the hay must still remain, on Candlemas Day" is a humbling reminder of simpler times when food had to be rationed throughout the year for survival. What I liked most of all about out discussion about this quote today was talking about how much community had to be involved in such rationing. When thinking about early American way of life, I often picture a family living on a farm and attending to their harvesting needs. It is important to remember that individualism did not exist as much as it did then as it does now.
" Half the grain, and half the hay must still remain on Candlemas Day."
ReplyDeleteLike Christopher, the first connection that I made to this quote was the story of the grasshopper and the ant. It's amazing how significant that quote is for today.
I think about how the early settlers had to economize and "spend" wisely. How much is half? Half for one year could be a substantial amount. Half for another year might be minimal due to weather, pests, disease, soil... Furthermore, it must have been vital to keep records and observations of quantities, equal proportions, proper storage, planting areas, natural fertilizers, and food preservation. The key was to have an abundant crop(s). In order to have a large "half" there was a certain risk of experimenting with new techniques, seeds, and soil. All the more reason to be living in community with one another(including Native Americans and Blacks). People learn from each other and the common goal was survival.
I think that this quote connects to our use and misuse of money management too. If land brings food, an abundant harvest can bring prosperity. It was important to be good stewards of the land and of the purse. Oftentimes we spend too quickly and that "rainy day" comes in like a storm. Planning for the future and being wise consumers makes this quote relevant for us in today's society too.
"Half the grain, and half the hay
ReplyDeletemust still remain, on Candlemas Day"
This is an old English saying that the early settlers may have brought with them - to find that it pointed up differences between Old and New England. Winters in New England were colder and seemed longer; the wheat planted in November in England would sprout in spring but in New England, seeds planted in November died of cold long before Imbolc, let alone spring. But the concept would remain, that one must lay in sufficient stores to feed the family until the first harvest.
Another interesting thing to note is that in England the transition from the pagan Imbolc, sometimes called Brighid's Day or Breed as it was the feast of the pagan Goddess Brighid or Bridget had been co-opted by the Christian (Catholic) Church: Brighid became St. Bridget and her day became Candlemas, the day on which the candles for the next church year were blessed. But in New England, the St. Bridget and candle associations would have been dropped, even though the Candlemas name was retained in almanacs. The Puritans seemed to hold an equal horror of papist and pagan ideas!
So this saying can be used to examine differences in the new land, but also the attempt to bring old customs with them. And customs relating to getting a family through the winter would have been extremely important and therefore modified as necessary to fit the new conditions.
The first day at SBM was packed, and set a fine foundation for the rest of the week. I am exhausted and need to sleep now to lay my own foundation for the rest of the week!
To me this saying brings to light the stark differences between today's society and the society of yesteryear. Our society is characterized by instant gratification and worries little about planning ahead to prevent malnutrition and starvation. As Dr. Morrison pointed out today we can go to Walmart and buy almost everything that we need. We don't have to plan things that far in advance and seasons make little difference to how we live/eat... but back in colonial New England the time between harvest and spring planting was a dangerous period where disease ran rampant. The people of colonial New England are a people who struggle. They live a hard life in a time where "death stalks the land with all too much frequency." If the town and the families in it weren't able to harvest enough to subsist off of, (half the grain and half the hay...) their futures would be fraught with uncertainty. With all of this in mind, planning for the future is an important task. This can mean planning what crops to plant, who to hire to work the fields, and how many children you need to have. In colonial times family planning wasn't based on how many children you wanted to have but rather how many children you needed to keep the farm up and running. This saying and the discussion which followed bashed my nostalgic romanticized view of life in early New England bringing to life a much grittier reality. Which in fact is much closer to the truth.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed our first day of class at the Strawbery Banke Museum. Dr. Morrison's point that learning about history doesn't have to limit itself to lecture and research but can also include all five senses really made me think. What a wonderful way to learn when we can engross ourselves in the lives of those we are studying.
ReplyDeleteThere is a traditional English saying, "Half the grain and half the hay must still remain on "Candlemas Day." "Candlemas Day" was on February 2 which is now Groundhog Day. This is considered to be the halfway point of winter which is very important to the rationing of food. No food can be produced during the harsh New England winters so it is imperative that everyone still has half of their rations in order to survive. The people this quote is referring to are the families and town of the community. The sense of community is essential for survival. People have to depend on neighbors and their community or someone dies. Nature, neighbor and God are more important than individualism.
As a child, I would frequently complain to my mother that “there was nothing to eat,” when the reality of the abundance of food in the pantry proved otherwise. While I hope I have matured and become more self-sufficient since that time, I must admit I do not keep good track of what food I have in my apartment. I’m not sure how many cereal bars are in my cupboards, or ounces of rice are left in the jars, but this negligence of the household’s food would be bizarre for a resident of this area in the 17th and 18th century. For people in Samuel Lane’s time, that would be a completely foolish idea; you must know exactly how much food you start with at the end of harvest. A detailed cataloging of the foods a family has at the end of a harvest is required to properly ration the foodstuffs to allow the family to survive until they can once again reap sustenance from their gardens and farmland.
ReplyDeleteRegarding my project, my current idea is to create a unit plan with students devising a plan to trade effectively in the shoes of an early American. I was thinking of grouping students in small groups of 3 to 4, and have them work together to flesh out the foundation of their enterprise: what goods to buy, where to trade them, what prices to sell them at or what goods they expect in return. I am also thinking about having students examine samples of advertisements of that time, and have them create an ad of their own, emulating the methods of print used at that time.
rtreggiari.s08@live.com wrote:
ReplyDeleteThe English saying described how they could ration their crops for the spring. In England February second was going into their summer which I learned in class today. In New England the weather was not always kind to its inhabitants. Our growing season is shorter then England we may not always be able to save its grains for later. Many families lost their children to diseases. Many of the population died of disease. Some families in every generation would be touched by some famine. Great many people left their homes in England for a chance to have land. Land meant you had respect from others.
Being part of the community was very important to the early settlers of New England they depend very much on their neighbor for help. They were a more part of the community then being a individual. There neighbor would help them from borrowing food to fighting off Indians. They couldn’t have survived without them.
In England there was little chance of someone getting land but here in America there was a chance to get as much land as a Baron in England. America was a place where a person could be educated even if you were a girl. The importance of land for a family and to provide for your children kept many fathers up late. The father would leave his land to his eldest son and would like to provide for the rest of the children. He worried about his wife to make such she would always be provide for.
Having land would make you independent and free no master to tell them what to grow and what to do with the land. I learned today how the following fathers even thought changed the Declaration to not put everyone could own land. That Adam Smith was the one who wrote the Declaration of Economics. That being able to own land was the most important personal possession.
I enjoyed the experience of today being at Strawberry banks. It but History in a different perceptive for me it is more hands on this way.
zanzibar33090@yahoo.com wrote:
ReplyDeleteI loved our first day. I was so looking forward to being able to truly dive in and experience new aspects of museum works, curation and archives and today did not disappoint.
As Professor Morrison stressed the phrase: “Half the grain, and half the hay must still remain, on Candlemas Day” gives us tremendous insight into the past. Representing that people truly had to plan ahead or die is sombering. Today we worry about running out of milk or bread and all we have to do is pick some up. However back then when this phrase was used there wasn’t an easy fix. You had to hope someone would help, when generally no one could, or you and your family would starve to death.
This shows us that unity is key. No individual is more important than the entire community. In my view this is true utilitarianism in action. The good for the many. They all lived, worked and worshipped together. And if they didn’t have enough grain and a good enough crop at the end of harvest, everyone would most likely die together. But if community and unity were emphasized and everyone was raised to believe as such, then you had a better chance of survival. The idea was to make it through the winter, make it through every year you could, and sadly this phrase shows us that if they honestly took the time to create this rhyme, clearly not everyone was so lucky.
It was an amazing first day. I can see why former students have returned to the Banke after class was over.
ReplyDelete"Half the grain, and half the hay, must still remain, on Candlemas Day."
This was a way of life and survival. I feel it depicts the importance of the family as a unit also. The family was a business for survival with the father as President and the mother as the manager. The children were necessary help at a young age. The “man” provides for the family with land. The entire family works together to harvest the crops. I feel the woman would have to be good planners and managers. They needed to plan meals and budget the harvest for daily survival and celebrations for six months at a time. Most families today have trouble planning meals a week out.
My initial response to yesterday's quote focused on our modern reliance on debt. Middle class Americans habitually live on borrowed money. While this is often rooted in an economic system that fails to provide the majority of the nation's workers with a living wage, it represents a sharp contrast with the lifestyles of our forefathers who centered their lives around saving for the future.
ReplyDeleteThe quote initiated a sense of admiration for these hardy men and women who abohored so completely the idea of borrowing seed in the spring or acquiring debt in order to make it through the tough winter months. As the class progressed, however, I began to realize that my admiration was based on a faulty understanding of their situation. Most New Englanders of this time avoided debt not only out of a sense of moral resposibility for providing for themselves and their loved ones, but because there was no one to borrow from. If the whole county thrived or suffered and died together, then who would you borrow from in time of dire need? Perhaps money could be borrowed, but what would you use it to buy? What a different world from our modern existence in which food and posessions are extravegantly plentiful.
It also struck me that if goods produced on the farm must be rationed so carefully, so must items purchased through trade. One couldn't expect a ship to come in with merchandise or foreign food items (such as sugar and molasses) in the dead of winter, so these items would have to be rationed too. The self-discipline this lifestyle must have required is astounding.
As a side note: The book store only had one of the required books in stock.
The first day at SBM was a blast. Having not been to the museum since grade school, returning in my college years for such an engaging course is a privilege.
ReplyDeleteThe English saying, "Half the grain, and half the hay, must remain on Candlemas Day," reflects the pre-industrial emphasis on limitation of overconsumption. In any mostly agrarian society, controlling the distribution of food and supplies was a focal point of the family unit and within the community. This was especially true in colonial New England, where the harsh winters would force residents to maintain a supply of "grain and hay," along with other necessities to survive the winter. Moderation is not something we stress in our current world. With the abundance of essentials available to us (here in the U.S.), we tend to not think so much that a wasteful lifestyle, or overconsumption will suffer us any consequences. We simply venture out to the local market, and purchase what we need, when we need. Why do you think people in our modern day society began to take for granted the food and "clean" drinking water that is available to them, in a country that had a heritage of moderation in its early days.
Sorry for posting late, but I needed to resolve my technical issues. The quote used means that half of your food must by left by a certain date, or you might not have enough to sustain your self. This served as a warning to the people, but it also have them a calendar in which to ration their food. If they did not listen to this warning, their family would probably doomed.
ReplyDeleteI took the most from the collections building tour. I work for a very small museum and we can keep our collections in a small closet. It never occurred to me that there is so much more. We have the exhibits and an attic I never thought of. I cannot believe how much material it takes to run even a large museum like Strawberry Banke. To think all of these items needed to be accessioned. It just boggles the mind.
zanzibar33090@yahoo.com wrote:
ReplyDeleteThe writings on the Lane’s graves were incredibly interesting. They emphasize that though Samuel Lane did study the bible, and devoted at least a part of himself to religion, he was a tremendous business man. He was a good leader in the religious community because he worked hard to get ahead, and planned. A good Christian value is to work hard, and the phrase is “god helps those that help themselves.” Samuel Lane was an excellent model for that phrase. He was able to provide for his own family, and still hold to Christian values. It seems only natural that for the time they would emphasize that he was a good business man. For Mary Lane it fits that her epitaph would depict her being a good Christian in regards to following her husband. A woman was suppose to follow her husbands lead and especially in a household that would be unified, a woman’s following her husband only encouraged this unity. I find the epitaphs interesting, but not surprising. I also think they compliment the time period emphasizing unity and regard for christianity through hard work and family.