|
nudged - because I like it ... :-)
|
|
Food For Thought- He must have been an Ag Lab
"Ask yourselves whether you know the gestation period for a sheep or a cow,
and you can't read or write to make a note of it. The ag lab knew when the
animal would calve by observing the position of the stars and work it out
from that, or from the particular religious festivals being celebrated in
church at the appropriate times. Reading and writing is one thing, but it
wasn't necessary, numeracy however or a limited knowledge of it was
essential so as to count his or his masters livestock and his own money and
to tell the time. It was no good thinking that 7 o'clock came immediately
after three bells had just struck on the church clock!
There was no electricity, the lanes were bad and there was no health
service. The Ag lab knew how to make his own rush lights to light his home,
the shortest and driest route between 2 places and which herbs to pick as
remedies for his families ailments. He knew his neighbours far better than
we know ours. We isolate ourselves in our cars and in front of our
television sets. He relied on neighbours with different skills from his, to
help him out when the need arose. He was thrifty where we borrow on bits of
plastic he and his family had to make ends meet regardless or with great
shame go on the parish.
Yes he could even forecast his local weather by watching the reactions of
wildlife and plants to changing conditions. He was far better at it than any
of us from our centrally heated homes and offices. He knew how to thatch and
how to get straight straw for thatching whereas we send for experts to fix a
cracked slate.
He was tough. He could walk for days behind a plough, pulled by a team of
horses, and still walk miles to church each Sunday. A 20 mile walk laden with
produce or purchases to and from market each week was also the norm for
some. No fancily equipped gymnasium for him, yet he was fitter than today's
health freaks who maybe should take a lesson or two from his ancestors.
Can you use a sickle or scythe from dawn to dusk, in all weathers? Can you
snare a rabbit for dinner or cut beanpoles from a hedge in a manner that
will promote further growth? Can you mix your own whitewash, or train a dog
to hunt or round up sheep for you? Come to that can you milk a cow or
slaughter and butcher a sheep or pig?
So called ag labs were no fools. They survived and very few of us would be
here to read this if they hadn't!
Leave your car at home and walk to work tomorrow, even if it is five miles,
your ancestor did!"
|
|
Found in Liverpool Family Historian June 02
|
