Farm Life and Food

In earlier times, much of women’s mahi on farms was providing food – for the whānau and for everyone working there. Skills in cooking, baking and preserving, and often growing garden produce too, were essential to farm life. Local agricultural shows highlighted these skills with exhibits of farm kitchen produce, such as butters, preserves, bacon, breads, jams, scones, and wines. Food was a way for farming women to express their sense of solidarity and community.

Classic recipes
In 1925, the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers (WDFF) was formed to consolidate this community and advocate for the interests of rural families. By 1951, when the cookbook here was published, the society had over 25,000 members in 650 branches throughout Aotearoa. One was in Rolleston, whose members gathered favourite and classic recipes for the cookbook, a common way to fundraise for the society’s activities.

These days, WDFF is known as Rural Women New Zealand. Their tradition of voluntary service and support through food continues. After the Canterbury earthquake in 2011, they ensured the more than 200-strong ‘farmy army’ of volunteers was fed day and night.

The recipe book (left) was published by the Rolleston Branch of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers New Zealand Inc, 1951. It is on loan from Annette Foster. Mrs M. G. (Iris) Wilson contributed nine recipes to the book on display, including Kiwi classics like cream sponge cake, condensed milk salad dressing and meringue cake, or pavlova (model of cake left). 

Capability Joan
Today’s farming women are as likely to be as versatile on the farm as the men. But they’ve always had to step up in time of need. This was never more so than during the 20th-Century World Wars, when many of their menfolk were away serving in the armed forces. This role became officially supported during World War II, when women were ‘manpowered’ to boost the rural labour force. Many trained as ‘land girls’ at Canterbury Agricultural College (now Lincoln University). They learned about managing and feeding animals, milking cows, the operational work of a dairy, driving tractors and other farm machinery, and harvesting crops – all duties traditionally regarded as men’s work.

Culinary showcase at A & P shows
Rural women’s skills were often on display at events like local A & P shows where they would exhibit home produce in categories such as butters, preserves, bacon, eggs, breads, jams, scones, and wines. Food was a way for farming women to express their sense of solidarity and community.

This image showcases Mrs J Brown from Whitecliffs , who won first prize for this fancy butter exhibit at the Courtenay A & P show at Kirwee in 1903.