Episode 1 - Getting Started In Living History
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 มิ.ย. 2024
- Welcome to the premiere episode of "Getting Started In Living History". This is a new video/podcast format that we feel is the perfect way for people to watch or listen to what we feel is very important and helpful information that can help people take the initial leap into the world of living history!
Find the whole getting started series here • Getting Started In Liv...
Session One Resource Document ▶ bit.ly/2nGTIG9 ▶▶
Help support the channel with Patreon ▶ / townsend ▶▶
Twitter ▶ @Jas_Townsend
Facebook ▶ jas.townsend
Instagram ▶ townsends_official
![[Full Episode] MasterChef Junior Thailand มาสเตอร์เชฟ จูเนียร์ ประเทศไทย Season 3 Episode 2](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YpQnHoQvZt4/mqdefault.jpg)
Getting Started Playlist th-cam.com/play/PL4e4wpjna1vxFme3ja8RMOHsCRayg9YFe.html
I'm totally disabled and I do Civil War reenacting. I'm here to tell you that no matter what your personal issue, there's always a way to work around it! It took me awhile to become involved out of embarrassment, but once I made the leap everyone went out of their way to make it happen for me! Don't let anything hold you back, if you want to do it, then just do it! 😊
Thank you for sharing your experience and encouragement!
how did you manage to overcome not being able to use your legs? were caveats made to allow the chair or was there a substitution? i can only imagine litters and baskets for general mobility but those both require a second person
Disabled people invented really creative ways to get around, and a lot of them didn't rely on assistants.
@@ragnkja that is good information to know. I saw a nomad camper that has a modified wheel chair and he doesnt hold back. I love seeing this.
Five years late, but here’s my homework:
What interested me: I always wanted to learn the old ways, so much to learn how to do.
What limitations? Work full time didn’t have much free time. Nevertheless, I took the leap.
For my first program, my prop was a cotton rag and I dusted in a room occupied by a veteran re-enactor. I listened to what she said, if somebody asked me a question I couldn’t answer I pointed to her and said, I don’t know, ask her. When I got nervous because I was self conscious, I told people it was my job to clean the room and I didn’t want to get in trouble. That was over thirty years ago. I have learned all phases of wool working, I have harvested wheat and taken the wheat from grain to bread, I have made baskets, fish traps, fishing kits. Gardened, cooked, did laundry, healing plants, herb garden, anything that interested me, I travelled down that path until something else caught my eye. Now when new docents say to me, I don’t know how to start, I say take a wash rag and start by shadowing somebody else and see what interests you, then do what interests you, research it and the rest will follow and life will give you an amazing adventure…
Here's a thought: Our generation (let's say from about 1950 forward) is the first in the world to consist mainly of consumers who are not also producers of most goods we consume. Before us, most people made their own clothes, butchered their own meat, grew their own herbs and vegetables, chopped their own wood and used it to cook their own food, hauled their own trash to the dump, and so on. They didn't make everything they used, of course, but they were much more involved in making and repairing and modifying their physical environment in a hands-on way. Reliving history in person is one way to get back in touch with that closer relationship to both technology and nature. That's something we need to do to face the technological challenges of the present.
Your main point is well-taken, but 1950 is far too late. Sears was making catalogue deliveries to rural America by the late 1800s. That's a kind of consumerism right there. And what you describe was never possible in urban America, the population of which had overtaken the rural by 1920.
I was eight when I first learned that there were grown ups playing at being pioneers and soldiers. I begged my parents to take me to the annual reenactment at Bushy Run. They graciously agreed to take me. It was everything my little brain could imagine and then some. I’ve been fascinated by living history and reenactments ever since.
Honestly, what has gotten me interested in living history is literally John's outfits. Straight up, not kidding. Also, the way he carries himslef. He seems so kind, intelligent, and caring. I started watching these videos because of him, then got interested in more of the content. So there you have it, I have put it out there. Now after at least a year, I find the blatant friendship of the crew on the videos quite endearing, something I think everyone is looking for and it comes across quite well how much you guys genuinely care about eachother and what you are doing, and indeed the viewers also. Just quality stuff all around. We need more of this in the world today, so thanks for that.
I recently discovered a love of history. The way history was taught to me in school felt like a series of unconnected stories. But there's something magical about researching a story and seeing how it connects to another story and another and so on. It makes the little details that much more interesting once you get the full context of a particular time. I love it!
NerdSync History as taught in school doesn’t have the time necessary to cover anything in depth.
i love it when i find something of the past that feels familiar and that reminds me that those historical figures were people
It might sounds silly but I would be in shock if John is dressed in modern day clothing 😁
But about this episode, I do relate the need of looking into history to create your own stuff by simply going to the woods. Basically you have everything at your control and that's satisfying. In our modern day we are dependant on so many levels.
Yes, i like the independent value of knowing skills to make things myself. Or fixing a problem, or getting out in nature.
Remember folks, your local historical sites need volunteers from all walks of life and all levels of experience.
Which is why I was curious about being a beggar or something in the lower side of poverty.
Rob Agreed. I am the President of a small historical society and finding anyone to help is almost impossible .
Michael Riley it's also a great way to practice living history. Good luck in the future.
And local sites don't just need re-enactors. They need people to do behind the scenes functions, too. I started with the Fort in the sewing guild... doing repairs on the clothing loaned to interpreters. They've taught me period sewing techniques, but I didn't need to know that to get started fixing seams and hems!
As someone who started as a volunteer at a history museum, was hired on staff and worked there for many years, and is back to being a volunteer, many people don't volunteer because they think that the only positions open to volunteers are in the gift shop or something similar, and people want to work in other areas. Others fear that they will be required to work too many hours, or to a rigid schedule that has no flexibility, and they aren't willing to put up with that kind of control without being paid! Of course, apart from only working special events, if a site wants to use volunteers to lead regular tours, keep the gift shop open for regular hours, etc. then there has to be a schedule with some predictability, but many sites that I'm familiar with are trying to save so much money by using volunteers instead of paid staff, that they put their volunteers in the position of committing a lot of their time in order to keep the museum functioning.
Also, in my experience, some organizations don't treat their volunteers well; volunteers (and lower-level staff, too) are treated like children, are not allowed to have any say in any proposed changes to parts of the organization that affect them and their volunteer work, even if they are independent historians or have relevant skills and knowledge, and often not allowed to choose what work they will be doing. One "thank-you" lunch every year is nice, but it doesn't make up for being steamrolled the rest of the year!
My journey started listening to Gram-pa who was born in the late 1800. Before cars, airplanes or electricity. He talked about his uncle who was in the civil war. He had been wounded by a musket ball. Driving to town meant hitching up the horses. He made the best apple pie. The crust was so flaky. I was 7 or 8 when he tough me how to make pie crust. Now to bake something. We add water. I have tough my self how to make soap the old fashion way. Wood ash from the stove is steeped in rain water in a stainless pot for a week or so. Drain off the water that is now a diluted lye. Testing is done with a chicken feather. The faster the feather is dissolved the more potent it is. Add the correct amount of lye to you rendered fat in a warm stainless pot and whisk till it turns. pore into a mold for 24 hr. then let is set a month to cure. Oh sure it is easier to go to the store for soap. But What if?
Hey thanks for this!
Jon is dressed and has a modern cup, Kevin is not in costume and yet has a historic cup.
Captain Flint trick of circumstances.
detective chief superintendent captain flint everybody
Thanks for this - great discussion! I have done European Living History for 30 years and it just doesn't get 'old'.
I cannot believe I have only recently discovered your TH-cam channel. It is absolutley delightful and informative. Thank you for creating this series. My husband and I have been trying to gain as much information as possible and reaching out to local reenactment groups to try to get started. My earliest memory that piqued my interest in living history was when I was four and we visited Old Sturbridge Village and later that summer Plimoth Plantation. Growing up I could. It get enough of local history (I am in Rhode Island), I would dress in rather historically inaccurate costumes my great aunt made me and "farm" in the back yard, and go visit my friends dressed up. I kick myself for not getting into this sooner, but now that my daughter is 8 and is showing an interest in history and my son is 14 months I figured this is something we as a family can do together. Keep up the amazing work you folks are doing! 👍
I'm so glad you started this series! I think folks will be really enriched by it.
The first thing I did, I found a homeschooling group who was having a weeks day camp on Revolutionary war time . Theses two wonderful women knew so much, I had just moved to the area and asked if I could stay and help? They were glad to have me. It was one of the best weeks of my life.
My first one will be at Fort Meigs Memorial weekend, the Regiment is letting me try it with an extra uniform they are letting me borrow. I thought that was very nice of them to let me try it. I am excited and hope I represent them properly, these videos help.Thanks!
I spent YEARS thinking it would be too hard to get involved. SO glad I finally found my 'in' at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in California!
Sometimes all it takes is the "right" event to get us started.
Dear fellow history enthusiast,
I will admit I’ve already watched this whole series once before, but very passively, as I presumed I was SURE I wasn’t interested in living history, only in learning about it. I shadowed the thoughts of being amused, and even intrigued, with the idea well, long before I decided to give this series another go. What ultimately brought me back to this video was a friend of mine who out of the blue told me he is going to start civil war reenacting! I hadn’t expected anyone else in my social circles to be interested in history like I am and it perplexed me for many days! My own boyfriend won’t really get into this stuff, and only watches the channel here and there because I ask him to with me sometimes. I think what’s held me back it a lot of doubt. Doubt about this being the right fit for me. Doubt about it working with my heritage, gender, age, and current lifestyle. I’m still in college and have no idea what I want to do with my life when I walk off campus for the last time. I know I’m interested in implementing aspects of colonial life into my everyday modern life, as I am wanting to do more with my hands that makes a lasting impact in my life and the lives of those around me, but I must confess that I’m worried somehow I’ll have put a lot of valuable thought, time and money into a hobby that would conflict with my way of life right now. I mean, I know it will in some ways, and I actually look forward to that. It just also makes me nervous in getting started. This is all to say, I just don’t know how to sit in the tension of all that. I want to jump two feet into 18th century living history, but something feels like it’s holding me back. I’m going to push past that though. I’m choosing to push that all aside to be more curious! 👍🏼
You really hit the nail on the head for me, personally, with the 'I wanna make basket/computer' thing. I started with cooking, but then that getting-to-the-root of a concept connected with my desire to live sustainably.
I am so glad you made this available to everyone. I am hoping that after things open up again our park will start up the programs again…
Thanks for this!
I first stated in historical re-creation with the SCA (which I do not think of as really re-creation due to the relaxed standards and the huge time period) when I lived in Germany. It was wonderful to dress in early period clothing and enhabit real castles!!
Biggest limitation: I started volunteering for Fort Nisqually (near Tacoma, WA) which is 1850.
I don't know much about the period. The Fort has a good guide for interpreters but even learning all that is daunting. I found my "hook" with my interest in watercolor sketching and decided to build my re-enacting/interpreting around the sketchbooks of explorers.
However, I'm still nervous about interpreting at the Fort because I don't remember so much about it and still know little about the period. Watching your video, though, brought me to a temporary solution.... the person on whom I based my interpretation is the an artist who was the wife of a Hudson's Bay officer who traveled to many installations. I can just say, "I'm sorry... I'm a visitor here..... perhaps if you ask one of the people who live here, such as her/him over there...."
As a chef by trade I've always searched for origins of recipes and techniques and the tools needed to make it all happen. I have always been drawn to the more "authentic" ways of executing a particular dish and that had led me down the path of looking to history for authenticity. It also caused me to reflect on how although technology assists us with cooking things more accurately and consistently but it robs us of enjoying the process more. Getting in touch with historic methods of cooking make me feel more connected to the foods I cook and actually bless me with life skills that have all but gone away. I feel that at any time I can bring the past into present through cooking and it is still has relevancy today simply because it can be delicious, interesting and educational.
When I first discovered this channel it was the exact type of thing I was looking for to indulge in. To find someone exploring all the things that I have tried to research and make videos of the process was a dream come true. Thank you for being here.
Thank you for this encouragement and great comment.
I'll back you up on that, Uncle Jay! Though my reenacting leans closer to medieval than 18th century, when we do public demos or open camps at events, I love hearing a parent tell a child "This is how they would cook if they were really doing this" and we point out that what's over the fire is actually our dinner. Ditto when my wife bakes bread "before their eyes" as it were.One thing that sticks out in my mind was when a Cub Scout pack visited one of our camps and I did a flint & steel firestarting demonstration. One of the fathers who was born in India said to his son "That's how we lit our lamps and the cooking stove when I was your age" and I saw 10 little heads swivel towards this man as he took the tools from me to show his son and the boys how to light a candle and a lantern. I certainly didn't plan to create this bond between father and son but it was really amazing to see it happen.
Uncle Jay as a guy who loves cooking that (and weaponry) are the reasons I enjoy this channel. Learning how it was done in the past not only helps me learn, but helps me appreciate what I have now even if I don't have all the fancy gadgets available today.
Jaji hey is there anymore information about medieval reenactment? As in how you found your group, where your based etc? I actually got here buy looking up "medieval cooking" a couple months ago but I really love history as well so this is awesome too! But at heart I'm a die hard medieval fan!
For about 33 years, my husband and I have been extremely interested in early American history. We live in South Mississippi. Because of our interest, we began building our homestead in 1988. We are hoping that soon we can be totally off grid. We have always loved learning the old ways where we can do things from actual nature to the home - grow it, build it, raise it, produce it. We homeschooled our only child (son) who went to reenactment camp at Beauvoir on the Mississippi Gulf Coast where we live. Our vacations are usually to historical places (not the beach). We love to go to reenactments. My son loves it so much that he costumes for the Renaissance Fair every year. We play folk music and my son plays historic instruments such as the hammer dulcimer. The simplicity of life (although extremely difficult at times) of early American history draws us to want to live it as much as possible, which is kind of amusing because we own a family multi-media production company. Four about fourteen years, we were a Boy Scout family - my husband and I were very active leaders and our son became an Eagle Scout. We LOVED the comraderie that happened between leaders and Scouts. Scouters had a common interest in the building of a great nation and the love of simplicity and working with our hands being self-reliant. We miss that terribly. I have often thought how much our family would love participating in living history. We are really like fish out of water in this very modern culture. Our son wants to learn blacksmithing and my husband and I want to learn every possible "old way" of doing it yourself we can learn. We all LOVE the historic clothing and do not at all like or participate in current "less than" dress of modern culture. Honestly, this modern culture confuses us and the need to do less and luxuriate more is a really miserable existence to us. We find it very boring. When we go to museums, we often wish we could "see" what we are learning about. We love to go to living history exhibits so that we can emerse in the experience and engage with the people to learn about how they were living and thinking in their times. Because we own a production company, it is often our job to emmerse our audiences in what we produce and we often try to capture times that were focused on relationships than on "stuff". I would like to find a local group for us to visit to see if we would be a good fit. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate it. I am not so much concerned about cost, because I sew and we think we could figure out how to participate with what we have or we have enough friends that we could find a way to have what we need to do it at least to get started and then grow from there. We would love to learn from others and be helpful to them as a group. I have some medical issues that would cause a few limitations, but I would still like to talk to the group, because my guess would be that other people would be going through the same thing. I'm sure there's some kind of way to participate. If you have any suggestions, we would like to hear them. We have an amazing museum in our state about 3 1/2 hours away from us in our capital city of Jackson, Mississippi. The museum is the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum and it stands on several acres that has a living history farm. Our first experience with living history was way back in about 1986 when we went there for Christmas. The women were spinning, weaving, and baking in the little farm buildings and the men were working with the animals. There were Christmas trees with rustic ornaments that the women were making for their families. We totally loved it and wished we could be a part of that. The love never left us. We now perform some of our productions for that same museum, but they are not living history performances. When we go there in Sept., I am planning on asking them how we could participate.
I definitelyyyyy prefer this format to the "hidden"/side-channel format of the Getting Started series. Much easier to track if I've seen each one, and to find them again this way. THANK YOU! :)
💥 *Video Time Stamp* 💥
9:37 *Take the LEAP*
- Old Technology weapons and many layers of knowledge
- Simplistic Lifestyle
- Community Passion & Unity
- Learn new things - old trades, lifeskills, blacksmithing, cooking, environmental teachings etc etc
13:04 *Old Technology vs Modern Technology*
- Virtual world vs natural World
- Make food vs processed food
14:23 *Reasons.. to return to Old World ways/ Practices / Living History*
- Sharing of Historical facts, trade, skills ...Educators are awakening
15:37 *Reasons/ Excuses / Limitatioins / barriers*
...why people don't return to the Old World Ways/ Practices / Living History
- To Expensive
- I don't have the time / too busy
- I don't know where to begin / start
- Physical limitations / health limitations disqualifying themselves from participating.
- Location limitations
- No one is around , to do these practices with
- Ethnicity excuses (black slave ...Native warrior.... Asian worker )
- Gender issues ( women participation )
- Fear ....what if questions....Rejection .... too old , too younge...
20:07 *Requesting ppl to take the leap , into Living History*
21:53 *ASSIGNMENTS* for subscribers. 😀😀
1) what has triggered you interest in Living history / examples ??
2) Tell us what you feel like , is your biggest limitation / barriers ??
Cheers ;-)
To be honest, what really got me to start watching your videos was learning to cook while living on my own for the first time. My dad is an amazing cook, but I never took the time to learn from him, which I realized too late. I stumbled onto the channel looking for, if I recall, a good stew recipe. I honestly had so little experience that I didn't know where to start on even the simplest stew. I've long appreciated the simplistic lifestyle, but it really came out since I've been watching these videos. I've gotten interested in black powder and the old trappers, the cooking and farming of the period, and the overall lifestyle. I don't know if I'll reenact or not, but at the very least I just love learning the history behind these videos. Thank you for all you've taught me!
Me, I used to be involved. Renaissance Faires aren't typically what we'd think of as living history, but I worked one of the original California faires that focused on historical authenticity more than some of the more fantasy-oriented events they inspired. I joined for the semi-fantasy feel of it; I stayed for the history and the friendships.
A complex home situation made it feel impossible to get away from the house for any length of time, beginning about 15 years ago, and my gear has been moldering in storage ever since.
ChrisC The Ren faire I started going to many years ago here in TX used to be more reality based, they demonstrated weaving, etc. & seemed to have a lot of involvement from the SCA, so much so that I thought it was their faire. However, it's big business now, with no SCA people in sight. It's more just a drunken boob-fest, which is ok, I'm not judging, but I miss re-creations. It's what drew me to it to begin n with.
Good day Gentlemen, my interest in living history has changed over the years but I have used many of the excuses you mentioned, time' money and opportunity to not get involved as of yet.
My interest grew from reading western and pioneering novels and the purchase of my first percussion rifle so my 'period' was the 1820s to 1870s. My introduction to Butler's Rangers and flintlock muskets moved the period earlier but your cooking series has moved me earlier yet. these shows have also peaked my wife's interest.
We have always been fans of historical villages and lately I have been working at setting up a blacksmith shop at home and plan on tanning some hides this year. Your videos have also encouraged me to look at doing some volunteer work so I look forward to the rest of this series.
I like that you guys have hit on some great points. Doing WWII we encourage the new guy/gal to pick an area of interest an go for it. Most start out with a cot, sleeping bag ,and footlocker and we build from there. On money we all help them to find deals as can be afforded. That's how I started over 25 years ago. We love when we get young people as we can pass on the knowledge we've acquired from veterans from the past before they died. But money seems to be the main sticking point. We do WWII Army Air Force so flight gear isn't cheap by any means. As I have aged I play as a retread from the Great War and suit up the new guys and teach them about what they are wearing and why. Their enthusiasm is quite contagious and refreshing. From a personal note , I want to thank you for the videos you all have put out, I tripped over your TH-cam vids just last week and they are so enjoyable and as a cook totally enlightening. Gonna get started on an earthen oven soon.
I first was interested in blacksmithing and learning the skills and tricks of the trade. The more I watched on TH-cam the more recommendations TH-cam made. Your channel was one of those recommendations. That then lead me to the Kalamazoo Living History Expo where I found not only a whole new world of things to learn and explore, I found real life, honest to goodness blacksmiths that were very open to answering questions and pointing me in the right direction. Ultimately, my quest to learn how to blacksmith brought me to living history and I am very happy about that because there really is so much to learn!
Thank you so much for the getting started series! Your TH-cam channel is my absolute favorite!! I catch myself binge watching your videos!!!
Oh,my goodness! You hit the nail on the head when you said people would get a catalog but wouldn't have a clue where to begin. That was me! I became interested in historical reenactment years ago after attending a Civil War reenactment. I didn't know where to begin. Then about 4 years ago, I attended the Battle of Camden (Rev War) and asked a lot of questions but had no way to take notes. When my catalog came, I poured over it and made a list of close to half of all that was available. I couldn't afford to buy it all and just let the idea drop. Recently I attended yet another event and asked questions. I emailed a nearby living history park and spoke to someone there and got more ideas. These videos are going to be so helpful to me. Thank you for making this available to the public.
To add to what I wrote above, I love history. I see and hear things today that let me know that many Americans don't know history. They don't understand why people came here to begin with or why we wanted our independence from British rule. I believe that living history is a great way for me to learn more and for my children and grandchildren learn. I also believe it's an excellent way to share what we're learning with other and teach history in a way that is understandable and enjoyable.
I am absolutely stoked that you're doing this. I've had great respect for this company and channel for years now, and I can't wait to see what I can do to stop being such a weener about getting into living history myself. I do plenty of fantasy stuff, but living history evades me every time. I am one of those people who likes the costumes more than the history, and can't figure out how to make or play a character because I'm a garbage actor. If I can learn how to enjoy a character as much as I enjoy the costumes, I might be able to tolerate learning about history.
I really appreciate the videos you guys make. I have been a customer of Jas Townsend for several years. I have been a student of American history since I was a child. I live a semi subsistent life style. Please keep up with the good work.
This is well said. This episode have nothing to do with living history. It is focused on taking a chance. Finding yourself. Trust yourself. Love yourself. It's okay...go for it.
Brilliant motivational conversation.
Homework:
Biggest limitation for the moment is nailing down which era I will focus on; as well as my skill/trade.
I am dipping my toe into this world as we speak. My saving grace is that my mentor is a long-time close friend who assures me everyone in this world is encouraging, understanding, and eager to mentor
I have an interest in many different time periods of history and I’m an artist who loves to make things by hand. This channel is so interesting!
Hi Jon And Kevin! The work you do is so engaging, you bring tremendous information to light that has taken me years of wandering through whatever bits of material I could find. The channel is very focused on my main passion in history, early exploration and settlement in Indiana. I grew up in Lawrence county and nearby Spring Mill State Park. There was no living history presented in those years, save for the the woman making rugs with a large loom. The Pioneer Villiage seemed like a strange place with so many curious artifacts that had no explanation. My mom's family were some of the early settler's here. I listened to my grandparents stories with interest but couldn't grasp how they related to our time. Reading Tom Sawyer grabbed my attention since it is from a boy's perspective. My friends and I started trying to live and talk like Tom and Huck and ran around the neighborhood barefooted. We had many adventures in the nearby woods that had an abandoned limestone quarry. The more I read the more I wanted to step back in time. Later in life I went to work at Spring Mill State Park and became the miller running the Mill! The park was beginning to present living history and those of us working in the villiage wore period dress and showed some early skills. We went to Conner Prarie to learn how it's really done. Suddenly we were immersed into genuine first person experiences. Today I still crave living history, and the work you do gives us great access. I've been a customer of Townsend's for 30 years now and enjoy the channel immensly. I hope to see you at a Rendezvous soon!
Love of history got me started but it became deep seated when my parents took me to Mount Vernon, Jamestown, Williamsburg and Boonsboro back in 1973 when I was 12. 3 years later was the bicentennial so plenty of attention was on it everywhere. I also went to Lincoln's New Salem previous to Mount Vernon trip. Went there again for our 8th grade field trip. Being immersed in it from a young age and the encouragement from my parents.
Little house on the prairie book series. My limitation is my depression, chronic fatigue and dwarfism. But I'm still trying it. I'm working on stuff at home. And I'm trying to make a living history in my town
+Townsends My grandfather got me in to history as a young child. He loved the flintlock, Civil War, Wild West, etc. eras. Living here in Grant County, for years we attended Mississenwa 1812 and he absolutely loved it. I still love historical novels and movies. I guess my reasons for not doing living history is the money part of it. I'm a newly single mother but someday I would love to .
This channel is very useful for live action role-playing. :) Thank you.
I think I speak for most people around here when I say, we love what you do and it's a huge inspiration to our lives, but don't overdo yourself, your life and health has to come first....
I first became interested in bushcraft/woodcraft, which led to interest in primitive living skills. Of course, food is a primary concern, and TH-cam suggested the pemmican video. With my family, we visited a Civil War re-enactment last year, and really enjoyed it. The series of videos let's me bite off a little bit of history to try at a time. This weekend, I began a fire pit in my backyard to start doing some of the recipes, and hung some corn in the closet to dry for parched corn. I can't wait!
I love this channel onYou Tube. I am sort of doing a living history, but the era I am living is 1955- 1965. Our house is from 1962, one of our cars is from 1964. I restored a charcoal brazier, and use it as all the manuals/ recipe books of the era say to. I have to find out what is the equivalent to a no. 2 can of tomatoes vrs the way they are labeled today. Charcoal briquettes sold today have to be half the size sold in 1960. That's some of the things I have learned to adjust for, and it's fun.
Many people reenacting of your era might not understand what I am doing, and so far I am one of only a few that I know of, we are doing the same thing, but building upon the lessons you have learned, and teach.
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT
Bern waiting for this for some time
please think long term for this new series...we've been hoping for something like this
I'm so glad you guys put this together. I graduated with a degree in History. I concentrate on Colonial American. I grew up in Tidewater, VA. a couple of hours from Colonial Williamsburg. I loved the guides and their costumes, especially the ladies at the Governors Palace. After graduation I worked for Monticello as a house interpreter, raised a family and helped my husband start a business. I really want to get into Re-enactment.
I grew up in Virginia Beach, a couple of miles from Cape Henry, where the English first landed before heading further up the Chesapeake Bay to Jamestown. How well I remember visiting Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown as a little girl! We've been to Monticello as well. Such a lovely place. I'm just curious, have you begun reenacting yet?
I'm glad you did this. I actually signed up ages ago to get the link to watch the series, but never got around to it. Now it's up on my list in a more normal way to find them and finally watch them!
When i started in reenactment in 1983 I was a young 20 year old raised on old war movies... So my initial reason for getting involved was simple... dressing up and playing soldiers.
Over the years my love of history has bloomed and overtaken the old reasons but I still love the escapism.
Thanks for bringing these videos out from behind the wall. I appreciate the opportunity to dive deeper into history without having to pay more than I can afford.
I am excited to see this out to the public. It has been most beneficial to me in my reenacting. I have recommended it to several friends.
New to channel,....absolutely LOVE the topics and the information that is provided...amazed with the cooking too!! The love of history and watching the videos has brought me to, reminiscing my time working at Mary Dickinson Shop in Colonial Williamsburg. Thank You!
What's peaked my interest:one, self sustainability as a provider for my family, and two, appreciation for how it was done, to understand where we are;with respects to everything from food to clothing and surviving comfortably, not just barely, in America. My self imposed limitations would be the time and money thing lol, I work away from home for 3weeks on/off, kids barely in school, renovating a house, chickens, goat, sheep, inclement weather, power goes out a lot, wood harvest for winter, house repairs, truck repairs, and now a Prius Engine swap!? Ghaaaa lol I'm starting with the cooking part, I already have to cook, might aswell cook period food to get my feet wet, got the candle thing already going by necessity lol, I'll get to the other parts of the living history as the house, roof, and chores get knocked off the list. Love what you do, and certainly appreciate getting to cook with your videos.
It started with an issue of Muzzleloader and a article on how to make your own powder horn. Then I needed a flintlock to use it with, then a pouch, then clothes. A lot of things I make myself due to the cost but the one thing I've learned is that reading history and LIVING history are two different worlds. I'm looking forward to these episodes to help square up my persona. Thanks for the hard work you're all doing.
Thanks for the great comment!
Living History is very useful for studying practical aspects of daily life in the past, which has been neglected in earlier historical studies focussed on great events and famous names rather than on daily life and real people. Studying the latter is becoming more and more important now also at universities. Living history by practicing old methods can provide new insights. So a big thank you to all who participate.
what's really gotten my interest in things like this is the simplicity of life they had back then compared to now. Last year I went to a rennaissance festival, and I truly felt at home there, and will definitly be going to more in due time. it's awesome
Just as your other videos, this is going to be so interesting. Taking it to the next level.
Appreciate!
Did re-enactment with the 1st Virginia revolutionary war group in Maryland. My husband was a soldier and I was a campfollower. That was back in the 1980s. Now my daughter and I are interested in semi-off-the-grid homesteading and learning how things were done with no electricity or gas. How to build a raised hearth, how to cook with wood, what kind of tools where used in the kitchen, what kinds of gardens did they have, how did they store food thru the winter, all kinds of questions like that. It sounds like this could be a very interesting series to watch. I can't wait to see what you have. By the way, I am over 60 with back back and knees, and I still like to go camping and cooking with modern utensil over a wood fire. :o)
I'm watching the whole series again for the 2nd time because ya'll have the best advice and info when it comes to history ;)
Wow! The quality of the sound in this production is outstanding!
Getting started in pre-1840 living history again…rejoined NMLRA. Have some basic kit for the western fur trade period. All of this is very useful. Coming back from civil war reenacting. Thanks for this series.
I discovered your channel when YT suggested a video on a topic related to a bushcraft video I watched. There's a lot of overlap in the tech of b'craft and 18th C. living. But I find this approach to history much more stimulating and vital (or lively) than mere reading/lectures. In high school, for example, I was taught that the Whiskey Rebellion came as a reaction of basically rejecting taxes. You just showed us how that tax could be a critical 'make or break' factor for smaller farms.
So refreshing. Such a perfect diversion from the vitriol of current life in our world. Many thanks for your efforts on our behalf.
I'm in the SCA which is a bit different culturally and in time. My focus is 16th century Europe. I've always loved history. When I found out the SCA existed I couldn't wait to jump in with both feet. Immediately, I was instantly overwhelmed. History is huge! I was very nervous for the first couple of years. Then I met a spinster and everything changed. I had something historical that I loved above all else. I had a focus for how my living history progressed. I asked myself what would a medieval spinster do? How would she live? What kind of life would she have? I started researching the history of spinning and textiles and found the niche that spinners occupied in the time period I'm focused on. I don't do food or beer making or blacksmithing or anything else. Other living historians do those things and they share. I can have a meal and take the cook an item I have made and he or she is happy. We barter which is historically accurate. People bartered back in the old days too and it still works today. It's an excellent way to share our passion with other living historians.
My advice to newcomers is to take it slow because you're probably going to change your mind a few times as you learn more. Research, research, research and research some more. With the internet research is cheap. Expose yourself to things you have no experience with. This channel is a great reference for that. You might see a video or meet a historian that shows you something that you had no idea you would ever be passionate about. Keep your mind open. You might surprise yourself. Allow your interests to guide you. You cannot do it all. You have a modern life. There's not enough hours in the day to have a complete second life. Instead focus on what you love and let other historians take care of the rest. It really is a group effort but the camaraderie is what makes all of this work worthwhile. We have fun with our crafts but we have more fun when we're together sharing all the things that we do. Resist the urge to try to do everything all at once. This is a journey not a race. Living historians are usually pretty forgiving if you have modern fabrics or use a sewing machine rather than hand stitching. Do what you can as you can. You'll collect more period accurate pieces as you go. If you see something you like don't be afraid to ask the owner if they made it and if so how they did it. You might learn something and make a friend. Before you know it all
this effort will pay off.
I get all kinds of good ideas for camp life portrayals from this channel.
Fantastic show, thanks so much!
FINALLY, I am getting to this fine series! Oh, that I were yet so young as to (even) hobble around a reenactment encampment. I DO enjoy them on line!
What peaked my interest? The idea that you travel thousands of miles, months away from home and then you step out into a completely new land and you can find your own corner, start from scratch and raise a family. It's the freedom to be left alone and make your own world, the free world.
what got me interested in doing living history you asked? my wife and I enjoyed going to fall festivals but were getting tired of the county fair type setting and went to a festival in ligioneer IN. and it was here that I meet some very knowledgeable people as well some of the nicest people you will ever want to meet . and saw how much fun they were having and decided to learn more , next thing I know I am going to as many rendezvous style events I can go to to see just how various individuals dress,set up their camp cook,and what weaponry they shot.flint locks of course ! they let me take tons of pictures and ask tons of questions to help me decide what time frame during the flint lock era I wanted to get into. I am one of those people whom jump in with both feet but I soon realized you don't have have it all at once . it takes a while to build your persona a little at a time is just fine. mine is still evolving as I learn more about life in the late 18th and 19th centuries. the creativeness of people from that era is amazing .
I used to do it in a limited way with my students, I invited people to come spin and weave or demonstrate leather crafting, I started a school garden to teach everything from seed germination to measuring to water cycle to cooking what they grew. I took them to reenactments and the Renaissance faire and Prairie Days and battle ship and war museum. I wanted them to be interested in history and science and I know that people learn more when it is hands-on.
My favorite times in history did not occur in America, I love Celtic festivals though I can't go any more because of the wheelchair.
Also, thank you so much for this. I've wanted to engage in living history and re-enacting since high school.
I'm a woodworker and starting finding an interest in historical work done in the past. spring pole lathes and jointer work are things i have looked into. I do some work by hand as it is. Treen ware is something I have been interested in as well. People like Roy Underhill and Peter Follinsbee are two people I follow. Its a love for history in general.
James, Thank you! I have been a subscriber for quite a while. This is a very welcome addition to the cooking videos. (Love those cooking vids!)
I look forward to watching many more in this series.
Thanks!
I do ancestry research and I have found so many interesting stories about my ancestors in the flintlock era. I think my parents primed the pump by taking us to every battlefield we passed and quizzing us on history during road trips. I just enjoy this idea of connecting to the history of my family by immersing myself in their lives for a bit of time. My biggest roadblock is shyness. I have a hard time just joining up with a group of people I don't know. I feel like their should be so much living history as I live in northern Virginia, but I don't know where to find it.
So excited about this!!
Love your channel watch all the time here in New Zealand
Yay! Can't wait for more. I'm getting into re-enacting myself (although around here it's more centered on medieval times), but I appreciate the work you guys do.
The first (and main) thing that peaked my interest in reenacting (Texas Revolution specifically) was when my uncle and his friends came home from a reenactment and smelled of an unknown substance (I soon discovered that it was blackpowder) and the occasional bandage on their body due to an overly excited sword dual. So I went to my first one and I've been hooked ever since 2013.
Thank you. Wish I had a vid like this years back.
I would tell people that they should take an interest survey that I call "judging your interests". Basically, like you pointed out, you need to find what is the time period you are interested in. The next is what is your level and ability to commit yourself to the hobby. We all have commitments in our lives that take our time, energy and resources. If you have a family you can enjoy the living history hobby with your family, but don't expect them to all be happy campers and trudge off with you for a weekend of sweating in wool clothing, cooking over open fires, sleeping on the ground and getting mosquito bitten and sunburned. You might find that you can and want to spend all day and most of the evening out at the site or event while your family would rather just come for an hour or two and then go back to a nice air conditioned motel room and go for Chinese buffet. Never plan on knowing every thing about the era you are representing, and expect to spend time doing research and studying. The civil war re enactment hobby has a controversy over enamel ware; is it period appropriate, what colors, patterns and designs are. The same thing happens as far as buttons, fabric content, clothing construction, or other things are concerned. Don't worry, everyone who starts out makes mistakes. The critical thing is learning from your mistakes and correct them. When I got into the hobby I had a pistol that was not appropriate. The pattern was period correct, but the materials it was constructed from, was not. I know that I will not use it at an event now, but I enjoyed using it at a few events where it was not an issue when I started out. The same thing applies to clothing, eyeware, hair styles, etc. I would not discourage a young person from trying the hobby if they do not have period correct shoes and eyeglasses. If they can present a reasonable representation of the era, what does it matter if they are not wearing 100% linen underwear, or shoes with metal eyelets? Just get out and try the hobby.
Wow, by accident or you saw my comment here is the series. Doing the dance!! I just love the slower living where people need people. Biggest limitation is location. Not sure if there is a group in Oklahoma.
Excited about this series!!
Love Your Videos James Keep it up.Your doing great!!!!!!!
This is easy...biggest reason I'm interested: I've always loved history and I love what I'm learning on Townsend. Biggest obstacle: nothing close to join and nothing within 2000+ that is far enough back to really be interesting. The nearest living history museum is over 3 hours away (in another state in an area that I've never even passed through) and it's an 1800s fort. I'm interested in the Townsend era, not the much more recent settlement around here. North Idaho just isn't a hub for reenactment (or anything).
Kate Moore Barry was a 15 year old female 21:45 Revolutionary war hero . My husband and I plant the garden and volunteer at Walnut Grove Plantation is upstate SC.
love this!!!
So excited! 😄💕
Our group does first century Rome. In addition to soldiers we have merchants, Gauls, Celts and children. Demonstrating the life of 2000 years ago is much better than telling the stories.
I've never thought about reenacting or interpretation, but as a leatherworker, my preoccupation (since I've been watching the 'Getting Started' series has been how I'd portray an 18th century harness maker - the tools I'd have, leather dying techniques, etc. I'll never do it, but my character is taking shape, even to the backstory. Lots of idle fun - just imagining it all.
All good!! Thanks.
So exited for this series! my main limitation has been not even knowing where to start or how exactly to get involved
I had an interest in Rev War & a young gent at the time was just getting involved in Rev War, too. He & I joined different Rev War organizations at the same time but we had each other to converse with over the internet as we began reenacting. I eventually expanded into piracy, and later he moved into various other eras & he continues to do a wider range of reenacting. However, I've had to "retire", so to speak, because I could not take the time off and go to events and didn't have the money to travel a few hours to an event. I was greatly limited... unfortunately. I am incredibly bummed out because the best years of my life was when I was reenacting. I've encouraged a few people over the years on getting involved. I'd jump back into it if I had weekends free and money to travel to be active again.
Awesome, did the email series. Great idea releasing it to the general public. Keep up the great work.
Good stuff. I have no particular plans to do historical reenactments, but I find it interesting. We doive in a period of dizzying change, so it's instructive to look at all the changes our predecessors dealt with.
another path into living history is from family history and genealogical studies. Living history and reenactments help provide a glimpse into the day to day lives of our ancestors rather than the big historical events of the day and add a richness to their life stories and circumstances that you cannot get from movies and books.
yesssss I've been waiting for this!!!!
Looking forward to this month!...Liked!
Thanks for the encouragement!
I watched Poldark on PBS and was fascinated by the 18th century cooking and clothes
You are slowly sucking me in. Thank you!
I am lucky enough to live in a very historically rich area of the west. Unfortunately Owyhee County Idaho is often overlooked by folks who are interested in the old west. Because of that I have lots of opportunity to be a living history guide to folks who come to our museum and historical locations. I almost exclusively wear clothes that are accurate to the 1850s up to 1900. Kids love it, parents love that they're lids love it, and it's amazing to see the flame of intrigue being lit in the people I talk to. Even though I'm the only one that does it, it's those moments that make it worth it