Gathering Edible as a Survival Strategy and Life Support System of the Siberian Rearward Village in Wartime Daily Living 1941–1945 on the Oral Historical Sources

• Main Author: Tatiana K. Shcheglova
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sochi State University 2015-03-01
• Series: Bylye Gody
• Subjects: the Great Patriotic War; rearward Siberian village; disabled population; life support system; food; gathering edible; survival strategy; eyewitness; participants; respondents
• Online Access: http://bg.sutr.ru/journals_n/1426008601.pdf

This paper explores the life support system of disabled population of Siberian rearward village in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945 by means (techniques) and sources of oral history and Russian [version of] ethnology. The analysis of field data 1990–2014 demonstrates, that there was older generation being once de-peasantified in 1920s-30s, which developed in rural areas a set of behavioral actions and occupations, contributory to survival strategies of peasant family, based on resources of feeding environment and traditional culture of life support. Gathering of edible became one of the main means of child survival – this paper discusses its variations and patterns, as well edible plants, berries and mushrooms. According to research done, gathering edible was group-organized under supervision and with participation of grannies or individual expenditure - a kind of subsistence food that lies under the feet. An effort is taken to identify patterns and variations of gathering edible. It’s proven that together with direct eating plants, family economy included preservation of natural edible in store for a long Siberian winter. The paper covers blank grass as impurities in the flour to bake bread, as well а base for porridge, features restrictions and punishments not only for gathering crumbled wheat spikelets on collective farm fields, but also suppression cases in the vicinity of the villages.