Home > Land Use in Western North Carolina Lesson Plans from the Southern Appalachian Archives > Os Deaver Diary: WNC Agriculture in the late 1800’s

Os Deaver Diary: WNC Agriculture in the late 1800’s

Purpose: This activity allows students to explore primary source archival material describing different farming techniques some of which are still used today.

Time: 30-50 minutes; recommended full 50 minute class time

Terms: Os Deaver Diary, chain carriers, martin box, harrowing, suckering, cradle, cutworms, potato hills, fodder

Objective(s): During this activity, students will read photocopied portions of the Os Deaver Diary and attempt to match them to farming, land, and agriculture terms already identified and depicted in pictures either from internet websites or photos from the MHU Southern Appalchain Archives. After students have matched pictures with terms they will do research on the terms and answer the following questions about each technique or tool.

1. What is the purpose of this technique or tool? and the importance?
2. Is it beneficial and if so, for what/whom; if not, any ideas of how to make it beneficial?
3. Is this practice sustainable or if possible, how could it be?
4. Is there a modern day equivalent or an ugraded technique?

Background: Squire Osborn “Os” Deaver lived in Madison County and kept a diary almost daily from January 8, 1886 to January 4, 1896. His family owned a store in the Forks of Ivy area (not far from campus, toward Asheville) and he farmed his mountainous land with help from family and friends. He discusses everything from the weather, to his daily to-do list, to any issues that arose on his property. Os Deaver’s diary is included in the Mars Hill University Southern Appalachian Archives thanks to  Bascom Lamar Lunsford, the famed musician and ballad collector and by Cecil McElroy, both were longtime residents of Buncombe County.

Preparation:

1. Print copies of excerpts from the typed version  of the Os Deaver diary to give to each group. See R: drive for excerpts.
2. Access the powerpoint with the numbered pictures of the depictions of the terms mentioned above. Optional: Arrange a time to visit the Ramsey Center to view the original copy of the diary.

Instructions:

• Begin the activity by giving background information on WNC agriculture, farming and land usage. Mention small scale vs industrial farms and the different methods and objectives associated with both.
• Familiarize students with the purpose of the Ramsey Center’s Southern Appalachian Archives and give a brief summary of Os Deaver; where he is from, and why he is important to WNC, agriculture and the Madison County area.
• Play the power point presentation for students. They should try to use prior knowledge or little clues to match the pictures and the terms (no research yet).
• Have them review their own answers then match the correct answers together.
• Then instruct students to answer the questions mentioned above for each term, or assign two terms to each group. Advise them to think abstractly in order to come up with answers to the questions.
• Optional: allow to use reliable google sources to answer questions. Once given research time, student groups could present on their few or so terms

Notes if you’re going to try it:

• Plan ahead of time to coordinate with the Ramsey Center. *It’s very cool to see the original handwritten diary.*
• Try to give background info on some of the differences in local farming, land, and agriculture between now and the late 1800s.
• Students will be more invested in the activity if there is some sort of individual or group competition.
• Make sure the presentation is set to play continuously

Other student objectives

• Gain knowledge and understanding in agriculture practices of the late 1800s and how they compare to modern farming practices  
• Understand and be able to pick apart different agricultural practices and whether they are beneficial and for what/whom, if they are sustainable or if possible, how could they be, whether they are good for the farmer, production or both, and the importance
• Learn about and interact with the archival material in MHU’s Ramsey Center, specifically the hand-written diary of Squire Osborn “Os” Deaver from Madison County
• Gain effective and reliable research methods and translate findings into a mini-presentation to the rest of the class

Lesson Materials:

• The Os Deaver Diary PowerPoint can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary Farming Terms Activity can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 21 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 186 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 184 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 142 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 140 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 132 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 115 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 88 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 85 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 18 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 13 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 16 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 49 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 31 can be found here.
• The Os Deaver Diary page 2 can be found here.