Harvest season has come to a quiet farm, where horses are now being fed new hay instead of the traditional wheat and barley. As the next round of crops, including teasels, cereals, and sunflowers, grow in a nearby meadow for birds to forage, an unusual wheat-rye hybrid called triticale catches the eye of onlookers. However, this seemingly harmless grain contains a dangerous fungus called ergot, which can have severe effects if consumed. While mills today rigorously test for ergot levels to prevent illness, historical accounts suggest that ergot may have played a role in events such as the Salem witch trials and the French revolution.
The farm on which the triticale grows is not used for human consumption, so the presence of ergot does not pose a threat. Nevertheless, the strange history of this fungus serves as a reminder of the profound impact that interactions between humans and their environment can have. The farm’s contemplative atmosphere gives rise to thoughts on how failures to understand these interactions have shaped history in unexpected ways.
Those interested in further exploring the unique connections between nature and human history can look to the upcoming release of Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian’s Country Diary, which compiles a selection of insightful reflections on the natural world.Published on September 26, the book is available for pre-order at a discount through the Guardian Bookshop.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
