Blog
Take a step into Franklin Counties’ history with our blogs.
North African Threshers and Gallic-Roman Reapers
“Wonders never cease,” as is often said and I’m always amazed how archaeological discoveries in the past century have revealed more about life in ancient
Eat Your Barley! Whole Grains and Gladiators
Humble barley and oats generally give way to wheat berries, lentils, and chickpeas as principal ingredients in modern recipes calling for grains and legumes. But
The Georgic World and Roman Expansion
Word games are fun, and recent research on educational success has revealed some very practical applications for them. Studies indicate that in spite of all
Liberty Hyde Bailey: American Prophet of Agrarianism
Agricultural laws that guided ancient Hebrew spiritual and civil life are described in the third century AD Mishnaic collection of oral traditions and include blessings
Emmer, “Mother Wheat” of the Ancient World
Ancient grains like emmer have become quite popular these days for both nutritional and culinary reasons. Northwest artisan bakeries sell breads made from emmer while
Mayor and Commissioner, Ulysses and Hector
Next time you drive by a city hall county courthouse, or state legislative building, consider that historians trace the origins of civil government to the
Harvest Hieroglyphics
The brief hieroglyphic interjections that accompany ancient Egyptian Ty harvest images may be the work of the artist, but may well be by other artisans.
King Tut the Farmer?
The earliest pictorial expressions of harvest are from Egypt’s Old Kingdom (c. 2700-2100 BC) when unification of Upper and Lower Egypt led to a flowering
Farming’s Critical Role in the Emergence of Literature
When thinking of old books, I recall my farm mother’s home library that consisted of three or four shelves built by my father to hold
The Agricultural Origins of Writing and Arithmetic
Anyone who has compared kernels of wheat with barley or oats knows that the latter are tightly wrapped in a thin and indigestible “husk” layer
And While the Men were Away Hunting….
Years ago when I joined many of my farm-kid peers in long, hot days driving wheat truck in the harvest field, I was introduced to
Ancient Crops and Harvests
Soon after World War II the tale circulated among American soldiers returning from action in North Africa that grain found deep inside in the Egyptian