It’s a Saturday, and a very busy Saturday at that (it’s the annual Harvest Dinner at church)! So, I thought I would just take a second today to pop in and throw out a request. If you read yesterdays post (and others about “Harris on the Pig”) you will know that I’m just love that book and the fact that it is book that was written over one hundred years ago. So, with Christmas coming soon and my families looking for list ideas I was wondering if anyone knows of any good agricultural books that I should check out. Something from at least the 18th or 19th century.
Also, thanks for the responses from yesterdays post about feeding boiled feeds to pigs. If you haven’t yet, you should check out that link that Rich posted. Not quite as old as the book by Mr. Harris, but it looked like some interesting reading if that is your kind of thing.
How about “Corn and It’s Early Fathers” by Henry Wallace? Consider it the “Harris on the Pig” of corn. Who else but Henry Wallace would be a better author on the subject? “The American Farm Book” by R. L. Allen might be an interesting read for you. It was first published in the 1840s and is a kind of encyclopedia/guide to farm science in the era. It covers soil testing (with a candle and paper), how to raise some crops, housing and building ideas, and other topics. It, along with several other titles, has been reprinted and commonly available either online or in bookstores for less than $20. The same publisher offers “Traditional American Farming Techniques” and other books that present agricultural techniques and ideas from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. I hope to farm some day myself and look to these works for ideas on how to farm without giving in to the big ag mindset of chemicals and large-scale production.
If you’re looking for works on the history of agriculture in the Midwest, you might try “From Prairie to Cornbelt” by Bogue, which covers Iowa and Illinois farm development or “Larding the Lean Earth” by Stoll.
http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/turner/turnerToC.html#contents
This looks really interesting and would cover several of your issues with the farm I think.
The link from yesterday is just one of the books available at that site, over 1800 books are also available at:
http://chla.library.cornell.edu/c/chla/index.html
I particularly liked one called “Buffalo Bird Woman” or “Agriculture of the Hidatsa Indians: an Indian interpretation” by Gilbert Wilson. Buffalo Bird Woman’s family grew enough food for their family with just basic tools (a hoe and a rake). It explains their methods of planting, harvesting, storage, and food preparation.
It is available in a number of places in the printed form as well as online at:
http://chla.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=chla;cc=chla;sid=082e1306ca2f1c41381c4ff94ca75eb9;q1=wilson;rgn=author;view=image;seq=0001;idno=2846628
I agree with Patricia that “Fertility Farming” is particularly interesting, I particularly liked the section about building fertility with pigs.
Not sure if you have read any of his books, but Gene Logsdon writes interesting stuff. In particular I would suggest All Flesh is Grass, The Contrary Farmer, or his recent fiction work The Last Husbandman
Hi Ethan,
I don’t have a reading suggestion for you, but I do want to ask that you accept the “Premium Dardos Award” I’m giving you for your blog. I enjoy your blog and appreciate your contributions. If you accept, you can post the image of it by copying it from my blog at http://backtobasicliving.com/blog/hey-i-got-a-blog-award/ I think this is a great way for blogger to honor and promote each other.
Take care,
Penny
Humane Livestock Handling by Temple Grandin
Also I second the Logsdon books.