Five Historians Attempt To Live Like In The 17th-century | Tales From The Green Valley

How do you gauge gas mark 7 when you’re using a 17th-century bread oven? Why did people 400 years ago save up their urine to help with the laundry? Why did farmers in Britain traditionally plough with oxen and not horses? These are just some of the questions five historians and archaeologists asked themselves as they spent a whole year working a farm restored to how it would have been in the year 1620.

Tales from the Green Valley follows the five as they labour for a full agricultural year, getting to grips with period tools, skills, and technology from the age of the Stuarts, the reign of James I. Everything must be done by hand, from ploughing with a team of oxen using a replica period plough and thatching a cowshed using only authentic materials, to making their own washing liquid for laundry and harvesting the hay and wheat with scythes and sickles.

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[oksills]

Why are all of the commenters so seemingly angry ? I appreciate the fact that these people are willing to produce these various series. I purely enjoy all of them.

[CrazyJodice]

I wish Peter, Alex, and Ruth could’ve jump across the pond and do some period research on living as fresh off the boat settlers . I honestly love this team and the series.

[nsbdnow]

There was a PBS series where families agreed to live as people in different historical periods. It was really good.

[nomethodonlymadness]

I have a bread recipie passed down from generations of my family. It was fascinating for me to see each generations changes based on the different technology they had to work with. Seeing the era where we expect the recipie came from and how much work they had to do makes me appreciate it all the more

[sherierodriguez]

I absolutely love these videos.
Ruth and the boys are amazing.

[tamonettX]

I love these people :) I've seen every farm program they've been on. I especially love this one, more people, a real sense of family/community.

[shivadizayin]

Such incredible peace, calm and harmony comes from just looking at the this countryside and lifestyle.

[dwuagneux]

I wish that I could find these in order. Most of them are not labeled with the numbers, and it is just the luck of the draw. I am really enjoying it and agree that I would love to have them do something similar in the states.

[gaylemullenpace]

My husband is descended from Kenelm Winslow, brother of Edward Winslow who crossed in the Mayflower. Kenelm came on the second voyage of the Mayflower (so I read). I've taken a great interest in how things were done once they arrived and this series is wonderful. I know life was harder than what is shown in the videos, but they tried to do as much traditional living as they could. I'm amazed at their fortitude and determination as they braved a new world in 1620.

[Jersey.Dvil]

They look so much younger compared to the shows they play on Absolute History

[alexisasheep]

So this is where Alex's love for working horses began, I remember now

[ToniGlick]

As someone who has done some recreational historic recreation, I love seeing this. I don't think I would be up for this level of day after day recreation though. Thanks, bold historians, for doing it for us.

[RichardinSiam]

That woman is a real keeper. Totally amazed at her skill set. You can see how important women were back then. Real talent and a toughness that you do not see.

[SandraCrockett]

Thank You! Very interesting indeed. Make me appreciate the modern conveniences we have in today's times for sure!

[wfldfire]

Another wonderful season of historic living.

[jaselrod]

My father, who was raised on a farm in East Texas, would talk about directing the mule or other draft animal to the left or right with the commands Gee (to the right) and Haw (to the left). I've read that these commands came from 17th Century England. Have you heard something similar? I'm really enjoying the series! Thank you!

[rickgaston]

Awesome, really like this sort of living history projects

[CrazyJodice]

Honestly I wish I could take a family vacation in a place like this

[jenniferlevine]

I think this might be my most favourite series. Love it!

[Ladythyme]

The reality is back in the 17th Century they lived and did what needed to be done with all that was available and it was all they knew….. it tends to be even more difficult for those who have had modern conveniences and hadn’t lived in that environment since they were born…. So I can’t say there could ever really be a fair comparison