The theme of agricultural life and self-sufficiency is central to the novel; it’s embedded in the premise and setting of a farmer boy growing up on a rural farm. Because Almanzo and his family live on a large farm raising both crops and animals, they’re immersed in agricultural life and teamwork, as shown in one of many examples during harvest season:

The oats were ripe, standing thick and tall and yellow. The wheat was golden, darker than the oats. The beans were ripe, and pumpkins and carrots and turnips and potatoes were ready to gather. There was no rest and no play for anyone now. They all worked from candle-light to candle-light (233).

The pastoral setting has multiple barns, animals, and crops, and they require work to keep the farm running smoothly and provide for the family. Almanzo and the others know their roles and expectations, including daily chores like feeding the animals, cleaning their stalls, chopping wood, cooking, planting seeds in the fields, pulling weeds, and cleaning. The women are expected to keep their home clean; turn wool into fabric; sew clothes and blankets; and store, prepare, and cook all their food. In addition, they help the men with various tasks, such as harvesting or churning butter.