Viking Farmers
by Bella Daly
I have discovered that how the Vikings farmed depended on where they lived. The only crop that grew well was grass, so the people depended on cattle and sheep. However, Viking farmers did grow barley, oats, rye and a variety of fruit and vegetables as well. Even on the poorest soils a family grew some oats or rye to give them flour for bread. They also raised cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, hens, chickens and turkeys. Norwegian farmers got much of their needs from the sea, like food, sealskins, walrus ivory to sell and whale oil for lamps. Farmers that lived near the sea fished and did some raiding but most of their living came from the land
Farm Duties
The woman milked the cows, goats and sheep and made butter and cheese. The children also helped with the milking, the sheep, the goats and the poultry.

Inheritance
If a farmer died his eldest son would inherit the farm. The younger brothers got a share of the rest of their father's wealth. But if they wanted to farm they had to find land. They could buy it or clear a forest to get it. However, eventually there was no more land for farming. Sheep and cattle farmers need lots of land and pasture for their animals, so when there was no more land they faced a crisis. This is what drove many Vikings to sail and raid overseas.

The Farming Year

When Spring came the Vikings started to sow their crops. They first broke the soil up with "ards" or with oxen-drawn ploughs. Then they sowed the seeds by hand.
Most of the Summer was spent preparing for the Winter. The families drove their cattle up to the rich mountain pastures to graze. They made the milk into butter and cheese for the Winter. The meat was preserved by salting or pickling. People started to collect fuel to prepare for winter.
Many of the animals were slaughtered in the Autumn. On the typical farm there was a home field, a vegetable field, a long house, a store house, a byre, a forge, a wood pile and a bath house.
During the Winter in Scandinavia, Iceland and Greenland, the Vikings would go hunting on their skies. Some men made tools and weapons out of wood and iron. Cattle were kept inside in winter but sheep are hardier and they stayed out in the snow.

Conclusion
I have discovered that a Viking farmer's life was very busy, he worked long hours and he was never sure whether he and his family would have an easy winter. Running a farm was a family affair, with everyone working together.