II: Oats
How the Quakers became associated with oats.
Good morning. Today is duodi, the 2nd of Messidor, Year CCXXXI. We celebrate l'avoine, part of this complete breakfast.
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Okay, I'm going to call out Fabre d'Eglantine here. It's strange to me that this first month of summer is named for harvesting – too soon, my man – and that this day is given to oats, which should have been sown a good month or two ago and can't be harvested for another month or two yet. Basically, this is the most dormant time for oats – literally. Oats go very quiet in the heat of the summer, which is why the timing of their farming is so crucial depending on your region's climate. Having the summer solstice-ish be oat day is as odd as Christmas in July. Rant over.
The strange story of using William Penn and the religious Society of Friends (Quakers) to advertise oatmeal begins in Akron, Ohio, with a German grocery store owner just looking to move more merchandise.
