What sort of produce might a medieval farmer need to buy at the markets?
I am after small produce that they might buy at the markets if they had a hard year and ran out.
I should clarify that I want edible produce that a medieval farmer might conceivably need to buy at market after running out of it. I thought it unlikely that they would run out of oats or peas and salt would be readily available on the coast so that’s no good either. Thanks for the suggestions thus far.
Salt, and other herbs, seasonings and spices. And, he wouldn’t BUY these things so much as trade for them. The peasant farmers of the time had no money. The economy of the time didn’t work that way. So, it was highly unlikely that, if the farmer had a bad year, that he would have any kind of savings. He’d either have to sell of his livestock, his personal belongings (which couldn’t be much) or sell himself or his family into some kind of bondage or servitude.
Also, remember, in midieval times, most "farmers" didn’t usually own their own land. They worked as tennant farmers on someone else’s propery, usually in exchange for a portion of his crops.
If a person didn’t have these options, he and his family tended to starve to death, or move away, as there was no process in place, like welfare programs, to help them out.
February 26th, 2010 at 1:02 am
Grain or roots like turnips.
They did not ship much or for long distances.
They also had none of the American produce like tomatoes, potatoes or corn. That left then stuck with grains like oats and barley, some turnips, carrots and kale, some nuts, apples, and berries, maybe honey.
No oranges in Europe, no sugar, no Asian or American produce.
References :
February 26th, 2010 at 1:49 am
Salt, and other herbs, seasonings and spices. And, he wouldn’t BUY these things so much as trade for them. The peasant farmers of the time had no money. The economy of the time didn’t work that way. So, it was highly unlikely that, if the farmer had a bad year, that he would have any kind of savings. He’d either have to sell of his livestock, his personal belongings (which couldn’t be much) or sell himself or his family into some kind of bondage or servitude.
Also, remember, in midieval times, most "farmers" didn’t usually own their own land. They worked as tennant farmers on someone else’s propery, usually in exchange for a portion of his crops.
If a person didn’t have these options, he and his family tended to starve to death, or move away, as there was no process in place, like welfare programs, to help them out.
References :
February 26th, 2010 at 1:58 am
Peasants in medieval times were largely self-sufficient, but they would buy items at market that they could not grow or make at home. Peasants would sell their own surplus products, women would sell their surplus butter, cheese and eggs for instance, and if a peasant farmer had produced more than he needed in the way of grain, vegetables etc, then he might sell the surplus. Peas and beans were the most popular vegetables. Rarer items that were imported might be sold at market, pepper and other spices for instance, which were used for flavouring food, especially in winter time (not much fresh meat available in winter, as most animals were slaughtered in the autumn). Women spun wool and flax for making into clothing, but cloth was made by professional weavers as well, so they might buy cloth at market. Things like scissors, needles, and buttons and ribbons would probably be bought rather than made. Peasant houses that have been excavated have shown that peasants owned pottery, pewter tableware, cards, dice, board games and musical instruments, which would have been bought rather than made.
References :
‘medieval Lives’ by Terry Jones
‘Medieval Women’ by Eileen Power