Two phenomena that may seem opposite at first glance, yet are inseparably connected — manure and milk — have shaped the story of Estonian agriculture. For centuries, Estonia’s rye gained fame across Europe thanks to fertile soils enriched with manure. From the 19th century onwards, it was milk that turned butter and cheese into true stars.

Through the exhibition “Manure and Milk: A Brief History of the Cow’s Role Through Time”, visitors to the Rural Curiosity Center (MUHK) are invited to look back into history: why manure was considered the farmer’s “gold,” and why the clatter of milk churns once echoed along Estonian village roads in the early mornings.

You will discover how Estonia became a dairy country supplying St Petersburg and Europe. Why was a midsummer “manure work festival” celebrated, and how did labour that helped crops grow in the fields bring villagers together for joyful communal work? Come and explore how milk and manure have shaped rural life for centuries — because it is from these that the farmer’s wealth, and our shared food table, truly begins.