Fermented foods play such a large role in human history and prehistory. Food manipulation and preservation has allowed us to survive throughout unending climate variations. While things that are old and moldy may not be everyone’s favorite treats, we are alive today because our ancestors figured this out. Fermentation is used to detoxify poisonous plants […]
Sauerkraut: How We Prepare a Pennsylvania German Favorite Read More »
One of our favorite fall activities here on the farm is making some of the best traditional food around. At Harvest Festival, along with the craft demonstrations and games, we prepare heritage recipes for friends and family alike. For this blog post, I am taking a closer look at the processes involved in some of
Apple Butter Preparation & Cooking a Community Affair Read More »
It’s great when visitors are interested enough in history to ask questions that lead to amazing discussions with interpreters. This summer, we’ve had a lot of great questions that have helped expand our understanding of life during the 1800s. This week’s question was about “Widow’s Weeds” during the mid-to-late 1800s. “Widow’s Weeds” is an 18th
Widow’s Weeds: The Clothing Style of Surviving Spouses Read More »
In my previous post we addressed a question raised by a visitor regarding 1800s toiletries, specifically toilet paper and toilets. This got us curious…what about toothpaste and toothbrushes? TOOTHBRUSHES AND TOOTHPASTE It seems that people have been trying to clean their teeth for as long as we’ve had civilization. Some of the earliest recipes to
Toothbrush & Toothpaste development by the 1800s Read More »
Some of my favorite questions as a living history interpreter are ones that deal with ordinary activities we tend to overlook in our daily lives because they are so common. These activities happen without us thinking about it. For example, when walking from the bright sun into the Cellar Kitchen at Quiet Valley a visitor
Slow Adoption of Toilets & Toilet Paper in the 1800s Read More »
Every day offers another opportunity for the interpreters to learn something new at Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm. Many times these lessons come in the form of questions from our visitors. If you have ever been to Quiet Valley and gone on our tours, you’ve probably visited the 1820s Cellar Kitchen where we discuss life
Hunting in the 19th Century: Animal Diversity & Regulation Read More »
From time to time, historic interpreters hear a question they haven’t been asked before. When I receive a question I’ve never considered, I always find myself saying, “That’s a great question,” as a way to stall while I consider the answer. This series is about some of those great questions. Yesterday while learning the presentation
What is the History of Consumer Sewing Machines? Read More »
This weekend, I spent a good while struggling with pleating a petticoat (the skirt part of an early 1800s working outfit). It got me thinking about the role clothing plays in living history. It helps create the scene, inform visitors and volunteers/staff alike (there is a stiff learning curve when you first wear a historically
Keeping Costumes Historically Accurate for the 19th Century Read More »
Everyday, we overlook the ingenious simplicity of hundreds of inventions. Doors, latches, zippers, buttons, and hammers – just to name a few. At Quiet Valley, we explore this topic with school aged children through a presentation called Simple Machines. We walk the students through simple problems that can be solved with machines such as levers
The Wheelbarrow: History & Varied Uses on The Farm Read More »
We often explain ourselves in terms of food. Take a look at social media and invariably there will be something about food or cooking. (It’s so widespread that my significant other took a picture of the grill the other night, albeit it did look nice with its smorgasbord.) Most of us don’t think too much
How Did We End Up Eating the Foods We Eat Today? Read More »