Last night I was scrolling through all the dross on TV, looking to see if there was something 'enlightening' that I could watch before bed. I must say that the choice was really disappointing.
Then, by chance, I came across a programme that I'd seen previously called 'The Edwardian Farm'.
If you've not heard of, or seen, this programme; a group of three people, Ruth a historian, and Alex and Peter both archeologists, attempt to replicate life on an Edwardian farm, with all the hardships and complications that that involves.
They cut no corners. They live and work exactly as people did from around 1900 to 1910. They had no electricity, no convenient supermarkets, and very few luxuries.
Light came from candles, heat from a fire, and water from a well. Ploughing was still mostly done with horse-power, and time-saving devices still a rarity. It was the crossover period between the old methods and modern 'inefficient' mechanisation. Primitive tractors were just arriving on the agricultural scene.
I must say that this type of lifestyle has huge appeal for me. I do enjoy the simple life; as long as I have just a few modern conveniences. I do like running hot and cold water, a reasonably modern stove, and some electricity.
I'm also a bit of a frustrated farmer. Growing, harvesting, and preserving in the old-fashioned ways have played a major part in my life, and I miss it terribly.
The closest I've come to 'The Simple Life' was at our home in France. The location was right, our 300 year old cottage was right, and the land provided all I required, and more.
OK, we had a pool and a ride-on mower, but my heart was in the right place.
I wouldn't like to go back to Edwardian times as I, also, like mod cons such as flushing loos, electricity etc. but have always tried to live as self sufficiently as possible. Up north we frequently ate meals completely from the property. Vegetables, turkey, duck or chicken as well s our own eggs. However, we had to buy in sugar and flour and I made our own bread. I often wonder how we managed it all as we were both working full time. as well as doing up the property and land.
ReplyDeleteBoth father and Mr Fuller brought us up to be as self sufficient as possible. I still think it's the best way to live.
DeletePloughing fields? Milking cows? Hand washing clothes? Not enough light to see by? No anti biotics? Water from a well? That's not a simple life, it's a hard and scary life. I'll stick with my mod-cons if you don't mind :D
ReplyDeleteI've ploughed, hand broadcast both maize and wheat, and occasionally had to see by candlelight. I loved all of it.
DeleteI used to experience 'the simple life' when I stayed with friends who had a house in the Poitou Charante. For me it was great for a holiday in the summer..........
ReplyDeleteYes, winter times can be tough, but as long as one owns a chainsaw, it was OK.
DeleteNo thank you. It sounds romantic but as noted above very hard work. Hand washing and drying sheets! No vacuum cleaners, cutting all wood by hand, splitting wood by hand, no antibiotics or asthma medication, no effective birth control, dental care? The list goes on and on!
ReplyDeleteActually the three people involved in the programme were all very sorry to leave the farm after a whole year. They became very emotional as they left for the last time.
DeleteIt was TV. I would be very surprised if the presenters stayed there all the time - away from their families for a whole year? And I reckon they had access to modern dental hygiene
DeleteYou're probably right, but they did seem genuinely sad that it was all over.
DeleteI have watched every farm series from Tudor times. I would have loved to have lived on the middle class rich Edwardian Farm. John Seymour was and still is my smallholding guru and writer. I try to emulate him on a smallholding on our rain and wind swept peninsula in the south of Ireland.
ReplyDeleteI used to have Seymour's 'self sufficiency' book but I lent it to some pig and never got it back. It was my bible.
DeleteThat was a good choice before bedtime - ensuring peaceful sleep and happy dreams of country life over a hundred years ago.
ReplyDeleteIt was. Sadly it was the final episode, so no more sweet dreams of bucolic life.
DeleteA programme made for you Cro. I have seen it ..... I love anything historical ..... our house is very late Victorian so verging on the Edwardian and I love anything to do with that era. They did a few programmes of different eras if I remember rightly. XXXX
ReplyDeleteI do remember they did a Victorian Farm as well, but I've only seen just a couple of editions. I find them fascinating.
DeleteIt's not a programme I have come across, but something I would have enjoyed. It's probably on one of the channels I can't receive.
ReplyDeleteIt would probably be on YouTube.
DeleteThe Edwardian Farm and The Victorian Farm are both available on Amazon Prime for free.
ReplyDeleteCro, I have a copy of John Seymour's Self-Sufficiency that you can have if you like. It is not a fancy copy, it was printed in the 1970's.
I am more than happy to post it to you. I know you won't recognise my name but I have read your blog for many, many years.
That is really kind of you Hilly, but as much as I'd love another copy, I don't really have any use for it any more. Back in the day, I consulted it all the time. Now I have no garden, and no animals (apart from Billy). Thank you again, it really was very kind of you.
DeleteI'd like to watch the programme. I would not like to live the life back the . I'm quite happy in today's world
ReplyDeleteI loved the earthiness of the simple life. I even enjoyed the vigours it involved.
DeleteI'd miss all the lazy leisure time we have, the hot water, clean clothes and warm bed. I'm too soft to have survived then.
ReplyDeleteI've always rather enjoyed being busy. At the moment I have very little to do, and I don't like it as much.
DeleteIt's a great programme isn't it, as is The Wartime Farm too. Yes, I'd be happy with this lifestyle too, but like you I'd like the hot & cold running water and electricity at the very least.
ReplyDeleteOne does need one's little luxuries, but with the rusticity of previous times. The perfect combination.
DeleteI have Amazon prime and will look for the program.
ReplyDeleteI would not survive without modern conveniences. That said, I love living in the rural countryside, with lots of land, wildlife, and my gardens.