How has beekeeping changed over time? An archaeobeekeeper and an archaeological open-air museum in Germany showcase pre- and proto-historic beekeeping methods

Abstracts: Archaeological finds provide proof of beekeeping in man-made places for bees to live in for the first sedentary cultures. Tubular wooden constructions (log hives) and skeps are the typical bee habitations for (pre-)historic beekeepingin Central Europe. Only two really groundbreaking changes can be pointed out that have led to the modern type of beehives… Continue reading How has beekeeping changed over time? An archaeobeekeeper and an archaeological open-air museum in Germany showcase pre- and proto-historic beekeeping methods

What can law do for bees? A touch of history

Abstracts: We have evidence for honey-gathering from rock art dating back to the Mesolithic, but there is also information about beekeeping in the context of laws (and literature) in early Ireland – what do you do when a neighbour’s bees invade your property? Worse still, what happens if one stings you? Even worse, what happens… Continue reading What can law do for bees? A touch of history

Which came first, bees or crops? Why does it matter?

Abstracts: Flying insects, particularly bees, transfer pollen to flowers to facilitate plant reproduction. The Western or European honeybee (Apis mellifera) may get the most attention because of the honey they produce, but other bees pollinate vegetables, berries, and other fruits on which we all depend. Adding the natural history of bees to the agricultural history of… Continue reading Which came first, bees or crops? Why does it matter?

Why all the buzz about bees? AIMA bloggers encourage us to Bee Aware!

Bees – one short name accounts for 16,000 to 20,000 species of hairy flying insects classified into seven families. All live within social communities that depend on strict work routines. They all seek the same food sources – pollen and nectar – and each processes their harvest and preserves it in hives built in the… Continue reading Why all the buzz about bees? AIMA bloggers encourage us to Bee Aware!

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?

Groundbreaking Journal Tools & Tillage made Open Access

‘Sharing expertise about our agricultural past is one of the primary aims of the AIMA. Making Tools & Tillage available online represents a significant step towards realising this goal. With the support and generosity of the University Library Heidelberg, decades of fascinating scholarly work have now been made freely available to researchers worldwide. The AIMA… Continue reading Groundbreaking Journal Tools & Tillage made Open Access

How often do you step out of your “field”?

The relevance – and challenges – of non-field crops for agricultural museums “Bruising” furze, Courtesy of Ulster Folk & Transport Museum Collections* Abstracts: Farmers around the world do much more than farming, often taking on stewardship for much of the environment we associate with the countryside and important activities that do not usually “fit” into… Continue reading How often do you step out of your “field”?

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)

AIMA Executive Board gathers in New Delhi, India

Board members of the Association Internationale Des Musées D’Agriculture (AIMA) met for their annual meeting in New Delhi, India, November 25-30, 2018. Surajit Sarkar, Ambedkar University, coordinated the visit. Nerupama Y. Modwel, director of  Intangible Cultural Heritage Division of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) greeted AIMA board members on November 26 at… Continue reading AIMA Executive Board gathers in New Delhi, India

Rural History 2019

Rural History 2019, the fourth biennial conference of the European Rural History Organisation, will take place in Paris from Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 September 2019. For information about the conference – which incorporates numerous topics of interest to agricultural museums.

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

Traditions-Change-Sustainable Future: AIMA’s 2017 Conference

The National Agricultural Museum of Estonia is pleased to announce the Call for Papers and information about CIMA XVIII – the 18th conference of the International Association of Agricultural Museums (AIMA). Save the dates: 9-13 May 2017; with an optional tour on 14-15 May). Plan to participate: propose a workshop, paper or panel, or join conversations around themes… Continue reading Traditions-Change-Sustainable Future: AIMA’s 2017 Conference

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

PROCEEDINGs 2014 AIMA Congress in Marseille, France

Copies of CIMA XVII Proceedings (held November 2014 in Marseille, France) (Mucem_Sommaire, 242 pages, colours) are available for the price of 19 euros each + shipping (from France). Upon ordering, please kindly indicate shipping & billing information with your request   . AFMA 15 rue de la Convention 75015 Paris France .contact@afma.asso.fr Des exemplaires CIMA XVII… Continue reading PROCEEDINGs 2014 AIMA Congress in Marseille, France