A Farmer’s Year

Original article written by the Miller-Cory House Education Committee

The Miller-Cory House is a living museum whose purpose is to preserve our heritage by interpreting the daily life and seasonal work on a New Jersey farm, within the period 1740-1820. Therefore, in order to fulfill this purpose, we must be aware of what these seasonal activities on a farm were.

A farmer's year was based on a seasonal routine in which preparation was a constant; only with it could a family survive.

Our calendar is based on the moon's phases with which farmers were well acquainted and many farm chores were: performed according to 'moon seasons'. Almanacs were second in importance only to the Bible for farmers and 'were the timetables to the general seasons of early American life.

In 1752, England adopted the Gregorian Calendar which eliminated eleven days, Changing New Year's Day from March 25th to January 1st. Previously, almanacs and farm records began in March and many personal farm records continued to be kept in the same manner even after the change in calendars. Nature’s year really begins in the spring.

Highlighted here are some of the farm-related tasks which families like the Millers and Corys would be performing at the corresponding time of year.

MARCH

For the early American farmer, March really signaled the start of the new year - where the circle of seasons more or less began.

Now was the time to make sure the fences were in good repair and it was the season to store up firewood and split fence rails. Winter-cut logs would dry out in the woods from March winds and would now be easier to haul.

There was no other season more definite than Sugaring Time, usually occurring between mid-March and mid-April. The sap was flowing properly at this time, collected and then boiled down. The settlers' knowledge of sugaring was learned from the Indians. Successful sugaring was dependent on a farmer's readiness since the season, was so short.

(See also Miller-Cory sheets: or Sugarin' off.") "Our Maple Heritage" and "Sap's Risin'

APRIL

In preparation for spring planting, this was the first season for manuring. Manure was defined at this time as any material added by hand to the soil to cultivate the land.

Potatoes were planted now. There had been many superstitions associated with potatoes, such as they shortened life or were a sex stimulant. They were often used for cattle feed. The 1802 Inventory of Joseph 'Cory has listed "Lot of Corn & Potatoes" on one line and "1 Lot Corn &. Potatoes on the ground" on another.

Stumps and stones could be cleared away easier during this' season after the winter frost had lifted them to the surface and the first spring thaws would help loosen stones in the ground.

MAY

Plowing is often considered the hardest of farm chores and May was the "Season of the Plow." Corn was planted now. Corn was perhaps the most important thing the settlers learned of from the Indians.

Maize or Indian corn is native to North America. The corn we eat today or feed our animals has been hybridized from maize whose ears and kernels were generally much smaller in size than our corn. Very important was the fact that grains and flours that were brought from England often became ridden with maggots and mildew, whereas corn was easy to grow and store.

The corn and its parts had an almost unlimited number of uses and often proved to be the difference between survival and death for the early settlers. Broom corn seeds were also planted during this season. Full-grown plants reach about 14 feet in height and appear like our field corn of today, but without any ears.

Polewood was collected in May and would be used where the wood necessitated an unusual give and take. Durable brooms were often made polewood (like the Miller-Cory birch broom in the Main Room.)

(See also "Broom-Making" sheet.)

In May, also were planted flax seeds. The fibers of the flax plant were• later spun into linen thread, the blue of the flowers was used as a dye and linseed oil was obtained from  the seed “bobs” . (1802 Inventory - "Flax on the ground", "Small lot of Flax near the house.")

The study of flax is truly an amazing one. It took over a year to process flax from seed to cloth; involving over 22 steps!

Splints were made for all kinds of baskets, sieves, chair seats, barrel hoops, etc.

JUNE

This season provided the longest days of the year and farmers would now hope for a slow and strong growing season.

Herbs were of utmost importance in early America and served as medicines, provided flavoring for foods (some were even used to make tainted foods taste better), for dyes and fragrance (at a time when all kinds of odors would be ever-present.) Picking and drying herbs required a dry and sunny season and was at times done this time of year.

(See also "Herbs" 'and "Miller-Cory Grounds and Gardens" sheets.)

JULY

July was hay making season. Scythes were used to cut the grain which was then piled in stacks.

The flax was ripe when the blue flowers had turned to seed and was then pulled up by the roots and dried in the sun.

Weeding also took place now. Dandelion leaves and buds were used for boiled greens and salads, in addition to wine. Daisies were sometimes used as hay.

AUGUST

Farmers were will aware that droughts could occur during this season. Therefore, digging wells and planning water systems were often the kinds of projects farmers now undertook.

Also, this was the season when a farmer would see if the broom corn blossoms had begun to turn yellow; if so, they were ready to be harvested.

SEPTEMBER

September was pickling season. Careful thought would now be necessary to properly prepare a family for the coming winter. Foods were preserved now through drying, smoking and pickling. Pickled foods were those preserved in brine (a mixture of salt and water). All kinds of vegetables and fruits were preserved by pickling and drying.

OCTOBER

Apple season" was now here. There are many references to apples and "cyder" making on the 1802 Inventory: "2 Cyder Barrells", "5 Cyder Barrells", "Cyder Mill & Press", "Lot of Lumber in the Cyder House", etc.

As settlers came into New Jersey, many brought with them apple seedlings. It was one of the best things they could do because the trees grew quickly and easily here, requiring little effort and the rewards were many. Apples provided not only a healthy food but one from which so many good things could be made. Most farms eventually had an apple orchard - some had more than one!

Some apples were packed with sand or hay and stored as winter apples. Some were used to make apple vinegar. Apple butter was also made, usually in very large quantities. Many recipes of this time called for a bushel of apples, in addition to cider, spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, sugar and salt. Cooking time for apple butter was usually about eight hours.

References from existing ledger books, etc. of this period tell us that it took about 100 lbs. of apples to yield approximately nine gallons of cider. Hard cider was aged cider and distilled hard cider produced the very potent apple spirits or "Jersey Lightning."

Farmers who kept bees "drove" them now for their honey. The 1802 Inventory lists "1 Hive of Bees." Bees provided honey, candle wax and pollinated the orchards.

NOVEMBER

Butchering season took place now. It appears that more pork than beef was eaten during the early years of New Jersey settlement. The labor required to grow feed for cows and raise them was far greater than that of having pigs, which also provided lard. (1802 Inventory - "3 Large Hogs ... weighing tog. 690 wt , ", "J Pigs", "1 Meat Barrell", etc.)

Soap-making season was in early spring or/late fall. This season, November, was more popular because grease and fat from butchering were more available. Those who did not do the butchering themselves would often save lard and table scraps through the winter.

Lye or Potash was made by leaching water through a barrel of ashes. Lye was one of the first chemicals known to early settlers in New Jersey. (1802 Inventory - "1 Lye Tub", "Fat Tub", "Soap Tub with some Soap".)

Soft soap was a gelatinous substance produced by boiling lye with animal fat. Sometimes the mixture curdled or didn't gel. The color of the soap varied depending on the age of the fat used. (See also "Soap Making" sheet.)

November was also candle-making season. Waste fat, usually a mixture of sheep and beef fat, made candle tallow, or beeswax was used. Candle dipping was very time consuming - often it took 50 dips (with time for drying in between each dip), to produce a standard size candle. Hundreds would be made at one time to last through the winter season. When candle molds became available here in New Jersey, the task of candle-making was greatly lessened. (1802 Inventory - tallow at 1 s. (shilling) per lb. 41 pounds ": ) (See also "Candle & Wax Crafts".)

DECEMBER

Making sure the house itself was prepared 'for winter was a top priority. Corn stalks, hay, leaves, etc. were used to bank up the north sides of the house and barn, especially in New England.

The roads in New Jersey during our period would have been only fair-weather roads. Sleds proved to be more practical than carts or wagons through much of the year since wheels would easily get stuck in snow or mud. Some work was now even done at night with sleds; the snow providing light.

Now life was more house-oriented and work for "gainful employment" could be carried on through the winter season. Farmers made nails, shoes, baskets~ brooms, chair seats, horn objects, tools, all kinds of wooden implements, etc. There was always something to be done.

JANUARY

Ice would be cut when it was frozen to the proper thickness and on a day that was dry and windy, in order that the cakes didn't melt and stick together.

Snow was often packed on roads to make the sledding season last as long as possible.

Now farmers had to start thinking about the forthcoming spring, making sure all the farm tools and equipment were in shape and ready to begin another year.

FEBRUARY

February marked the mid-winter point. Larger trees were pruned now (small trees were pruned in the summer), at times to get Quick firewood. Pruning was a means of increasing and improving a tree's fruitfulness besides removing dead limbs.

Building timber was often felled in February which was considered the best time to do so.

Accounts and diaries were usually closed in February and good farmers were now well-prepared to begin a new year.

For further information consult -

Books by Eric Sloane, particularly:
The Seasons of America Past
A Museum of Early American Tools Almanac and Weather Forecaster
A Reverence for Wood
Miller-Cory Information Sheets
Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, Madison, NJ Flax Processes

Compiled by the Miller-Cory Education Committee - 3/84