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The timing of the harvest in the Middle Ages was vitally important. If the wheat was too dry, the grain would fall off. If it was too wet, the grain would rot. To ensure that his own crops did not go to waste, the lord of the manor could demand extra labour services called "boon-work" during harvest time. Boon-work was hated by the peasants, as it delayed their own harvesting & could cause their own crops to be ruined. As the peasants had to give about half their crop away as rent & taxes, they needed to farm a large area of land to provide an adequate diet for their families. People dying of starvation was not unusual in the Middle Ages. This was especially true when bad weather led to a poor harvest.
