Winnowing Basket, circa 1850

Harvesting grain involves several steps (cutting, threshing, cleaning). After cutting and removing the kernel from the grain head, laborers had to remove straw (chaff) from the kernels. For centuries, laborers used baskets to toss grain and chaff into the air in a breezy location. The slightest wind blew the lightweight chaff away, leaving the heavier kernels to fall back into the basket.