The “Summer Kitchen” is an wonderful concept that even modern-homesteaders can benefit from!
The “Summer Kitchen“, as it was called, was often a cottage, separate from the main house or dwelling. Sometimes, as I saw myself in an old farm house I once visited, it was a large screened-in area on the back of the home. However it was done, having a “Summer Kitchen” was a tremendous benefit for families who could afford it.
Given that cooking back then was done with the use of a wood stove or over an open fire, combined with the absence of air conditioning or fans, excessive heat would build up in the main home and obviously make everyone pretty uncomfortable. Therefore, the family’s wood stove was moved to the “Summer Kitchen” and kept there until it was needed again in the main house in the cooler months.
For the most part, the work that took place in the “Summer Kitchen” included cooking, baking and preserving. This was very important work as the family’s very existence depended upon it. The women needed to “put up” all the food and supplies that her family would need to survive the cold and bitter winters.
Activities like soap and butter making might take place around a large working table that was often in the “Summer Kitchen“. Chores like boiling socks and other undergarments would take place there. Baths might be taken there for privacy. The aroma of fresh baked goods and of drying herbs could be taken enjoyed in and around the “Summer Kitchen“.
The “Summer Kitchen” was not only a place of work, but a place of community. Women gathered to share stories, methodology and tips for how to be a better wife and homemaker. Older women taught younger women how to sew, quilt and raise children. Discussions of goings on within their churches, families and communities made everyone feel like part of something bigger than themselves. What a great time in history.
So what does all of this have to do with today?
As we finalize the plans to our new outbuilding this week, I am excited that it will include a new and modern “Summer Kitchen”! What should a modern “Summer Kitchen” include? More in tomorrow’s post.
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We had friends who used to live on 10 acres in a very old farmhouse and it had a summer kitchen. That house was really neat. So excited that you are getting a summer kitchen! Very cool.
Thanks, Trac! I’m really excited about the potential of community and cooking in my summer kitchen!
Nice! Looking forward to seeing yours. My hubby bought outside burners for my canning and we hope to build a smokehouse and a bread oven. Eventually….
Kimberly,
Oooooh, that sounds nice! Smokehouse? What will you smoke?
Oh COOL!
I’d want a gigantic table. And a pizza oven. And lots of shelves for storage. But I’m not sure if those are practical or useful for you.
Ahh yes…baths in the summer kitchen. I plan ours to be open (pavilion style) with some closed storage in it…but that would make baths a little tricky.
Since we have existing baths – (this house was here when we bought the property. I can forgo that application I suppose…but would keep it in mind if we were to build elsewhere on the property down the line. 
( I would do things differntly from scratch – it would be much more rustic and simplistic from the ground up.) I wrestle with whether I want to get another wood cookstove or try building a brick harth style oven and stove. I know we aren’t goign ot be moving ours back and forth – it is WAY to heavy and we are getting too old. 
Hey MommySetFree,
Ah yes, to start from scratch! Wouldn’t we all do things different? Geo-thermal would be part of the picture and more renewable energy, for sure. I hope your summer kitchen turns out the way you’ll love it!
We are hoping to put one together this year, however, recent extreme drought conditions and excessive temperatures have halted our progress. My goal is to have one similar to the old version, but with lattice instead of walls. South Texas weather is not conductive to much out door storage so, we will see how it works once we are able to do it. Thanks for sharing.
Hey SimplyChele,
I’m sorry to hear about your crazy weather! In Ohio, we’re heavy on the rain this year, maybe we could switch weather for a week or so??
What a great post! In the South, most all kitchens were detached, like the “summer kitchen” described above. This was due to the constant source of heat and in the case of fire, it wouldn’t burn down the whole house. Additionally, many times an enslaved cook may have resided in the loft above a kitchen with her family or children. Thanks for sharing!!
Hi Megan,
I just love that kind of stuff and find it so interesting how our pioneer relatives lived. Thanks for commenting!
Great post, Kelly! Where I live now summers don’t get that hot, but in the south where I grew up, this certainly would have been a necessity! What I might need is a winter kitchen – then I could hang out there and get warm in the colder months!!
Amy,
Actually, as you can see from what I hope to accomplish with, it will be more of a “year round kitchen”. Sounds like you’ve got some mild temps out there.
Hey Kelly! This was a great post! My family was just looking at an old country house for my parents. It had what must have been a “summer kitchen” just off the back of the house. No one was sure what it was. Some said a shed, others mentioned a celler, I thought maybe it was to store canned goods. Thanks to your post we have answered the question! Thanks for posting on the Barn Hop! Love your blog!
Have a blessed day,
Megan
Megan,
Oh, I’ll bet it was cool to look at! Do you ever wonder how the women of that time did it all?? Thanks for commenting!
I look forward to reading more about your “modern’ summer kitchen! Living vicariously through you at this point in my life.