How Homesteading Was Done in the 1800s | General Homesteading Discussion | Forums

pretty interesting article

In the Sept/Oct 2012 issue, a reader wanted to know how homesteading was done in the 1800s. Here’s my reply.

I am a bit of a history nut. I have spent many years engaged in accurate historical re-enactment. (Think Ren Faire but with no turkey legs.) So your question about how homesteading was done in the 1800s prompted me to write.

First—are you talking early 1800s before the advent of canning, telegraph, railroads, and sewing machines? Or are you talking late 1800s? If the latter—just talk to any member of an Amish community about how they live. If you are talking about early 1800s—that’s a completely different matter. I would recommend visiting historic Williamsburg, Virginia.

There are numerous diaries that have been left behind by the folks who “traveled West” and the hardships they endured; as well as diaries of those who “stayed behind” in the civilized world of chamber pots and chimney fires. Reading these diaries gives a very good insight into how people lived.

Are you interested in the day-to-day life of agrarian people as opposed to those that live in the city? If so—I recommend becoming a homesteader without electricity, power tools or indoor plumbing. Also take away modern medicine (become an herbalist) and learn to recognize gangrene. Go to the grocery store for only flour, coffee and sugar. Grow your own linen (hemp is preferable to flax for durability and comfort), and wool. Learn to spin, weave and knit and use only your own feet (or those of a horse) for transportation. Dig your own well, do your own blacksmithing and starve in the winter when you’ve had a bad crop year.

If you truly want to live in the 1800s, be expected to have 18-20 children, all born at home, and have half of them die before the age of five because of dysentery, typhoid, scarlet fever or measles. Be prepared to get up with the sun and read by the light of your drafty fireplace. (Yes, the Franklin stove was invented in the late 1700s, but it weighed so much, most folks who went west didn’t take it with them. Of course, if you stayed in one of the “big” cities, you would have access to whale oil or kerosene for your lights.)

Be prepared to slaughter pigs and use everything except the “oink.” (Think pickled pig’s feet.) And you had better spend all day Sunday at church.

more http://www.countrysi.....the-1800s/