[Kenneth in NC]

Any one going to watch COLONIAL HOUSE tonight? I just noticed a commercial for it on PBS. Looks like a 4 parter. Parts 1 & 2 Mon-Tue 17th & 18th then last two parts on 24th & 25th next Mon-Tue.

We watched the last part of Frontier House again this past Saturday. My wife still thinks the Clunes got ripped off. Because the frontier folk would have had guns, they would have hunted and smoked and preserved meat. And yep any homesteader worth their salt would utilize everything they found (including a set of springs, even a postupedic mattress )

It's fun to watch these and comment from the nice air conditioned comfort of our home.

If you get a chance go to www.pbs.org and read the actual Laws from colonial times, talk about being oppressed.

Kenneth in NC

 

[Pigeon Lady]

My 8 year old son has had this marked on the calendar for 3 weeks! We're looking forward watching it.

 

[Gary in ohio]

Check your PBS stations, Times will vary. Our local station is showing 8pm-10 part 1, then 10-12 part 2 then showing part 2 and 3 tomorrow and part 4 on the 24th.

The only problem with this program is its two short. Your not going to learn much in 4 shows. This is a multi-month project squashed into 4hrs.

I would love to see a 13-26 week series along the same lines. That would be a reality show I would watch.

 

[chickflick]

HEADS UP! OPRAH's show is about this TODAY!!

YES... wouldn't miss it for the world.. (I have Frontier Home on tape!! :worship:

 

[unregistered5595]

Can't wait to see it. I hope it is as good as Frontier House! Feather

 

[Guest]

Can't wait to see it. I hope it is as good as Frontier House! Feather

Okay, I couldn't find it on my PBS--WHAT CHANNEL???!!!!!!!

 

[Paul Wheaton]

Saw Oprah's thing. Saw the PBS thing.

Just like last time, I wish they would:

A) Spend more time on showing people being happy. I can't help but think there are some happy stuff just isn't considered worth the air time. Whining, complaining and misery seems to get unlimited air time.

B) More time on issues back-to-the-land basics that these folks had to deal with. Or a seperate series. i.e. where did they get all that nice wood for the siding on these homes? Or the furniture?

Why are they planting their corn in mounds? That seems like a lot of extra work.

Are they going to water the corn to get it started? (I suppose in maine it might rain enough that they don't need to worry about irrigation)

What are the other projects they are working on?

 

[Guest]

paul,

I'd like answers to those questions too. I went to pbs.org hoping there would be more detailed info about the daily lives of the house or that era and found nothing. Has anyone else found more info and I just missed it.

Interesting series, I didn't see any of the others (though that one that was set in england, manor house? I tried to watch it some but was bored).

I think the whole idea is fascinating and though I wouldn't want to give up my modern conveniences (no tree leaves for toilet paper for me!) this type of society and way of living is extremely interesting to me.

Mel-

 

[cowboy joe]

Good show last night...forgot to tape it though. Those folks were definately out of their element...wonder how us homesteaders would do???

 

[nostalgia]

Why are they planting their corn in mounds? That seems like a lot of extra work.


I read up on this and according to the information I found, they planted the corn this way, then planted beans and squash at the base of the corn to encourage them to grow on the corn stalks. This saved space in their gardens. Also if the soil was heavy by planting the corn stalks close together it helped break up the soil and encouraged better root formation. Corn also needs to be planted in clusters to polinate. I would think by having the corn, beans, and squash all in one mound would also make it easier to keep the weeds out and make watering much easier.

There are probely other reasons also.

 

[Guest]

I watched both shows last night and found them to be most interesting!

I really could connect with the Texas family, as they seemed a lot like my own family. The California couple - BLECH! They were clueless and their arrogance sickened me.

Aside from the different group personalities, I noticed that the group spent a lot of "down" time while out in the corn field. If you're going to be a successful homesteader, especially in a hostile climate, then there's no time to be wasted with "idleness".

A few questions though:

1. Why did they bother taking out the old dead roots out of the hills, that would have made excellent composting material?

2. Also, why didn't the girls take one goat out at a time and milk them OUTSIDE the goat pen. They could have used a rock or the slope of a hill as a milking bench to keep the nanny's quiet while milking.

3. Instead of using fishing line, the freemen should have been using casting nets to catch fish, or else build a fishing weir?, both of which are more efficient in catching fish in large enough quantities to feed their group. The fishing line is not accurate for that time period and is usually used for "recreational" fishing, not food gathering.

4. Didn't the group try to bank their coals to keep the fire alive (smouldering) overnight?

 

[fin29]

Why are they planting their corn in mounds? That seems like a lot of extra work.


I read up on this and according to the information I found, they planted the corn this way, then planted beans and squash at the base of the corn to encourage them to grow on the corn stalks. This saved space in their gardens. Also if the soil was heavy by planting the corn stalks close together it helped break up the soil and encouraged better root formation. Corn also needs to be planted in clusters to polinate. I would think by having the corn, beans, and squash all in one mound would also make it easier to keep the weeds out and make watering much easier.

There are probely other reasons also.

That's right. It's called the Three Sisters technique, and it's an Indian one.

What a bunch of whiners, though. But DH and I were talking last night, and we figured that anyone who can leave their real lives for 5 months are probably either rich and used to too many creature comforts, or unemployed and unused to working so hard. Either way, it makes for a lot of complaining.

 

[bergere]

I watched it last night, not to bad.
Now if they used Homesteaders, that all ready know most of that stuff,, we sure would not get the whining. But I guess that would not get the ratings they wanted.

 

[Guest]

watched it too and as stated, what a bunch of whiners

it would be easier for us that have or do live a simpler on the land lifestyle, where as "city" folk just don't have a clue and it's very hard work which most are not accustomed to.

it's unrealistic to toss in those with only 2 weeks crash course education of the lifestyle and expect them to be logical about how to do things. I was armchare quaterbacking them on how to manage their animals, gardens, telling them to stop their whining and just FEED the men instead of trying to get out of that extra chore.

The CA couple, ugh and the lady that doesn't wish to comform to the ideas of that day

anyway just my 2cents.

 

[kidsnchix]

They would never pick homesteaders for a show like that because we already know how to do most of the things needed to survive. Also they were trained for a brief time on how to do some of the things needed, why didn't they fish with nets for example, and about some of the other chores, they don't seem to have much common sense.

Of the two, I'd rather do the Frontier House. I love the west and the 1800's

RoseKYTN

 

[someday]

Hills were used by N.A.'s and the example followed by colonists because soil is usually shallow in depth there and they had only hoes to work with. There is a poem that goes with the planting too that I can't remember.

Thought the same thing with the goats - Milk one at a time. At least they had some cloth over the bucket.

Could you imagine listening to the professor(lay pastor) for 3 hours every Sunday? I'd be napping. Much preferred the expounding on scripture by Bethany.

I bet the boys had to run for a lot of water knowing how much we all use today, and how steep they learning curve is.

I liked the fact that they didn't tell the group that the N.A.'s were coimg for a visit. Fear and excitement - what a great capture of the emotional history.

I'd be swimming everyday right after a quick lunch. I wouldn't let those dogs in my bed. There will be enough ticks and lice as it is.

Too much time on feelings and such. Not enough skills and craft and methods.

 

[Ann-NWIowa]

In 1600 the colonists planted in hills because that's the way the Indians showed them to plant. I believe corn was a new crop to the settlers. If my memory of grade school history serves me right, the Indians put a fish in the bottom of each hill to serve as fertilizer.

It ticks me off to watch these shows with everyone wanting to apply 2004 politically correctness to 1600 situation. If they aren't going to get into character, what's the point of doing it at all?? From the previews, the Governor is going to attempt to run the settlement according to 1600 rules in future episodes and watch the feathers fly when that happens!!

 

[kosh]

I watched it, and found it very interesting. It posed many questions. What about hygiene? did they have soap? did they have anything to brush their teeth with? i cant imagine going 3 months without brushing my teeth, having soap or deoderant! talk about stinky people..

I think it did have it's lack of reality, such as them not hunting or gathering wildfoods. As much as i would not want to see the hunting (being i'm a vegetarian), it would have been reality in that age.

As far as the people there, i think the laypreacher guy would have driving me nuts. I feel bad for his 'servant'. Listening to him for 3 hours a week and i would have shot myself. As for the 'govenor' and his family, i found them a little annoying too, they were very self-righteous. Like they are so perfect because they are southern baptists who found jesus. So far i liked the family from MA, with the kid with the odd name, the british 'servant', the single woman who shared the house with the MA family, and the freemen seemed cool. I couldnt stand listening to the two girls who whined, the one who whined about missing her boyfriend, and the other who was crying over goat milking.. ugh..

I look forward to tonights episode, with the religious law breaking going on, and 'scarlet letters'.. should be interesting..

 

[FolioMark]

Once again they seem to have missed the boat. This is the 4th series of this sort and you would assume the people who apply would have some clue and study up on techniques. But its just like Survivor, they never seem to learn how to start a fire or do basic chores. Yes way tooooo much Whining and Drama for the first episode although the California couple didnt bother me too much. He may be an old bore but I rather like her. Theres a bit of Chaucers the Wife of Bath about her and she does seem to have a bit of sense. And they are clueless, not banking the fire or doing chores sensibly and even I know that you should put the goat in a stanchion and feed it while you milk. And they certainly were a colorful bunch on Sunday and all that dancing and carrying on was a bit too like a bad painting by Brueghel....all those happy peasants. I like the English guy though. And why do these people always complain about being dirty. The got a whole ocean to bathe in everyday. If they are dirty, its there own fault. I cant wait to see the fur fly when the Governor decides its time they got into character and starts handing out the scarlet As. :yeeha:

 

[Paul Wheaton]

What is the scarlet A for?

Yeah, soap! Are they washing up?

I can understand not washing in the ocean. That will clean a lot of stuff off of you, but then it leaves a film of dried seawater on you. Maybe a seawater wash and a freshwater rinse.

I guess I don't understand why you guys don't like the lay-preacher. He doesn't seem icky. It did seem to me that he wasn't a very good leader. But while the governor was a better leader, he still wasn't a great leader either.