Wheat and woman

by Georgina Binnie-Clark

An established writer before she came to Canada, Georgina Binnie-Clark (1871-1947) settled in Saskatchewan in 1905 to become a farmer. It was an unlikely ambition for a woman in her day, particularly an English gentlewoman, and in the opinion of many, an impossible one. The reaction of onlookers was unhesitatingly and unqualifiedly unsupportive. Binnie-Clark, however, proved their skepticism to be unfounded.

Originally published in 1914, Wheat and Woman is an autobiographical account of Georgina Binnie-Clark's first three years on the prairies, the story of how she learned to define and deal with her anomalous position in pre-war prairie society. Although Binnie-Clark does not dismiss the difficult lessons of life on the land for an `English greenhorn,' or the loneliness of a woman pursuing what was considered to be a man's job, she emphasizes the unique opportunities for women in Canada. If life was difficult in Canada, it was impossible, for some, in England. With a surplus population of more than a million women, most stood almost no statistical chance of finding a husband in England. The gentlewomen among them were barred by class from all but a few overcrowded and underpaid occupations.

Wheat and Woman also illuminates the sexual politics of settlement. Binnie-Clark was only too familiar with the limitations that Canadian law placed on women. Among women of the prairies, chief among these was the homestead law, which excluded all but a handful of women from the right to claim a free farm from the Dominion's public lands. This new reprint of Binnie-Clark's autobiographical writing includes an introduction by Susan Jackel, written for a 1979 edition of the text, as well as a new scholarly introduction by historian Sarah A. Carter, who received a Killam Fellowship for the study of Great Plains women of Canada and the United States.

Wheat and Woman is a fascinating record of a gifted and determined woman's experience in prairie farming and a unique document in Canadian social history.

Genres: Biography Memoir

313 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1914

Reviews

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An undiscovered masterpiece. This memoir is significant for two reasons: it's written by an English woman who purchases her own 320-acre farm in Saskatchewan in 1905, and farms it by herself; and the author is a professional journalist who writes both instructively and eloquently about her experiences. She is perfectly frank about her own mistakes, describes her misfortunes in detail, and reveals her profound love for her animals, her grain and the prairie that surrounds her. The style is conversational and at times quite humorous. Highly recommended.

[Gail Amendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little known memoir deserves a lot more recognition than it has had. Georgina Binnie-Clark was an Englishwoman with no agricultural experience when she purchased a farm in Saskatchewan in 1905. It appears that at first she intended to merely manage the farm, and have the actual work done by hired help, but necessity forced her to learn to do the work herself. We are able to watch her go from being unable to hitch her own horses or milk a cow, to being able to do almost all of the tasks necessary on a prairie mixed farm over the course of her first couple of years there. So much does her confidence grow that she spends her second winter on the farm alone. She is honest about her mistakes, of which there are many, but also writes of a growing love for her livestock and the land. As she was an established writer before coming to Canada, she writes quite eloquently, although her style is a little too verbose for modern tastes. Her attitude of British superiority, support for colonialism, and glowing praise for Canada's Indian residential school system are a bit jarring, but reflect common attitudes of the time. I would call this a piece of early 20th century feminist writing, as the purpose appears to be to convince other single British women to try farming in Canada as a means to financial independence. The copy I read includes two introductions by modern historians, which provide interesting background and analysis. I hope that this interesting work doesn't fade into obscurity.

[Sheri Hathaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book required research ahead of reading it. The research taught me that Georgina Binnie-Clark was a well known author in England before she went to Saskatchewn to prove that a woman was capable of farming successfully. Shr wrote this book to record her three-year experience. She seems to jump into the middle of the story in Chapter 1. In 1905 perhaps people understood the purpose of her book but today we need an introduction. But she definitely loved writing and also loved farming. I skipped much of her long ramblings, hoping to find her struggles and accomplishments, and they are there if you keep reading. She returned to England well satisfied that she had shown the strength, adaptability and resourcefullness of a woman who can live a successful life as a prairie farmer.

[Robert Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended by a Goodreads Author and what a Gem. A memoir by Georgina Binnie-Clark who came to farm near Fort Qu'Appelle beside the beautiful Qu'Appelle Valley. A journalist by profession and not a Farmer makes for a very interesting story. Intelligent and insightful she brings the Reader through many trials and tribulations of trying to run a Farm and details the financial aspects as few other Memoirs do. Her observations of People, Politicians and the hardship faced by Women are as relevant today as they were written over one hundred years ago. Her kindness and care toward her animals revealed a lot about her character and in turn her neighbors kept an eye out for her which enabled the Farm to survive. Very good read.