History of Agricultural Education in Wiltshire - Lackham Countryside ...

CHAPTER XIV
HOME ECONOMIC EXTRA MURAL SERVICES FOR THE
WOMEN AND SOME OF THE MEN OF WILTSHIRE
by Miss M J Dunn
The service was designed specially for the rural organisation such as the
Women's Institutes, Young Farmers' Clubs and Townswomen's Guilds. Over the
years about thirty different types of organisation have had lectures and
demonstrations; to name but a few: the Royal Women's British Legion,
Horticultural Societies, the Association of Wiltshire Midwives. The work now
falls into three main groups:
(a) Residential Courses. A week's residential course for all
women resident in Wiltshire is held annually in July or
September. The number of students accepted vary from 24 to
30. Each year it is over-subscribed and a ballot has to
take place for those attending. The programme varies between
practical work and visits of educational and local interest.
Some of the titles over the years have been: "Countrywomen
and the World", "Self Sufficiency", "From Plot to Pot". The
residential weekend courses are held from time to time for
Young Farmers' Club girl members based on Proficiency Test
work or work for the Young Farmers' Club County Show.
(b) Activities at Lackham. Organisations may come and hold
their monthly meeting at the Rural Home Economics Centre when
a member of staff will give a demonstration. Practical days
are held in a large variety of subjects, some for a special
organisation such as "Yeast Cookery" for Beanacre W.I., but
they may cover a wider range such as "Hard Cheese Making" or
"Bacon Curing". These days will include practical work for
all the members of the class.
A/b Home Days. Over the years a tradition has grown up when members
of the public (the number of men is increasing) come from 11 a.m. - 3
p.m. for demonstration instruction in a particular subject such as
Wessex Cookery, Home Maintenance, Beef and Beef Cookery. Courses
are held on a one or two term basis with special emphasis for those
members who wish to take their Women's Institute or Young Farmer's
Club, Home Economics Basic Certificates. These are being undertaken
in a wide range of subjects, the latest being "Convenience Foods" which
covers a large range of the foods available to the housewife in 1977.