143 Oats & Hay - Grass Powers the Early 19th Century World episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 16, 2025 · 32 MIN

143 Oats & Hay - Grass Powers the Early 19th Century World

from The History of American Food · host Margaret Hardin

As odd as it sounds, there was a time in American Food before oatmeal.And while that's wild on it's own, even more impossible to imagine is how much of agriculture used to be dedicated simply to growing food to feed the animals that allowed you to run the farm.  Having solar panels and biodigesters to create power on the farm now is pretty wild... but it wasn't that long ago, all things considered when all the energy used on a farm was grown... on the farm!But it does help put into perspective how much energy it took to simply grow enough food for the farm - and then a little more to sell.  The surplusses we have now - simply NOT possible.To learn about the origins of 40 acres and a Mule - no the earlier origins... and how 160 acres would become the standard for American farms, tune in, and marvel at the idea of the oatmeal raisin cookie - and how far away it is from it's high end hose food origin.Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFoodInstagram: @THoAFood& some other socials... @THoAFoodMusic Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot comThreads: @THoAFoodInstagram: @THoAFood& some other socials... @THoAFood

As odd as it sounds, there was a time in American Food before oatmeal.And while that's wild on it's own, even more impossible to imagine is how much of agriculture used to be dedicated simply to growing food to feed the animals that allowed you to run the farm.  Having solar panels and biodigesters to create power on the farm now is pretty wild... but it wasn't that long ago, all things considered when all the energy used on a farm was grown... on the farm!But it does help put into perspective how much energy it took to simply grow enough food for the farm - and then a little more to sell.  The surplusses we have now - simply NOT possible.To learn about the origins of 40 acres and a Mule - no the earlier origins... and how 160 acres would become the standard for American farms, tune in, and marvel at the idea of the oatmeal raisin cookie - and how far away it is from it's high end hose food origin.Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFoodInstagram: @THoAFood& some other socials... @THoAFoodMusic Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot comThreads: @THoAFoodInstagram: @THoAFood& some other socials... @THoAFood

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143 Oats & Hay - Grass Powers the Early 19th Century World

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As odd as it sounds, there was a time in American Food before oatmeal.And while that's wild on it's own, even more impossible to imagine is how much of agriculture used to be dedicated simply to growing food to feed the animals that allowed you to...

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