Going back to 1860 right this moment.

[T.H. Oughts]

I got given an undergarment this week that had been made by my great great great grandmother in 1860 here in New Zealand. It was hand sewn with the most delicate even hand stitching and hand embroidery.

It has got me thinking about living in the undeveloped countryside in 1860 like she did. It was real pioneer days here in New Zealand then. Everything done by candle light. Living a two hours horse ride through thick bush to your next neighbour. A day or more horse back ride to the nearest trading post.

Could you handle living back then?
Making your own clothes and bread?
Killing animals to eat?
Ploughing a field by hand after you had cut down a forest and cleared it first?
Milling your own timber and building a house?
Dealing with a child or SO with a broken leg?

If at this moment in your life you where transported back to 1860 living in a unbroken countryside without running tap water and electricity, could you handle what would be asked of you just to survive?

 

[roxie]

Could you handle living back then?
Making your own clothes and bread?
Killing animals to eat?
Ploughing a field by hand after you had cut down a forest and cleared it first?
Milling your own timber and building a house?
Dealing with a child or SO with a broken leg?

If at this moment in your life you where transported back to 1860 living in a unbroken countryside without running tap water and electricity, could you handle what would be asked of you just to survive?

I've often thought about this, and I think in some ways, I could do it, in other ways, I'd be miserable knowing what I was missing.
The work doesn't scare me, I like working with my hands, and being outdoors, I make my bread from scratch now, I can sew pretty well, so I think I'd be okay that way. I do think it would be fun, well for me anyway, I've always admired the people that lived back then.

 

[T.H. Oughts]

Re: Re: Going back to 1860 right this moment.

I think I could handle it too. I grew up on a farm (ranch) and can cook and sew well. I know the medical side of things would be tough though....

I do a lot of history research with my work and I admire greatly how woman lived and worked under the conditioins they did

 

[Ezzy]

They shoot horses don't they?

Could you handle living back then?

Yep

Making your own clothes and bread?

Yep, though if you are really far from town, add milling your own flour.

Killing animals to eat?

Yep, and I prefer this to killing them just for sport.

Ploughing a field by hand after you had cut down a forest and cleared it first?

Yep, though I would use a plough and a horse or oxen in harness rather than do it by hand, and I worked out that I had a horse because it is a days horseback ride into town, and I assumed you would have put four days walk if that was what you meant.

Milling your own timber and building a house?

Yep this alot simpler than being an ancient Greek, they had to mill their own timber and build a horse (joke).

Dealing with a child or SO with a broken leg?

Yep this is always a better time than being alone on the plot and having the broken leg yourself. IMHO

If at this moment in your life you where transported back to 1860 living in a unbroken countryside without running tap water and electricity, could you handle what would be asked of you just to survive? [/B]

This is not far from the ideal world for most people, even today just add a very few frills and most could survive quite happily.

With a wind turbine you could pump your water and generate electricity at the same time, a nearby spring or river, a holding tank to gravity feed your water, solar heating (assuming you could take what knowledge you have now back with you).

I could have a field day as an inventer of all those great things I always wished I had invented.




EZ

 

[T.H. Oughts]

Yep, though I would use a plough and a horse or oxen in harness rather than do it by hand, and I worked out that I had a horse because it is a days horseback ride into town, and I assumed you would have put four days walk if that was what you meant.

You did read that then... not that it was a test of your reading skills

I imagined that when we went back that we would not remember what skills we have learnt in this world, but if how strong a personality we have now and if we are more a person who could handle new things that would be thrown at us and how we mentaly or pysically could handle doing it all.

 

[Wiggles]

If I had grown up in that time I imagine I would. Right now? Nope, I'd be naked and cold, shivering in a cave eating berries.

I think physically and emotionally I would be up to the challenge, but I would need to learn the neccessary skills.

 

[patient1]

Yes, I could handle it, plenty of Amish around the farm where I grew up.
I think I have a good sense of it. Not sure I'd care to though, I'd really miss my hot showers.

I 'm squeemish. Doing surgery on an animal is easy. Seeing a loved one bleed or in pain is a problem.

 

[T.H. Oughts]

I'd really miss my hot showers.

I know what you mean, having someone throw a bucket of hot water over your head would not be quite the same

 

[LukkyKnight]

Yeah, I could, though mostly I prefer the conveniences which we've developed in the meanwhile. Is your av wearing this historic lingerie?

 

[floridaguy64]

LOOK AT MY AV............ YOU TELL ME

Ever since I can remember....... I've been hunting, fishing, & farming a good percentage of my food. (You absolulutelty DO NOT harvest what you will not consume is my motto)

Yeah,................. I've often been told that I am hundreds of years past my time.

 

[T.H. Oughts]

Is your av wearing this historic lingerie?

lol, nope, if I was wearing the 1860 gear you would not see any of what you can in my av that's for sure

 

[LukkyKnight]

at was my eory, Oughts, but en I didn't want to underestimate your great great great grandmother and insult her ghost or anything.

 

[riff]

It's fun to think I would be well-adjusted back then.

I am SOOO a product of my culture. The psychological trauma, the lifestyle trauma, I'd be worse of a basket case than I am now.

I'd probably get locked in one of those insane asylums or get my ass shot.

I might even get burned to death or hung because of religious and social views.

I couldn't handle it. But thinking about it is fun.

 

[T.H. Oughts]

I might even get burned to death or hung because of religious and social views.

Somehow I don't think would be ready for some of the conversations we have here at Lit,

 

[T.H. Oughts]

I've just finished cooking dinner and was thinking about how much running water I used to rinse things while cooking etc. I'm sure in 1860 I would not have used as much if it meant a walk to a river and then hauling a bucket or two back

 

[alltherage]

I would pick another year but I think I could do it. 1860 in the states was not a banner year. I think in many ways life would be simpler. Not just because of the lose of convenience. Pioneers spent each day surviving. Everything we take for granted had to be worked for. They did not spend there day wondering what book Oprah picked for the month or who said what to who on a porn board. They worried about chopping wood, milking cows, cooking meals, fixing roofs, birthing children, hunting, fishing, etc etc. I am sure they worried about there children and hoped for a better future for them. I am sure they did not worry about what clothing was in fashion and what was not. I think the simple realities of their lives probably made for a much more sane community. Horay for sanity.

 

[Mensa]

A business plan

1860? I'd gather up as many horses as I could because soon I will be able to sell them to the American military at a tidy profit.

Fort Sumter will make my fortune.

 

[T.H. Oughts]

I would pick another year but I think I could do it. 1860 in the states was not a banner year.

New Zealand was still a very young country at that stage. European settlers where still a very new thing

 

[T.H. Oughts]

Re: A business plan

1860? I'd gather up as many horses as I could because soon I will be able to sell them to the American military at a tidy profit.

Horses were introduced to New Zealand circa 1830's. So by 1860's there would not of been that many spare that were not being used on farms or for transport already

 

[LRC]

1860?

I'd be digging some potatoes out of some bog in Ireland

 

[T.H. Oughts]

Re: 1860?

I'd be digging some potatoes out of some bog in Ireland

And by candle light you could be hand stitching pure white on white Mountmellck Embroidery on your table cloths or making Carrickmacross Needle Lace dollies

 

[mig]

1860 in NZ.


Yes please,lead me to it.

I'd be in my element.

 

[T.H. Oughts]

1860 in NZ. Yes please,lead me to it. I'd be in my element.

Yes, the movie "The Piano" with Sam Neil and Holly Hunter is the era I would love to live

 

[LRC]

Yes, the movie "The Piano" with Sam Neil and Holly Hunter is the era I would love to live

I liked that movie but it what a hard life.

 

[T.H. Oughts]

I liked that movie but it what a hard life.

True, but what you accomplished was from your own hands. The air was pure. You made your life, not some credit card company like these days