All in a Day's Work

Making Light of Farm Chores

Just as women held a multitude of bees to to help combat the drudgery of domestic chores, the men held many to handle farm chores, mainly those requiring the work of many hands. These bees also took place when a farmer was too ill to perform them himself, or had recently passed away, on behalf of his widow and children.

One of the most important farm chores bees, was the 'Threshing Bee', held at harvest time. In the early days, a threshing team required at least eight men; one to drive the horses, one to cut the bands of the sheaves, one to feed the machine, one to take away the straw and pass it on to three or four more men who pitched it into the mow or onto the straw-stack. As with the others, the women did their part by preparing the food, which usually consisted of ham, pies, tarts and custards; though if need be, she also took her place in the fields.  The whiskey jug was passed around throughout the day, or another favourite for the sober crowd, a drink known as "Switchel", made from molasses and vinegar, usually raspberry vinegar.

Another farm chore that went faster with pooled labour, was butchering.  Like many, the 'Butchering Bee' took place in the fall when hogs and cattle were killed and the meat prepared for winter storage. While the men did the slaughtering, skinning and cutting, the women started the rendering of fat for lard, and the preparation of the entrails for sausage-casing. Nothing was wasted; heads became souse or head cheese, hams were made ready for smoking, other pieces of meat went into the pickle barrels and fat not used for cooking went into the soap barrel.

Farming Bees were always a lot of work, but again, a time for social contact and a break from the mundane.

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