Recycled Connections: Re-Use and Related Landscapes of the Historic Peterson Farmstead, 1855-Present Day

Abstract

This project was completed as part of the 2015-2016 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with Carver County. The Andrew Peterson Farmstead, located near the city of Waconia, is a site with great historic significance. The Carver County Historical Society was interested in learning more about the property and the evolution of the farm from Peterson's time to the present. CCHS project lead Wendy Petersen-Biorn collaborated with a graduate student in Anthropology working on a master's thesis exploring the changing nature of agriculture in Minnesota to investigate historical uses of the farmstead. The student led an archaeological dig on the site, supplemented with archival research on the farmstead, to document changing landscapes on the farmstead through ideas of production, consumption, and re-use. The information gathered will allow for a fuller and more complete understanding and interpretation of the site as the CCHS seeks to transforms the property into an interpretive center. The student's master's thesis is available.