Harvest Festival

Oct 10, 2024

George Mason, The Harvest Moon, Public Domain

“The men went into the barley fields at daybreak. All morning, they scythed the rippling grass with great howling strokes, and then they spread the stalks to dry. Their rakes went to and fro with a monstrous hiss. The sun was a live thing, throwing its hot arms over their necks. Their feeble shadows hid at their feet, their faces glowed with sweat and sunburn.” — Katherine Arden, The Bear and the Nightingale 

The word ‘harvest’ traces its roots to the Old English word hærfest meaning ‘autumn’ -  the season for gathering in food from the land. For centuries, this time of year has held deep meaning, laden with superstition, spirituality, and old-age traditions. A successful harvest meant that the local community would be fed throughout the long lean winter ahead, an occasion surely worth celebrating. 

The celebrations were known as ‘harvest home’ - the festival of corn. After the last sheath had been cut, the village would come together to feast. Often there would be a grand procession for the last wagon-load of corn brought from the field. A band would play, banners would be held up and the wagon would be  decorated with plaited straw corn dollies, each a symbol of good harvests to come.  

Illustrated London News: Harvest at Swallowfield near Reading in 1860. 

In the evening, the village would gather for a harvest supper - a feast to share the rewards of hard work. This would be followed by dancing and revelry: families would display their produce, play autumnal games, give thanks for the harvest, and collect food for those less fortunate. People would “sing the harvest home” and the village would be decorated with boughs. 

The harvest is often seen as a very spiritual time of year. Corn dollies, made from the last sheath of the harvest, would be placed on tables during the village feast. The dolly would then be kept until the spring for good luck. Sometimes, farmers would plough the hearts of the grain back into the soil in hopes that it would bless the new crop. This tradition comes from the belief that the last sheath contains the spirit of the corn - known as The Maiden.

There was also a belief that it was bad luck to be the person to cut the last strand of corn, so farms would race against each other to be the first to complete the harvest. In some regions, the last strand of corn would be cut by the workers throwing their sickles from a distance, while in others, they would take it in turns to be blindfolded and sweep a scythe until all the corn was cut - taking care not to anger the spirit of the harvest. 

Traditionally, the festival is held on the Sunday closest to the Harvest Moon. This year, it fell on Sunday 6th October. 

Here at FarmED, we welcomed 200 guests of all ages to the farm for our own Harvest Festival. It was a truly magical day, brimming with delicious food, community spirit, music and games. Read on to find out more…

Meet the farmer

Dan, one of the head-growers at The Kitchen Garden People (our on-site kitchen garden), welcomed guests of all ages into the kitchen garden for a talk all about the rhythms of their plot. He spoke of the secret life of the soil - how tthey nurture its health through green manures, herbal leys, and the undersowing of wildflowers. He showed the group the protected crops in the polytunnels and the intricate irrigation system, which draws its water from our on-site spring.  

Many guests were eager to learn about crop varieties and the best time of year to sow different seeds. 

The children also dug their hands into the soil, sowing broad beans and harvesting the last of the summer tomatoes and sweetcorn. They even lent a hand in harvesting the beautiful crown prince squash for our FarmED Cafe.  

Minibeast Safaris

Credit: Laura Lane 

Alex, our Public Engagement Coordinator and resident entomologist, led three Minibeast Safaris throughout the day, guiding groups of eager little explorers as they discovered critters and creepy crawlies around the farm. Their adventures led to exciting finds, including a Devil’s coach horse beetle, 7 and 22-spot ladybirds, leaf beetles, crickets, dung beetles and more. Alex shared some fun facts about each creature, emphasising to the kids just how important insect life is - not just to the farm but the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Each living thing is interconnected, and through engaging with the youngest generation we can begin to cultivate a new attitude of care towards the earth. 

Corn dolly making, bread tasting

Some of Ian’s beautiful creations 

We were lucky enough to welcome Ian from Wheatear Strawcraft for corn crafting in the library on Sunday. He, along with his lovely wife and daughter, taught us the ancient craft of corn dolly making. Straw craft is currently listed as endangered by Heritage Crafts and is a tradition that has been deeply rooted in rural life for centuries. Through workshops, Ian wishes to promote the craft and show just how meaningful it can be. 

The sessions were very popular, with children and adults able to learn the ancient craft of corn dolly making, and create a keepsake to take home. 

Aga, our wonderful FarmED baker, made a wide range of breads including heritage grain loaves, sourdoughs and focaccias, all delicious and beautiful in equal measure. 

Harvest Home

We had a true harvest feast in the Cafe celebrating the produce from our fields. The menu featured a warming squash and pepper soup drizzled with pumpkin seed oil, hearty spiced lamb from Paddock Farm in a soft brioche bun with a topping of kale, slaw, and pickles, and a variety of fresh seasonal salads grown right in our Kitchen Garden. Each dish felt like a true testament to the flavours of autumn. 

We also were lucky enough to have the Wychwayz Morris dancers join us for the morning, making the spirit of harvest really come alive. Their cheerful music got people up dancing and reminded us how those before us would have celebrated the harvest - through music and dance.

We were also joined by artists Colin Pitts, Kim Hobday, Frazer, Under the Wychwood, and Silverthorn. It felt like a real celebration of the season and our community. In modern times, some of these traditions still hold a special place— from the delicious smells of freshly baked bread to the lively Morris dancing. It was a day to appreciate everything the harvest gives us and to look forward to what’s next!