A Year on the Field
A Year on the Field
Growers
A wide variety of growers participate in our project - from museums
to (organic) farmers to living history farms.
Meet our growers:
Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation (PA, USA)
The Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation is an 18th century living history farm interpreting English farm life from 1760-1790.
We are located just outside Philadelphia in southeastern Pennsylvania. We were founded in 1974 by a group of historians and archaeologists.
The site is 112 acres (45 ha) and is located inside a state park. We have a period fieldstone house and several original outbuildings and barns. We have a shorthorn ox and a draft-cross horse. Additionally, we have a riding horse, ten sheep, and a flock of turkeys, chickens, and geese.
We use both of our draft animals for field cultivation, as well as hauling stones, wood, and manure. We currently cultivate about 6,000 square feet (557sq m) but are working toward expanding. We grow both heritage and modern varieties of wheat and barley. We also have a large kitchen garden.
In addition to farming demonstrations we demonstrate a variety of 18th century skills.
Domäne Dahlem (GER)
The “Domäne Dahlem” is a unique open-air museum focused on agricultural and food culture with an ecological focus and operating as a non-profit foundation. Situated on the former Mark Brandenburg manor – historic land used for farming for over 800 years – the estate, museum, farm shop, country inn and old crafts complement each other with exhibitions, guided tours and workshops to create the only organic farm in Germany with its own underground railway connection.
Under the guiding principle "From the field to the plate", the foundation's programmes and activities focus on the processes of food production, processing and marketing through to consumption – from the past to the present and into the future. The “Domäne Dahlem” is hosting numerous guided tours and events yearly including market festivals such as the harvest festival, the potato festival or Advent markets.
Various crops from herbs and flowers to vegetables, fruit and potatoes, which are marketed through the farm shop and the farm's own restaurant, are cultivated here. A large part of the 6-year crop rotation are clover-alfalfa-grass mixtures, on the one hand as pasture for the animals, on the other hand to maintain and improve soil health, for humus formation and CO2 storage. The “Domäne Dahlem” preserves endangered livestock breeds, such as Red Mountain cattle or German Saddleback pigs and Pedigree poultry with no direct historical time frame. This also applies for agricultural techniques whereby both modern and older tractors, and sometimes draught cattle are worked.
Kaltbluthof Peter Wolf (GER)
The Kaltbluthof Peter Wolf is a small farm in North Hesse, Germany. They farm 1 ha of arable land of which about 500 square metres are potatoes and the rest is oats, barley and rye. At the moment they have 1 team of Percherons, 1 team of Fjord horses (3 years old in training), 1 riding horse and a companion horse and 2 fattening pigs. On the field they do all the work with the horses except threshing.
As for the potatoes, they always plant around 500 square metres, their varieties are red Laura and Belana. They plant with a single-row MC Cormick fully automatic harvester, hoe and rake in a single row and harvest with a Schmotzer rotary harvester with catcher. The potatoes are divided up within the family and used to feed the pigs.
Hessenpark Open Air Museum (GER)
Not only will you find more than one hundred re-erected historic buildings in Hessenpark Open Air Museum, but also fields, pastures and meadows, fruit trees, gardens, a vineyard and many animals that were once typical for the farms in the region. Throughout the year, we offer interested visitors insights into the historical life and work of the rural population by presenting demonstrations on the various steps of grain and fibre plant processing or on the everyday chores of animal husbandry. At the Hessenpark Open Air Museum visitors get the chance to experience historical agricultural practices first-hand.
The fields in the museum are tilled according to the principle of “three-field rotation”. This type of cultivation is the predecessor of modern rotation farming of arable land. In the three-field rotation system, the winter crops (rye or wheat) are sown in autumn, persevered through the winter as shoots and reach harvest maturity in summer. This culti-vation technique was possible with grains which managed to get through the winter months well. The winter crop is followed by a summer crop like oats, which is sown in spring and harvested only 5 to 6 months later in August. These two crops are followed by a fallow year, so that the soil can recover before the next winter crop is sown. The fallow land is used as pasture to reduce weeds. The manure of the grazing animals will also improve the fertility of the soil.
Over the centuries, many different varieties of grains were cultivated, and some of the most important of these can be found today in the museum’s winter grain fields. Among these are einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum), as the most ancient form of cereal, emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum), spelt (Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale).
Ross Farm Museum (CAN)
Located in New Ross, Nova Scotia, Canada, Ross Farm Museum is a window into the past of the province's rich agricultural history. Nestled within a serene landscape, this living history museum offers visitors a immersive experience of rural life in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The farm museum was established in 1969 on land originally granted to Captain William Ross in 1816. On site various aspects of traditional farming practices are showcased, e.g. plowing fields with oxen, the way it was in the late 1800s.
Visitors can explore historic buildings such as the original Ross family farmhouse, barns, workshops, and a blacksmith's forge. Interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities provide insight into the daily routines of early settlers, making it an educational destination and preserving and celebrating Nova Scotia's rich agricultural legacy.
Lauresham (GER)
The Open-Air Laboratory for Experimental Archaeology Laurerahm is situated in the heart of the extensively remodeled and expanded UNESCO World Heritage Site Lorsch Abbey.
In the 1:1 model of a Carolingian manor, visitors have the opportunity to learn about manorialism in a vivid and accessible way.
Lauresham is also a forum for ongoing experimental archaeological research. A range of primitive technologies, crafts and agricultural methods from the Early Middle Ages are researched and tested here as part of day-to-day operations.
Some of our most prominent experiments include work on animal traction (e.g. plowing), the micro-climate of the houses and exploration of the formation of ridge and furrow field systems.
As it is well known that potatoes were not planted in the Middle Ages in European countries, we are taking part in this year's potato year through our partner project, WIR in Lorsch. The aim of this project is to bring old cultivation methods, such as ploughing with animal traction and cultivation without pesticides, into a modern world, including agriculture, and to market the products in the interest of regional value chains.
Luisenhof - Farm Community Linden & Kelleners (GER)
Along with their friend Daniel Linden, Frank Kelleners and his son Maximilian run a small self-sufficient farm with horses. The farm is located in Heimbach in the south of North Rhine-Westphalia, close to the Eifel National Park.
They cultivate about 2 hectares of arable land and about 10 hectares of grassland. The arable land is farmed exclusively with horses. For this purpose they work with 3 Ardennes, 1 Brabanter cold-blooded horses and Icelandic ponies for the maintenance work. The implements they work with are time-proven historical implements from their region.
In 2020 they grew wheat, oats, barley, potatoes and beet. They cultivate the fields in a biodynamical way and ascribe great importance to natural cycles and soil health.
In addition to arable farming, they also farm a large kitchen garden. They keep cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys as farm animals, which are also fed with their products.
Alongside the production of healthy food, the cultivation of customs and traditions as well as the preservation of almost lost practical skills and knowledge about farming with horses is one of their main goals.
Auenhof Pabstthum (GER)
The Auenhof Pabstthum is a certified organic farm according to the EU directive and is located about 70 kilometres northwest of Berlin between forest, lakes and meadows in Ostprignitz-Ruppin. On its 22 hectares of grassland with some woodland currently live 4 to 7 people, 7 cows of the Red Mountain cattle breed, a herd of 40 Thuringian Forest goats and 20 Lacaune Mix sheep, 2 dogs and 3 cats.
In our farm cheese dairy, we produce different types of cheese and yoghurt from the milk of the goats and sheep depending on the season. The kids and lambs are born from the end of February. In May, we start milking and producing cheese and from December, animals and humans can prepare for the next season.
Our 4 suckler cows are trained draught cattle, so that we can completely dispense with the tractor in the 4000 square metre vegetable garden. We also train the offspring of the cows and usually manage to sell the trained young animals instead of slaughtering them.
We sell cheese, vegetables and potatoes at the weekly market in Neuruppin.
We also offer draft cattle seminars where interested parties can get a taste of working with draft cattle and try it out with our cattle.
Sandro & Ilton (GER)
On this family farm two generations work together and run a mixture of livestock farming and arable farming. On 8 hectares of land, the farm is home to a diverse array of animals, including sheep, chickens, a farm cat, and the Percheron stallions, Sandro and Ilton. These horses not only offer covered wagon rides but also play a vital role in the field work including tasks such as ploughing, harrowing, and pulling loads. The farm believes in fostering a bond of trust and cooperation between humans and animals, evident in the restoration of vintage agricultural machinery for sustainable cultivation practices.
In commitment to environmentally conscious farming, they refrain from using chemical pesticides, opting for targeted solutions when necessary.
The cultivation of potatoes still needs to be refined. They try to achieve maximum ploughing under the soil cover as early as the ploughing stage. This is followed by repeated harrowing in dry conditions. A tried and tested mechanical planting machine is used for the planting work but horses are still used for hoeing and harrowing.
Howell Living History Farm (NJ, USA)
This 130-acre (53 ha) Howell Living History working farm presents the agriculture and lifestyle typical of the region, circa 1900, through crop and livestock operations as well as domestic activities. Annually, 65,000 visitors participate in the farm's tours and hands on programs.
Many horse powered operations are used on the 45 acres (18 ha) where corn, oats, wheat and hay are raised using period equipment. The farm produces hay and grain needed for its livestock; vegetable and grain needed in educational programs; and vegetables, eggs and meat for local food banks and pantries.
As a farm complete with crop failures, successes with bumper crops, and the work of raising livestock, Howell Farm is a place where visitors can easily see and learn about the realities of food and fiber production in times past, while broadening their understanding of the challenges facing farmers today and tomorrow.
Micu Viorel (ROM)
In the scenic area of Brasov County's village of Holbav, Mr. Micu Viorel's traditional household stands as a testament to Romanian rural life.
In Romania, the term "household" is preferred to describe such smaller locations, while "ferma" is more associated with larger private businesses. In this household, the Micu Viorel family takes care of a variety of animals and crops, thus ensuring a diversified source of food and income.
Animals such as chickens, sheep, pigs, and a cow provide fresh milk, eggs, and meat, while the cultivated land for the garden shelters a variety of essential vegetables in the daily diet.
Daily work is divided among family members, with Mr. Viorel's wife and daughters actively involved in caring for and managing the household. When activities require a horse, Mr. Viorel calls on a neighbor who always willingly lends a hand.
This story illustrates the beauty and importance of rural communities, where people work together to ensure their well-being, and traditions are kept alive throughout generations.
Hof Merz - Hendrik Merz und Daniel Hoffmann (GER)
The Merz farm is located on the edge of the district of Fulda in the Kiebitzgrund in the village of Langenschwarz. Here Hendrik Merz and Daniel Hoffmann run a small dairy farm with 25 dairy cows and 38 hectares of land. With pasture grazing, the mixed herd has an average milk yield of 7800 litres.
But the speciality and central theme on the farm is the use of working horses. The horses are used in a variety of ways: in agriculture, for covered wagon rides, parades throughout Germany and occasionally in the forest. This structure was common for the farms in this area in order to provide utilisation and additional income for the horses in quieter times in winter and throughout the year. The horses are used for all kinds of work, from ploughing to the harvest.
The potato cultivation in 2024 is half a hectare which is all marketed directly. The varieties this year are "Belana", "Laura", "Madeira" and, as a speciality, the "Ackersegen" variety, a potato variety from Hesse that is almost 100 years old and used to be grown here in the past
LANG Biolandbetrieb (organic farm, GER)
With over 33 years of experience, the small-scale ecological farm LANG has made significant strides. Their traditional farming methods, including diverse crop rotation, animal husbandry, and potato cultivation, have been labor-intensive yet rewarding.
Serving approximately 300 customers through their farm store, they've not only provided organic produce but also increased soil humus levels and stored a substantial amount of CO² in the soil.
Since 2023, they've been implementing additional climate-adaptive measures such as altered crop rotations and regenerative soil management to leverage the increasingly extended vegetation periods during winter months. A notable addition to their practices is the Agroforestry system, referred to as their "future-proof field." Scientific support from the "Humus-Climate Network" has further strengthened their efforts.
Their collaboration with fellow farmers in a nationwide group enables diverse knowledge exchange on various measures. Their ongoing approach aims to enhance soil humus levels and resilience for a sustainable future.
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History (ARK, USA)
Since 1968 the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History has been telling the history of the Arkansas Ozarks by highlighting stories of the everyday people who lived in this region and shaped our communities. The museum’s name comes from the pioneer community of Shiloh, which became Springdale in the 1870s. Since opening the museum’s mission has been to serve the public by preserving and providing resources for finding meaning, enjoyment, and inspiration in the exploration of the Arkansas Ozarks. While the museum is a department of the City of Springdale, we serve six Arkansas Ozark counties including Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton, and Washington.
We tell the story of our unique region through permanent and rotating exhibits, educational programming for children and adults, and seven historic buildings on the museum grounds. Our historic buildings include the 1854 Ritter-McDonald Log Ccabin, 1870s Steele General Store, 1930s Mr. Cooper’s Barn, 1930s Cartmell Outhouse, and the 1880s Dr. Carter’s Country Doctor’s Office, 1871 Smith-Searcy House, and 1871 Shiloh Meeting Hall. Visitors exploring our grounds will find a heritage garden near our log cabin, a seasonal free seed library encouraging visitors to take pollinator plant seeds, and a bee hive which enables us to educate about our region’s natural heritage.
On our grounds we also display a variety of farm equipment including several cultivators, planters, plows, and a hay bailer. During the growing season we partner with the Washington County Master Gardeners who assist with maintaining the plantings on our campus. The Master Gardeners also help with our heritage garden. The heritage garden is designed to illustrate some of the crops that early settlers would have planted and grown. Some of the crops that we traditionally grow include potatoes, green beans, okra, cotton, flax, and garlic.
Our main museum building is home to our exhibit hall, our collections, and a research library with extensive research files, and our collection of over 500,000 photographs of Ozark life, the largest historic image collection in the state. The museum’s permanent exhibit hall contains a broad range of topics in our region over time from prehistoric Ozarks to modern times in the Ozarks. There is also a permanent exhibit in the upstairs of the Shiloh Meeting Hall telling the history of the 1871 building and its various occupants over the years.
Shakefork Community Farm (CA, USA)
Shakefork Community Farm is 85 acres on the Van Duzen River in far Northern California. We are a diversified farm including a five acre market garden, pastured poultry production and holistically managed cattle on permanent pasture. Kevin and Melanie Cunningham have been farming here for 15 years, and have a combined growing experience of over four decades. Our produce is all sold within Humboldt County at two farmers markets and within our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. We are committed to producing the highest quality local food possible.
One of the most unique features of our farm is the use of draft oxen for work in the pasture and the garden. Currently there are three teams and a single ox in the barn and they are used daily to move pastured poultry houses and feed in the field, as well as many garden tasks. Raising and training oxen is a huge part of our farm culture, and our fertility program. Their manure is composted and in turn is used in the garden to produce our vegetable crops. This vertical integration is one of the most important things we do as a regenerative farm.
Our focus is on producing the most amazing food for ourselves and our community. We are committed to a deeply regenerative farming system that heals ourselves and the land that we are a part of. We love sharing this with our community and our farm team. Truly regenerative agriculture is at the heart of Shakefork Community Farm.
Fort Nisqually (WA, USA)
Established in 1833 as a fur trading outpost by the Hudson’s Bay Company, Fort Nisqually now showcases the agricultural and lifestyle practices of circa 1855. Through historic preservation and experiential learning, visitors delve into the strategic cultivation of crops like turnips, potatoes, onions, peas, carrots, and cabbage, crucial for reducing dependence on costly imports.
In 1839, the Puget Sound Agricultural Company (PSAC) was founded at Fort Nisqually, shifting towards commercial agriculture. This expansion encompassed livestock raising and grain cultivation across 160,000 acres, including wheat, oats, and barley.
By 1855, surrounded by American territory, Fort Nisqually faced pressure from settlers. The Hudson’s Bay Company eventually sold its holdings to the United States government in 1869. Today, reconstructed by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, the Fort stands as a symbol of resilience and preservation.
Today our Heritage Gardens play an important role at the museum, mirroring the historic garden that once thrived outside the original Fort Palisade. While not on the scale of the PSAC, these gardens preserve heritage varieties and offer hands-on agricultural experiences to visitors.
Pascal Durand (FRA)
Almost 20 years ago we bought 15 ha of land on the Plateau de Millevaches at an altitude of 720m.
We have around 7 ha of arable land and the cows graze only in peat bogs, heaths and forests of the Conservatory of Natural Spaces.
We built our farm without connection to the public water and electricity network.
Currently we have 4 cows, a few chickens, 2 pigs, a large garden, some cereal crops…
For 10 years we made cheese to sell, today it is bread that we sell, the rest of the production is for the family and barter.
We have a tractor and agricultural equipment from the 60s and 70s for growing cereals and harvesting hay and we harness cows for the garden and some of the firewood.
Potato cultivation:
This year we are going to plant around 10 rows of 70m long.
We generally plant potatoes at the end of May because on our farm, the last frosts are often at the end of May and the first at the beginning of September.
We change locations every year.
As we cultivate along contour lines (to limit erosion and retain water), we make crop mounds almost 80cm wide to facilitate the movement of cattle around bends.
Hedge Rose Farm (OR, USA)
Hedge Rose Farm is located in the intermountain west, high desert area of Oregon. We are a small, primarily horse-powered market farm producing a variety of vegetables, fruits and grains for our isolated rural community. Our specialty is garlic and dry beans.
Though we do use a small 1950’s tractor for specific tasks (like subsoiling, discing, and hay baling) and a two-wheel walk-behind BCS tractor for others (such as in the high tunnel and small produce plots), our horses do nearly all of the plowing, some of the planting, all of the cultivation, some of the harvesting, grain grinding, and most of the hay mowing and raking.
The horses also help with snow plowing on the farm as well as a few of our neighbors’ driveways and at our local cemetery.
Potato production for 2024 is about an acre (roughly half a hectare). The varieties are "Huckleberry Gold", "Nicola", "Caribou Russet", "Baltic Rose", and "Sangre".
Contributors
Our project also includes numerous individuals with interest and expertise in aspects of our topic.
Our contributors include scientists, museum collection staff and others.
Stay tuned for more contributors!
Claus Kropp (GER)
Project Coordinator / Lauresham
After graduating from Heidelberg University (GER), I worked at the Department for History for three years, most recently as an assistant at the chair for medieval history. In 2013 my professional path led me to the Lauresham Laboratory for Experimental Archaeology, which I am still managing today. It is both an archaeological open-air museum focusing on the Early Middle Ages as well as a research facility.
One of my main research interests is the study of medieval agriculture and its relation to the present. Both professionally and personally I am a passionate ox driver and run a very small scale farm with my family as a sideline.
I have the great pleasure to be in charge of the "A Year on the Field" project.
Lauren Muney (US)
"Silhouettes by Hand"
I am a professional artist working both in live demonstration and online. I earned a
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Maryland Institute, College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland USA; yet for over 20 years, I have been working in special events, production, and interactive presentation to the public. My specialty is the traditional trade of silhouette portraits. I created the logo for Year on the Field and assist in media.
I am a member of the the International Agricultural Museums (AIMA) and in the Association for Living History, Farms and Agricultural Museums (ALHFAM), the latter where I served a 3-year term on the Board of Directors, including chairing the Skills Training and Preservation committee. I helped create means and methods to pass skills of the past --and of presenting the past-- to new generations. I am especially interested in traditional trades and farming.
(Photo at left: I'm dressed in 1770s clothing at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Museum, one of the Year On the Field Growers
Cozette Griffin-Kremer (FR)
I took my doctorate in Celtic Studies at the Centre de recherche bretonne et celtique in Brest and an Advanced Research Degree (DEA) in the history of technology in a joint program of the EHESS (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales) and the CNAM (Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers) in Paris, so I attempt to marry the two fields, especially concentrating on the calendar system and flower festivals, the relations between ritual and work, food history, human-bovine relations and museum work for intangible heritage with an emphasis on using working animals.
I am an Associate Researcher at the Centre de recherche bretonne et celtique, UBO, Brest FR, past Secretary General of the AIMA (2014-2017), and now Newsletter editor and Executive Committee member.
