How many ways can you make a wheel?

Abstracts: The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL) at Reading University has a significant collection of 22 English farm wagons.  A “Shoulder to the Wheel” exhibition developed in partnership with the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, seeks to explore the skills of the wheelwright.  Using a wheel collected by the… Continue reading How many ways can you make a wheel?

What is the relevance of animal traction in the 21st century? Some experiences from the 65th World Ploughing Championship in Einsiedel (Germany)

Zusammenfassung (Abstract): Basierend auf selbst gemachten Erfahrungen der 65. Pflügerweltmeisterschaft im baden-württembergischen Einsiedeln im Jahr 2018, stellt der Autor die Frage nach der Relevanz von tierischer Anspannung im 21. Jahrhundert. Während in Einsiedeln eine Zuordnung derselben eher in agrarhistorische Zusammenhänge oder als schmückendes Beiwerk deutlich wurde, kann aus den Erfahrungen von Institutionen wie Tillers International… Continue reading What is the relevance of animal traction in the 21st century? Some experiences from the 65th World Ploughing Championship in Einsiedel (Germany)

Summer Grain Harvest

AIMA member sites use tools representative of their time and place to harvest grains. The presenters at Firestone Farm in Greenfield Village, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan, use a Johnston Harvesting Company Self-Rake reaper to cut Turkey Red Wheat. The farm interprets the birthplace of Harvey Firestone, and was moved to Greenfield Village from Columbiana… Continue reading Summer Grain Harvest

American Literature and Agricultural Lessons

I’m pulling a panel together for Rural History 2017 (Leuven, Belgium, 11-14 September) on the following topic: American literature with rural or agricultural content taught in European schools. If you studied an American novel in school in Europe (grades before university) please post the author, title and brief summary of how the literature was included… Continue reading American Literature and Agricultural Lessons

Rural History 2017

Call for Panels Rural History 2017 11-14 September 2017 Leuven, Belgium It is a pleasure to announce Rural History 2017, the third biennial conference of the European Rural History Organisation (EURHO). The EURHO conferences aim at promoting the exchange of research questions and results, fostering co-operation between scholars engaged in the history of rural Europe… Continue reading Rural History 2017