In the poorest areas, people would farm in the summer, and hunt in the winter. But more to the point, most peasant farming took place in areas that don’t get harsh winters. Most northern cultures were more nomadic or in general relied more on hunting and fishing.
Jmullaney started this thread because he doubted my assertion that peasant farmers at the start of the industrial revolution might have willingly left the farm to work in a factory. His doubt stems from his belief that peasant farming was somewhat of an idyllic lifestyle of gardening while the children played or did light chores around the house. Thus, he believes that the industrial era with child labor and all those factory workers was a big step backwards in lifestyle.
Therefore, he thinks that peasant farmers were basically forced off their land to work in factories, and their children sold into slave labor.
In fact, peasant farming was grueling labor for all members of the family, lifespans were short, there was rarely enough to eat, and people voluntarily left the countryside in droves to work in factories because the pay was much higher and the working conditions were often better than what they were used to.
For example, peasant farmers rarely had good land to grow on. They often had to plant crops in rocky soil, and this meant long days hauling rocks off the land. Furrows for seeding were often cut by hand, by people on their hands and knees with primitive blades. Having an actual draft beast for pulling plows and hauling water and food was the mark of a wealthy person.
Water had to be hauled from the nearest well or spring, an arduous daily chore that was usually done by Mom and the Kids while Dad was digging away in the fields.
It was NOT an idyllic existance. Life for most peasant farmers then (and now in the poorest countries) was nasty, brutish and short.