Neo-Victorian Farm Life

Neo-Victorian Farm Life

We want to create an ideal Victorian farm with a culturally meaningful way of life that embodies Victorian values in our own time while maintaining environmentally responsible agriculture. We will begin with a family on a farm with an appropriate Victorian style home. The decor of the home will be Victorian; they may either go with authentic period styles, the cluttered look with dark multi-patterned wallpaper and wood paneling or a lighter more romantic style. They will start without electricity; they may use either gas or candles. To begin, the farm will be worked entirely by animal power, by doing work a certain way and performing proper rituals, they earn more advanced technology, like steam power or they may adapt machinery to use alternative power sources. When everyone works together in the right way and performs their responsibilities properly, they are awarded clues or components that lead to the discovery of new inventions. The challenge is to invent new fangled contraptions that run on natural energy sources with zero pollution; they must remain an organic, self sufficient farm in balance with nature. The family will employ hired hands and household servants. They will all dress in Victorian style clothes and make many of the things they need, clothes, candles, pottery, a blacksmith, tool maker, livery stable hands and maids as well as kitchen help. The roles of men and women and the values by which they live are of ultimate importance. The men will work in the fields and handle the heavy labor. The mistress of the house will run the household and direct the servants in their chores. She will also organize social and cultural activities. The home will exemplify the artistry of living; they will host events, formal dances, casual garden parties, holiday celebrations, antique and crafts fair, a literary presentation, a theatrical musical or drama, an ice cream social, a band concert, a barn dance, charity fundraisers and sports competitions, especially equestrian events. At the end of the day, they family will entertain themselves, they will sit out on the porch and tell stories and play music or play parlor games inside, often they will invite the neighbors over.
There will be a family of hillbillies living next door, they will play music, dance and have fun without too many social restrictions, unlike the Victorian family who are expected to maintain strict propriety at all times. The hillbillies may run around barefoot and go skinny dipping, they may enjoy a more free spirited life. The Victorian family will have responsibility over many other people and will therefore be expected to set an example for all. They should take in children, either foster children or local children in need of guidance and attention. They will provide a culturally rich, value based experience for children that will teach them lasting life lessons. The family will be very diligent in instructing everyone in proper conduct, women will maintain ladylike behavior at all times. Underage boys and girls will not be allowed to be alone together or go out unchaperoned and adult singles will be held accountable by authority figures who will question intentions and expect honorable behavior.
The farm will face a threat from a large corporate farm nearby that is lobbying the government to condemn the farm and develop it into an industrial processing plant for their produce. The family must gain the support of their neighbors by getting them to turn away from the unhealthy processed food and against the corporate farm that pollutes the environment, to supporting their healthy organic foods. The family must demonstrate the cultural value of their simple way of life to the larger society. They must show that they do more than grow food; they grow children and contribute a wonderful culture for others to experience. The showdown between the farm and the corporation is a challenge by the corporation to prove their greater economic value. They challenge the farm to a free market competition, both farms will produce the best crops in a certain period of time, and that will require rallying the help of friends and neighbors to work the fields. After harvesting the crops, the produce will be inspected by neutral judges and delivered to the local markets, the corporate produce to the supermarket, the family's produce to the organic farmers' market fair with entertainment and community fellowship. Success for the farm is to produce products that will sell and create a way of life that others will admire and follow. If the community rallies to support the Victorian family they are supporting their way of life and values as well as their products.

by Dean Sullivan