HISTORICAL AGROECOLOGY

ANTH4010/6010

Fall 2002

Dr. Robert Rhoades

Office Phone 542-1042

Lab Phone 542-3141

Email: rrhoades@uga.edu

Baldwin 105 J/K

Class Time: 2:30-5:30, Monday

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will explore the principles of human impact through time on ecological landscapes and how these principles can guide contemporary and future communities in the design of sustainable agricultural systems. Using interdisciplinary methods borrowed from oral history, archival science, historical archeology, ecology, and agricultural anthropology, this class will explore the historical ecology of a farm located on Grove Creek, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Several UGA classes in the past have focused on this same area as a part of a long-term plan to re-create a historical education farm dedicated to sustainable living. Students in earlier classes have reconstructed the ownership of the farm from the 1790s to the present, written histories of specific periods, conducted ethnobotanical surveys of useful plants, and even implemented a community-support agriculture project. All of these classes focused on the farm (Agrarian Connections) have been student directed and inspired. This class will be no exception. The farm is at a point where we can now begin creation of the specific historical stages which have characterized the area. I am proposing that we continue to carry out the research and make further progress on the reconstruction of the smallholder "pioneer" stage on the farm (1793-1850s).

COURSE ORGANIZATION and REQUIREMENTS

This class will require a great deal of self motivation and self direction. Each student must attend ALL classes (we meet only one afternoon a week), participate in field events, read and report on all readings (2 assigned books plus additional reading). The class will be faculty-student interactive and during the first two weeks of class we will jointly design all activities. Together we will continue working on the core of the homestead (i.e., the cabin) and each student will take a subsytem of the local agricultural-livelihood system, research its historical nature using techniques of "nearby anthropology (history), and write a paper complete with illustrations and photographs. You will be asked to interview a person, research a material culture object or building, visit a living history farm or fair and make a demonstration to the class on your chosen topic. Finally, you will be required to "integrate" your subsystem with those of your colleagues and discuss in your findings on what from the past can be realistically kept for sustainable living in the future. Also, I would like for one or two students to video tape the entire experience along the lines of our earlier classes on Indian Gardens or Pioneer cabin. Please be warned that this class will require that we spend extra time outside of class in museums, antique shops, archives, visiting old homesteads, and other field activities.

Requirements

1. Each student will select one "subsystem" of the woods, field, garden, or fireside systems and carry out original research. Suggestions are made in the tentative syllabus. You will carry out library and archival research, interview and apprentice with one folk "expert", design and demonstrate our project, present it to the class and at the "Heritage Day" to be held near the end of the course.

2. You will have two products in the course: your written paper (15-20 pages in length) on your project and the physical demonstration.

3. You must attend one "heritage" day event or living history farm during the semester and write a trip report on your participation. A list of events can be made available.

4. You must attend all classes and participate fully by reading all assignments and engaging in the discussions.

Textbooks and Readings

Kyvig, D.E. and M. Marty. 1996. Nearby History: Exploring the Past Around you. Walnut Creek: Altamira Press.

Russell, Emily. 1997. People and Land through Time. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Specially Prepared Readings on each project theme to be co-determined by student and Dr. Rhoades. This packet will be available in folders in the Ecolab/Dept. Of Anthropology.

Course Grades

Participation 40% (attendance, discussion, leading discussion, reading, active involvement, field visit to living history farm, integration with fellow students)

Short Reports and Presentations 20%. These will be reports on your original research and a class presentation. For your reading presentation, you will prepare a guide sheet summary to each of your classmates (we can make copies if you bring well before class)

Final Written Paper and Demonstration 40% (depth and originality of research, writing, illustrations, references). More details on paper format will be provided separately.

Additional Information

For field visits, you should come dressed in protective clothing (long pants, long sleeve shirts, hats and work gloves). Agrarian Connections will not assume any responsibility for accidents and if you are going to do any optional physical work we may ask you to sign a waiver. Please help your fellow students with their projects (labor reciprocity was critical on the frontier).

Revised 9/23 HISTORICAL AGROECOLOGY: SCHEDULE

August 19. Overview of class, planning, requirements. See video of "Early Indian Agriculture" and 2001 class video on Pioneer site.

August 26. Field visit to Agrarian Connections Foundation. Lecture on history of Golden Grove Creek Farm. Transects looking for "hidden history". Demonstration of canning as post-harvest storage (depending on time). Class discussion and sign up on individual projects.

Reading: Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 1; Russell, Chapter 1. Summary: Laura Lay

September 2. Labor Day. No Class; however, all students must read following chapters for September 9 (discuss en route to farm and back)

Reading: Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 2; Russell, Chapter 2.Summary Laura Lay_

September 9. Building the Pioneer Log Cabin. History, classifications, and hand-hewing techniques. Scott Jones, Primitive Technologists, will lead discussion and demonstration

One or two page description of your project due. Meet with Dr. Rhoades to discuss project needs

Through out semester we will gradually build a small, handhewn dovetail log structure.

Student in charge Chris Eckenroth

Reading: Packet on Pioneer buildings and Tools (on reserve in Ecolab).

September 16. Designing and Planting the Pioneer Garden. Plowing, soil preparation, selection of seed, planting.

Student in charge Ben Trueblood/Chris Parkhurst

Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 3; Russell, Chapter 3. Summary Linton Beckman

September 23. Field trip to Ethridge-Shields Farm.

Reading: Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 4; Russell, Chapter 4. Summary

Bear

Wendell Berry and Wes Jackson Articles (provided by R. Rhoades)

September 30. Collecting and Utilizing Historically-Significant wild plants. Herbals. Trek of farm collecting seed and plant material. Making concoctions and teas.

Student in Charge: Monica "Mo" and Linton Beckman (historically significant plants) and Lindsay Mann (Herbals)

Winter Garden activities (rained out from Sept. 16). Ben and Chris Parkhurst to lead garden discussion.

Reading: Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 5; Russell, Chapter 5. Summary:Chris Parkhurst_

Historical Ecology: Revised Schedule 9/30/02

October 7. Ploughing and Preparing the Field (ploughs, tools, mules, etc.). Possible field trip to Mr.Tim Mills or attend "Mule Day" at Callaway Plantation, Washington, Georgia.(to be arranged). Student in charge: Ben

Reading: Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 6; Russell, Chapter 6. Summary: Ben

October 14. "World Food Day" celebration in Baldwin Hall. Slow Food Representative and others to speak. Cooking a la Pioneer on open fireplace (for another day). Student in Charge Chris Parkhurst

Reading: Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 7; Russell, Chapter 7. Summary Nick

October 21. Making the Clothes and Bedding: Weaving, Sowing, Mending, Spinning, Quilting

Student in charge: Nick Poole (trip to Jefferson church?).Video: Stitches and Stories: Georgia Quilts.

Reading: Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 8; Russell, Chapter 8. Summary:Lindsay Mann

October 28. Hunting, trapping, fishing, and utilizing wild game (tanning, leather, bone).

Student in Charge:Rob Jones

Reading: Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 9; Russell, Chapter 9. Summary_Jean Ferran

Historical Ecology: Revised 10/4

November 4. Celebrating on the Frontier I: Moonshining or libations (legal, of course).

Student in charge Bear. Fishing on the Frontier. Jean Ferran.

Frontier House if time allows: 4:30-5:30.

November 11. Celebrating on the Frontier: Gaming, music, entertainment.

Student in charge_Chris Eckenroth. Also Lindsay Mann on Health and Plants.

Reading: Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 10. Russell, Chapter 10: Summary:Monica Reading:Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 11; Russell, Chapter 11. Summary :Rob Jones

Frontier House if time allows: 4:30-5:30.

November 16. Class Moved to Saturday afternoon, November 16 for Agrarian Connections

Heritage Day Celebration. Alternative date is November 18 in case of rainy or cold weather. Demonstration of all class projects. Period dress. Music, games, food. Outsiders invited to celebrate with us with a spirit to understand the times.

November 18. Video: Frontier House. Discussion.

Reading: Kyvig and Marty, Chapter 12; Russell, Chapter 12-13. Summary:Chris Eckenroth. If we hold class at farm on Nov. 16, then no class on Nov. 18-Thanksgiving week.

November 25. No Class. Thanksgiving week.

December 2. Video: Frontier House. Discussion.

Reading: Selection of Wendell Barry and Wes Jackson (to be provided by R.Rhoades).

Summary: Rob Jones

December 9. Finish Frontier House (if time pending). Final Papers and projects due for archival storage. Course Evaluation.