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The old folks had the answer. My g-grandmother, Anna Lou, along with many others, were agorists/volunteerist before the terms were coined. Her & my g-grandfather, Hershel, raised 8 children on a 60 acre farm less than 2 miles from where I currently live. (Her, my dad, circa 1955)
She served as a mid wife. Aiding the birth of many local children over a span of almost 40 yrs. She never took a dime for this. I’m fortunate to have a list of her ‘babys’, written in her own hand. Many of the names on this list I knew as neighbors. All have passed on now.
She raised 2 gardens (early & late) that took in approximately 1 acre. Producing a large variety of vegetables and herbs. There was also a small orchard (apples, peaches). The farm also produced chicken, geese, eggs, hogs, milk, butter, cheese, molasses and tobacco.
The extra produce was used for sale and barter. Chickens, geese, eggs, vegetables, hams, milk, butter, etc. were used in trade for for items the farm was not able to produce (salt, flour, meal, fabric, etc) at local stores and markets. Tobacco was sold at market for cash.
PawPaw Hershel was a carpenter, stone mason, blacksmith and tinkerer. He and the children helped with the heavy lifting, but Grandmother managed the farm and house. She stood just at 5’ tall, but when she spoke, they listened.
I’m fortunate to remember her and PawPaw. I can still hear the sound of her hard soled house shoes shuffling across the hardwood floors and linoleum of the old house. Mentioning agorism today set my mind upon her and who she was. Wishing I had her here as a guide. (the old house)
Her egg basket and one of her handmade aprons
