Kensington in Prince County, Prince Edward Island — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)
A Woman's Work is Never Done
Le travail d’une femme n’est jamais achevé
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2019
1. A Woman's Work is Never Done Marker
The old expression “A woman's work is never done” was never more true than in the case of farm women.
Farm women had many tasks. They worked to keep the farm's milk cool during the summer. This could involve carrying it to a small outbuilding called a dairy with a stone-lined cellar for the fresh milk to be cooled, and after the cream separated, they churned it into butter.
Raising poultry often fell to the farm wife as well. The income from egg sales gave her a “nest egg” to look after family expenses. Eggs would be sold to Kensington stores — such as Mackenzie's or K. L. Waite's.
Farm women made many of the family's clothes, particularly the winter sweaters and mittens. Often this included preparing the wool themselves by washing, carding, and spinning the newly-sheared sheep wool which was then dyed with natural substances, such as beets. With the warm sweaters she knit and hot meals she put on the table, the farm woman did her best to keep the entire family healthy and hearty.
Jamais la vieille expression «
this page online
Les agricultrices avaient de nombreuses tâches à accomplir. Elles s'affairaient à conserver le lait frais pendant l'été. Il pouvait s'agir entre autres de transporter le lait vers des communs, de petites installations laitières comportant une cave revêtue de pierres servant au refroidissement du lait frais. Puis, après la séparation de la crème, il fallait la transformer en beurre par le procédé appelé le barattage.
L'élevage de la volaille était souvent le lot de l'agricultrice également. Le revenu tiré de la vente des œufs l'aidait à garnir son bas de laine pour mieux faire face aux dépenses familiales. Les œufs étaient vendus aux magasins et épiceries de Kensington, par exemple Mackenzie's ou K. L. Waite's.
Les agricultrices fabriquaient bon nombre des vêtements de la famille, en particulier les chandails d'hiver et les moufles. Elles devaient souvent préparer elles mêmes la laine en lavant, cardant et filant la laine de mouton fraîchement tondue qui était ensuite teinte à l'aide de substances naturelles, comme les betteraves. Avec les chandails douillets qu'elle tricotait et les chauds repas qu'elle servait, l'agricultrice faisait de son mieux pour garder toute sa famille bien portante et en bonne santé.
Erected by
2. Marker detail: A Woman's Work
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Women.
Location. 46° 26.169′ N, 63° 38.48′ W. Marker is in Kensington, Prince Edward Island, in Prince County. Marker can be reached from Imperial Street just north of Commercial Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located along the Confederation Trail, about 1 block west of the former Kensington Railroad Depot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 29 Commercial Street, Kensington PE C0B 1M0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Original Meaning of Horsepower (a few steps from this marker); Potato Farming Between the Tree Stumps (a few steps from this marker); The Seven Year Rotation (within shouting distance of this marker); The Efficiency of Mixed Farming (within shouting distance of this marker); A World Leader in Silver Foxes (within shouting distance of this marker); The Early Days of Farm Equipment (within shouting distance of this marker); Farming Groups in Kensington (within shouting distance of this marker); Business and Agriculture (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kensington.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Prince Edward Island Agriculture
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2019
3. A Woman's Work is Never Done Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 95 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 17, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on May 18, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
