Summary: Farming Techniques
Key dates:
The farming techniques had not changed very much by this period. The grain was sown by a farmer walking up and down his field scattering grain by hand. This was known as broadcasting. Much of this fell on unsuitable ground or was eaten by birds. Harvesting was done with hand held sickles and the stubble was left in the fields. Animals were then turned on to these harvested fields and allowed to graze on the stubble. While they did this, they manured the ground for the next crop. Threshing was done using a wooden flail and then the grain was taken to the local mill which was usually owned by the lord of the manor.
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